Mariners have a good reason to make MiLB home run leader's audition count

They often say that it doesn't matter how you get an opportunity in anything with life, just that you get it. This is the position Patrick Wisdom finds himself in, after being called up to replace Rob Refsnyder on Tuesday ahead of the Mariners' three-game road series versus the Padres.

Wisdom has been an absolute monster to start the season in Triple-A Tacoma, leading the minors with nine home runs and just generally causing havoc on his way to a 1.145 OPS. However, despite being a big hype guy on account of his track record, he was only ever going to get the call by the Mariners if Refsnyder went down for some reason.

Well, that call came on Tuesday thanks to Refsnyder being placed on the paternity list, and Wisdom has his golden opportunity. Now it's a case of Wisdom needing to take the chance and run with it, and in the process possibly helping the Mariners out of a current problem.

Patrick Wisdom can be a Plan B for the disappointing Rob Refsnyder

The reality is that Refsnyder has been horrendous so far as a right-handed platoon bat, going 0-for-16 and actually producing a -49 OPS+, which we didn't even know was possible. We appreciate plenty of players in the Mariners lineup have struggled to begin the 2026 season, but the 35-year-old has taken this to a whole other depth.

You'd still like to think a player with a .924 OPS versus lefties since 2022 will get it together sooner than later, but it's a good idea for the Mariners to have a Plan B just in case. And now, Wisdom can step forward and reinforce himself as that Plan B.

This is a necessity as much as a want, with the Mariners' everyday lineup being heavy on left-handed bats. Dan Wilson needs at least one reliable right-handed bat who he can platoon/pinch-hit as a weapon.

No dramatic debut with the Mariners

Wisdom got his first chance to show what he can do during Tuesday's series opener in San Diego, when he pinch-hit for Dominic Canzone as a DH in the top of the seventh. Unfortunately for him, there would be no dramatic debut with the Mariners, as he struck out on a foul tip.

Still, it's up to the Mariners to show enough wisdom (see what we did there) to make the most of the 34-year-old's time with them, by throwing some at-bats his way. As much as his career .209 batting average is underwhelming, he's capable of explosive results when he does make contact, with a .459 slugging percentage that's noteworthy for being superior to Refsnyder's .383.

One thing we would add is that even if Wisdom doesn't take full advantage of this opportunity, it likely won't be the end, with him having all of his minor league options available this season. As such, when he gets sent back to Triple-A he just needs to continue raking for the Rainiers and give the Mariners no choice but to keep him in their plans.

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