3 Mariners players who have surprised us so far in Spring Training

2nd surprising performance this Spring: Tyler Locklear, INF

Kind of the same deal here as it was with Cole Young, just another prospect balling out in the first week of Spring Training. Tyler Locklear is the 10th-ranked prospect in the Mariners system, according to MLB Pipeline. He spent last season between High A Everett and AA Arkansas, where he hit 13 home runs, drove in 52 RBI, and even stole 12 bags. Not bad for a first baseman who missed about 2 months with a broken wrist, no?

This Spring, Tyler leads all of the Mariners in hits, with 6 in 14 at-bats. He has smacked 2 doubles and has driven in 2 runs. He does swing and miss, but not as much as you think in the minors. He struck out in 24.5% of his at-bats in 2023, which is just a bit higher than the league average in the Majors last season.

There is a path for Tyler to make the team in 2024, just probably not right out of Spring Training. He is a first baseman, who can also play a bit of third. Should the Mariners bats struggle, or miss time due to injuries, Tyler is a candidate to get called up this year. If he continues to ball out this spring, though, the Mariners may have no choice other than to break camp with him.

Ty France has been taking reps at third base, where he has played in the past. The Mariners also have Luis Urias at third base, but he is dealing with a shoulder injury and showed up to camp out of shape. Should he not be ready to go, maybe Ty France slides over to third, opening up a spot for Locklear at first. Keep your eye on him for the rest of the Spring, because he is going to be fun to watch.