Young Seattle Mariners Starter Causing Internal Battle Among Fans
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If you scroll up-and-down Seattle Mariners related content on social media, you will undoubtedly see a bevy of different opinions on rookie third baseman Ben Williamson.
Some see him as a gritty, glove-first third baseman who plays hard and does 'the little things.'
The Mariners lose their shutout bid, but Ben Williamson makes a remarkable stop on a chopper down the line then makes a throw from his knees -- with his chest angling to the ground -- to get the lead runner once it was clear that Luis Urías would score easily. pic.twitter.com/inBPnV423r
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) July 29, 2025
Some see him as a guy with a 78 OPS+ who couldn't hit his way out of a paper bag.
It’s not Ben Williamson’s fault. This is the player he is at this stage.
— Mariner Muse (@MarinerMuse) July 29, 2025
It’s the front office’s fault.
Geno salary dumped to set up Rojas/Urias platoon, dumped both guys to play post-surgery Polanco or Moore, that fails and they break glass on Ben.
Could’ve just kept Geno.
Others want him as a starter for life, and don't see any need to bring in Eugenio Suarez or Willi Castro at the trade deadline.
Others see him as not even a major league player.
The answer, of course, lies somewhere in the middle, as I discussed on the latest edition of the 'Refuse to Lose' podcast:
If you want to go upgrade to Geno, I would get it, and I would support it ultimately because I think it will make the offense better, and the offense might need to carry you. But this notion that Ben Williamson is no good or can't play or doesn't belong in the organization, that's not fair either. I think he absolutely provides something, and we can have a fair and balanced conversation. I can acknowledge that Ben Williamson is a good player without thinking he deserves 600 at-bats right now, and you can say he needs to improve at X, Y, or Z without saying he's not a major league player. He's been excellent defensively, he grinds out at bats. To me, he's generally a serviceable 9-hitter, I enjoy his approach to the game, I think he provides something to this team...
The latest #RefuseToLose podcast is out, and we need to have an honest conversation about Ben Williamson.
— Brady Farkas (@RefuseToLosePod) July 29, 2025
LISTEN HERE:https://t.co/Z1fQ4Z4o4d#TridentsUp #Mariners pic.twitter.com/xdv854gBKI
A former second-round pick, Williamson is hitting .256 with just one home run and a .239 on-base percentage. However, he is near the top of the defensive charts at third base, and only Ke'Bryan Hayes has more defensive saved runs than he does.
Defensive Runs Saved Leaders - Third Baseman pic.twitter.com/ftW1efazxK
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) July 25, 2025
The Mariners will take on the Athletics on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. PT. Seattle is 57-50.
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NEW PODCAST IS HERE: Brady is back on a Tuesday, recapping his trip to Cooperstown for Ichiro's Hall of Fame induction, and he is joined by M's Insider Shannon Drayer from the Hall of Fame. Also, we have the Ben Williamson conversation. CLICK HERE:
EPIC HISTORY: Randy Arozarena is doing at the plate rarely seen by an M's player, and he's also doing things hardly ever seen by a Cuban-born player. CLICK HERE:
CHANGE OF HEART: As the trade deadline nears, the Mariners are reportedly switching up their plans. CLICK HERE:
Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on "X" @Teren_Kowatsch and @RefuseToLosePod. You can subscribe to the "Refuse to Lose" podcast by clicking HERE.
