Two Guys from Kentucky
Trevor Gott, 30 years old, relief RHP, #30 Trevor Gott was born August 8, 1992, in Lexington, KY, and graduated from Tates Creek High School where he was the Gatorade Kentucky High School Player of the Year as a senior. He attended the University of Kentucky. The San Diego Padres drafted him in 2013. He has played for the Angels, Nationals, Giants, Brewers, and now Mariners.
Easton McGee, 25 years old, starting RHP, #59 Easton McGee was born on December 26, 1997, in Hopkinsville, KY. The Tampa Bay Rays drafted him in 2016. He spent several years in the minor leagues and made his MLB debut in 2022. The good news is that many Mariners’ fans saw McGee throw extremely well in a game between the Mariners and Toronto. The bad news is that McGee is out for the rest of the season after having Tommy John surgery.
The Nor'easters: Players from New York and New Jersey
Mike Ford, 30 years old, LHB, 1st baseman, #20 Michael Harrison Ford was born on July 4, 1992, in Belle Mead, NJ. (This may be a family name, but he could be named after a well-known actor.) He attended the Hun School of Princeton and then Princeton University for three seasons. In 2013, the Yankees drafted him, and he played for their minor league teams and their MLB team, making his MLB debut in 2019. He has also played for Tampa Bay, the Nationals, the Giants, Atlanta, and the Angels. His most recent signing with the Mariners was on January 9, 2023.
Tom Murphy, 32 years old, RHB, Catcher, #2 Tom Murphy is a returning player but was out much of the last season recovering from a shoulder injury. He was born April 3, 1991, in West Monroe, NY. He attended Paul V. Moore HS and played three seasons at SUNY Buffalo. The Colorado Rockies drafted him in 2012. He made his MLB debut in 2015 with the Rockies. He came to Seattle in 2019.
Justin Topa, 32 years old, relief RHP, #48 Justin Topa was born on March 7, 1991, in Binghamton, NY. He attended Chenango Valley High School and then graduated from Long Island University, Brooklyn. The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him in 2013. He spent several years in the minors and made his MLB debut in 2020. Prior to coming to the Mariners, he played for the Brewers. Topa has had a rough time with his elbow, requiring Tommy John surgery in college and then again in 2015.