4 Mariners players who are putting up eye-catching numbers this Spring

Jorge Polanco

The Mariners have struggled at the second base position for some time now. Not since the days of Robinson Cano have the Mariners had a player they can rely on at second base. They may have found their guy in Jorge Polanco.

Polanco was acquired from the Minnesota Twins for Anthony DeSclafani, Justin Topa, and a few prospects. They paid a heavy price for his services, and he is already showing Mariners fans why it cost so much to get him. Jorge is hitting .444/.512/.778 with a 1.290 OPS this spring. He has also homered 3 times and has driven in 15. Polanco is a switch hitter who can play both second and third base.

Like Haniger, Polanco has struggled to stay on the field over the past few seasons. He played in just 104 games in 2022, and just 80 games in 2023. But unlike Haniger, Polanco put together a great half of a season in 2023. He hit .255/.335/.454/.789 with an OPS+ of 115 (About 15% higher than an average player).

The Mariners will need Polanco to stay healthy if they want their second base woes to end. He has stayed healthy all Spring, and has looked like the player who earned MVP votes in 2019. Polanco was well respected in the Twins clubhouse, and that sould be true in the Mariners clubhouse as well. Veterans like Polanco, Haniger and Mitch Garver will provide the kind of veteran leadership that this team has needed for a long time.