Could Mariners hitters break the all-time record in a stat you don't want to break?
During the off season Mariners had a plan that they wanted to get away from all the strikeouts and be more of a contact hitting team. Let's look at how that has gone so far for the Mariners.
![Seattle Mariners v Houston Astros](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_7022,h_3949,x_0,y_355/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/65/01hxhnxw5q39mhyy3vr6.jpg)
After the 2023 season, the Mariners' front office was quite frustrated with how the season ended for their team. They missed the playoffs by one game and watched as the team that knocked them out of the playoffs in the final series in the Texas Rangers won the World Series. It was quite the gut punch for the team watching on the couch. They went into the off-season determined to cut down on the strikeouts. But has that happened so far this season?
Last year the Minnesota Twins broke the all-time strikeouts by hitters with 1,654. That is roughly 10.21 strikeouts per game. With all the technology that is at the hands of pitchers with spin rate and how hitters are less about contact hitting and more about power and hitting home runs it makes sense. The top 10 for team strikeouts in a season for hitters have all happened in the past seven seasons.
Top 10 strikeouts by team in a season
1. Minnesota Twins: 1,654- 2023
2. Seattle Mariners: 1,603- 2023
3. Chicago Cubs: 1,596- 2021
4. Detroit Tigers: 1,595- 2019
5. Chicago Whitesox: 1,594- 2018
6. San Diego Padres: 1,581-2019
7. Seattle Mariners: 1,581-2019
8. Texas Ranger: 1,578- 2019
9. Milwaukee Brewers: 1,571- 2017
10. Milwaukee Brewers: 1,563- 2019
The Mariners are in the top 10 of this list twice. They were number two last year and their 2019 team is seventh. Last year they had two hitters with over 200 strikeouts, Teoscar Hernandez and Eugenio Suarez, both are no longer with the team. Julio wasn't far behind with 175 strikeouts in 2023. The 2024 Mariners are on pace to break the 2023 Twins record of 1,654 strikeouts in a season.
Right now the Mariners have 410 strikeouts through 39 games. That is 10.513 strikeouts per game. If they keep that pace it will be 1,703 strikeouts by the end of the season. Right now the Mariners have four hitters in the top 20 in strikeouts. Jorge Polanco is 5th place with 50 strikeouts, Julio Rodriguez is 7th with 49 strikeouts. Cal Raleigh is 12th with 48 strikeouts, and Mitch Haniger is 18th with 44 strikeouts.
In the end, this doesn't mean that the Mariners are going to break the all-time strikeout record. It is still early and a lot can change. Hopefully, the players start buying into Brant Browns' put the ball in play philosophy and they can cut down on the strikeouts.