Mariners series opener: Best hitter, pitcher, and moment of the Red Sox series

It wasn't exactly smooth sailing for the Mariners in their first series of the season. They lost their home opener and clearly have some things to figure out before being a top contender within the AL West, but there are still some bright spots worth calling out.

Mariners Best Hitter - Mitch Haniger

.286/.333/.571, 4 H, 2B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI

A familiar face in the outfield turned back the clock and made it seem like he never left. After a .631 OPS season with the Giants marred by injury and inconsistent performances, people were concerned as to whether he'd be able to contribute to a major league squad. After his first few games with Seattle, it seems the problem might have been something in the Bay Area water.

There is a potential concern about his strikeout rate as he recorded six strikeouts in this series, second to only Jorge Polanco. He's never been great at avoiding the third strike throughout his career but he usually offsets it by having one of the higher exit velocities on the team. Despite his poor slash line in 2023, his average exit velocity was still 91.0 mph, a decent chunk better than league-average.

Honorable Mention - Josh Rojas

.500/.500/.500, 4 H, R, RBI

If Rojas had seen more action, he might've continued what is currently a pretty hot streak. He saw just eight plate appearances in the four game set but was tied with Mitch Haniger for the most hits. He's yet to see extra bases but there are positive signs. Over 216 plate appearances with the Diamondbacks last year, he had a .589 OPS. After being traded to Seattle, he posted a .721 OPS over 134 plate appearances. Could he be continuing his upward trajectory?