Getting to Know the New Seattle Mariners

During this 2023 season, several players have joined the Mariners as starting pitchers, relieving pitchers, or position players. Some of these men may be more or less familiar. Skip over stretches for players with whom you are already familiar.

New Mariners: The Californians

Gabe Speier, 28 years old, relief RHP, #55 Gabe Speier was born April 12, 1995 in Santa Barbara and attended high school at Dos Pueblos in Goleta. The Boston Red Sox drafted him in 2013 and he made his MLB debut in 2019. He pitched in the minors for several years and played for Kansas City before becoming a Mariner. When not playing baseball, he enjoys surfing.

Bryan Woo, 23 years old, starting RHP, #33 Bryan Woo was born on the 30th of January, 2000, in Oakland, CA. He graduated from Alameda HS in 2018. He then attended California Polytechnic University (Cal Poly) for three seasons. During the 2022 season, he was either at Single-A Modesto or High-A Everett. To begin the 2023 season, he spent time in AA Arkansas Travelers prior to coming up to MLB.

The Hawaiian Turned Washingtonian

Tayler Saucedo, 29 years old, relief LHP, #60 Tayler Saucedo was born on June 18, 1993, in Honolulu, HI. He played little league and on the varsity baseball team at Tahoma High School in Maple Valley, WA. (The son of a Marine, he also lived in Japan where he first played the sport.) He started college at Tacoma Community College and then went on to Tennessee Wesleyan University. The Blue Jays drafted him in 2015. He made his MLB debut in 2021 and played two years in Toronto prior to becoming a Mariner.

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.