3 ways Dominic Canzone can be a difference maker for the Mariners in 2024

After the Mariners traded Jarred Kelenic, there was a sense they felt comfortable enough with Dominic Canzone in left field. The Mariners saw how well Canzone played while Kelenic was hurt last year. Canzone showed flashes of what his potential as a hitter could be with clutch hits against Baltimore and Houston back in August. Canzone is also a solid defender and made 20 starts for the Mariners in left field last year.

This season the Mariners are likely to start Canzone in left field as one of their three starting outfielders. He will play left field and has the potential to be an everyday starter. If Canzone can start the majority of the time, including against left-handed starting pitching, the Mariners may finally have a consistent starting left fielder.

We talked a bit about Canzone earlier in the week, but it seemed like it would be worth diving deeper as well to take a look at some of the different ways that he might be able to provide the Mariners with not just offense, but stability as well.

For Canzone to be an everyday starter, he will need to improve against lefties. Last year, Canzone hit just .125 against left-handed starting pitchers. That batting average needs to improve for Canzone to avoid being platooned whenever the Mariners face a left-handed pitcher. Otherwise, there is a better chance Canzone will be platooned and substituted for a right-hand bat against lefty starting pitchers.

Although the Mariners did acquire outfielders Mitch Haniger and Luke Raley this off-season, Canzone should play more than both of them in left field. Given Haniger and Raley each dealt with injuries last season, the Mariners will want to be careful about how much playing time they give each of them. Also, Canzone has primarily played left field, whereas Haniger and Raley have played mostly right field.

Dominic Canzone has had a fantastic spring for the Mariners with a .300/.333/.700 (as of Wednesday morning) slash line in Spring Training. Knowing what he can do with his glove, if his bat can catch up, Seattle might be looking at a special young outfielder for years to come. With the Mariners needing outfield depth, Canzone has the potential to become a solid left fielder.

Here are three ways Dominic Canzone can be a difference maker for the Mariners in 2024:

He can provide more contact and clutch hitting

Jerry Dipoto and the Mariners' front office have been determined to find hitters who can create more contact throughout the lineup. Dominic Canzone showed in 2023 that he can be a solid contact hitter and be tough to strike out. In 44 games with the Mariners last season, Canzone struck out just 24 times. Those numbers bode well for Canzone as he goes into 2024 and looks to build off his rookie year in the big leagues.

Canzone's ability to make contact was on full display when the Mariners swept the Astros last August in Houston. In the series finale, Canzone went 4 for 5 with two doubles, a run scored, and an important RBI as the Mariners completed the sweep in a 7-6 win over the Astros. Canzone also showed he not only can hit average, but he can hit for power too. He smashed a game-tying home run against the Orioles and sent the game into extra innings.

Hopefully, 2023 was just a preview of what is to come from Canzone at the plate. He has shown what he can be when he is hitting at his best. Canzone has continued to showcase his skills with the bat during Spring Training. If that translates into the regular season, he could have a breakout season this year. On top of having a good spring, Canzone has consistently grown as a hitter throughout his professional career, improving each step of the way. Another year in the big leagues may just be what it takes for Canzone to show his full potential as a hitter.

He can lock-down left field

Canzone was terrific last year in left field for the Mariners and did an excellent job of playing solid defense. In 20 starts for the Mariners at the position, he had just one error out of 49 chances in left field. He made a couple of highlight reel catches as well, which were big for the Mariners in 2023. With questions surrounding who will play left field in 2024, Canzone has proven he will not hurt Seattle defensively.

Left field has been a challenge for the Mariners to fill throughout the history of their franchise. Other than Raul Ibanez who played left field for the Mariners from 2004-2008, the Mariners have not had a consistent starter at the position. In the last three seasons, the Mariners have had six different left-fielders: Shed Long, Jake Fraley, Jarred Kelenic, Jesse Winker, Sam Haggerty, and Dominic Canzone. It's easy to see just how unstable the Mariners have been at the left field position.

Hopefully, Dominic Canzone can give the Mariners a steady left fielder who they can count on as their everyday starter. The complexity of Canzone starting each game is he has struggled mightily against left handed pitchers. This is why Seattle could decide to platoon him with another corner outfielder such as Sam Haggerty, Dylan Moore, or Samad Taylor if those struggles for Canzone persist. If Canzone can learn how to hit lefties, he could easily become an everyday left-field starter.