Seattle Mariners' Outfielder Could Be on the Verge of Breakout Season
If you buy into spring training results in any way, outfielder Dom Canzone could be on the verge of a breakout season for the Seattle Mariners.
Acquired last season around the trade deadline for veteran reliever Paul Sewald, Canzone has been scorching in this spring.
Per Daniel Kramer of MLB.com:
Canzone, meanwhile, has quietly been one of Seattle’s most productive spring performers -- now 9-for-30 with three doubles, nine RBIs, nine strikeouts, two walks and three homers, tied for the team high...
Specifically, it’s with two strikes -- like Monday’s homer -- that the Mariners believe Canzone can take his biggest step forward, beyond the power potential after he added 15 pounds of muscle this offseason...
“His swing decisions so far in Spring Training are the best they've been for him, ever,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said recently. “Hopefully he can maintain that throughout the season because when he swings [at] the right pitches, good things happen.”
The 26-year-old Ohio native hit .220 last season with the Diamondbacks and Mariners, his first season at the big league level. In 173 at-bats, he delivered six home runs and 21 RBI.
It's not clear yet how the team will use Canzone in 2024. Julio Rodriguez is locked into centerfield and Luke Raley figures to get the first crack at left field. Mitch Haniger will play right as often as he's able to, and Mitch Garver is the team's primary designated hitter. Will Canzone be able to supplant Raley in left? Or will he form a platoon with Haniger?
It remains to be seen, but he's done a good at forcing himself into the lineup thus far.
Opening Day is next Thursday.
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