Monday, September 28

Welcome back to the Mariners Beat newsletter. MLB.com reporter/producer Josh Kirshenbaum wrote this edition.

SEATTLE -- Randy Arozarena’s first half could be summed up in a stretch of three swings Saturday vs. Toronto’s Shane Bieber.

It started in the bottom of the first inning. Two-strike count, coming off back-to-back changeups. Bieber fires a fastball well off the outside corner that Arozarena not only manages to get his bat on but drills 338 feet the other way, off the wall for a double.

Next inning. Bases loaded, two outs. Bieber throws a first-pitch slider in the dirt and Arozarena bites, missing by 7.6 inches -- his seventh-biggest miss of the season per Baseball Savant's new miss distance metric. Seeing the flail, Bieber goes back to the slider and keeps it below the zone -- and Arozarena demolishes it 412 feet for a grand slam that sets the tone for an 11-0 romp.

“I thought [Saturday] was a microcosm of his season,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “First time up, the double off the wall to right field on a pitch away from him. Then getting his pitch there with the bases loaded … see it, and because he’s got the good swing and good approach, be able to put a really good swing on it and hit it out of the ballpark to the pull-side. 

“That’s kind of what we’ve seen from him all season long. That’s one of the reasons I think he’s an All-Star.”

Arozarena is indeed an All-Star, earning the recognition for the second straight season. He’s the 15th player in Mariners franchise history to be named an All-Star multiple times.

2026 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard
• Watch on FOX, July 14 at 8 p.m. ET
• Full rosters unveiled, including 26 first-timers
• Complete All-Star Game rosters
• Team-by-team breakdown of the All-Stars

It’s a well-deserved honor, for a first half that’s seen him slash .286/.375/.451 with nine home runs, 41 RBIs and 19 steals. Coming into Sunday, Arozarena’s 2.6 fWAR ranked third among American League outfielders -- behind Minnesota’s Byron Buxton (2.9) and Boston’s Ceddanne Rafaela (2.7) -- and was by far the highest among Seattle hitters.

And to the left fielder, it’s one that has come out of a couple small changes of mindset.

Take his first at-bat Sunday:

“I’ve been listening a lot more to the hitting coaches about coming in with a plan and sticking to the plan,” Arozarena said through interpreter Freddy Llanos. “… While before, I would go out there and every pitch I saw, my mentality was, ‘Hit this ball out.’ Because of that, I think I’ve been able to use that middle of the field and be able to hit the ball around and make those adjustments. I’m going up there now and thinking about where I can place the ball, and using all of my tools that I can to put the ball in play.”

And his second?

“Whenever you go up there and you make a bad swing, it’s part of the game,” he said. “You go up there and you try to battle with the pitcher … and sometimes you don’t look good. Whenever I make a bad swing, I kind of look at it as, ‘What kind of adjustments do I need to make?’ Batting can be very negative; you fail a lot more than you [succeed]. I always try to make an adjustment.”

It’s one of the few changes for a player who’s become one of the most consistent pieces in the Mariners organization since he came to Seattle at the 2024 Trade Deadline. Between his Mariners debut on July 28, 2024, and June 12 of this year, Arozarena played in 284 games, tied for sixth most in MLB. Even factoring in his brief stint on the IL with a left hamstring strain this past month, and his 308 games played since joining the organization lead the club.

For a team that’s dealt with a boatload of injuries -- to its rotation last year and its hitting core this year -- that stability in left field has become a backbone to the lineup.

“I thought Randy did a pretty good job of getting back into the lineup as quickly as he could, and has felt more and more comfortable each time he’s been in there,” Wilson said. “... His consistency in left field all season long has continued to be there. It’s great to see.”

Ahead of Sunday’s game against Toronto, there was another Mariners-Blue Jays showdown on the field: The annual Play Ball Challenger Little League Game.

The Challenger Division is an adaptive program to allow kids with physical and intellectual challenges an opportunity to play baseball, and every year the Mariners get the opportunity to host a game. This year’s edition saw the Kirkland National Mariners face off against the North Bothell Blue Jays in a modified one-inning game, with every member of each team getting to hit and run the bases.

Most of the Mariners took the chance to help out, with J.P. Crawford pitching one frame and George Kirby handling the second. It’s a day that’s always a highlight of the season, not just for the participants and their families but for everyone in the organization.

“That’s the thing about the Challenger game, is that you go out there and you’re hooked from [the start],” Wilson said. “To see their faces, to walk the bases with them, to talk to them, talk to their parents -- you hear what they go through, and it’s a special, special treat. I’m really glad we were able to host it again this year, and really grateful to the guys that were out there and gave up their time.”

The Mariners took the field Saturday in special Fourth of July uniforms, and like other catchers, Cal Raleigh rocked special gear for the occasion. But his was especially unique, because it was signed by the members of the U.S. Men’s National Team.

The USMNT is in town to take on Belgium on Monday in the World Cup Round of 16 at Seattle Stadium. Friday, the players were at T-Mobile Park to throw out the first pitch, but they also got to meet with the Mariners, take some swings in the batting cage -- and leave Raleigh with some truly patriotic protection.

50 Seasons Celebration Weekend

• Aug. 7 -- Alumni Home Run Derby Night presented by Muckleshoot Casino Resort: Don’t miss an epic postgame competition as Ichiro, Mike Cameron and more swing for the fences. Buy tickets »

• Aug. 8 -- 50 Seasons Celebration Night presented by Daktronics: Witness the most iconic gathering of franchise greats as the Top 50 Mariners Players are unveiled and honored at T-Mobile Park. Buy tickets »

• Aug. 9 -- 50 Seasons Pin Day presented by KeyBank: As part of this season's collectible pin series, the first 10,000 fans will score a 50 Seasons Pin to add to their collection. Buy tickets »

Mariners Suites

Are you planning an event this summer? Check out a Mariners Suite. The perfect venue for all kinds of events, from birthday parties and family celebrations to client meetings and company outings. Enjoy customizable set-ups, first-class catering and private entry & parking. Book now at Mariners.com/Suites.

To subscribe to Mariners Beat, visit this page and mark "Mariners Beat" from our newsletter list. Make sure you're following the Mariners or that they're checked as your favorite team.

View Online

© 2026 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. MLB trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball. Visit MLB.com. Any other marks used herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

Please review our Privacy Policy.

You (mlb-newsletters@mlb.com) received this message because you registered to receive commercial email messages or purchased a ticket from MLB. 

Please add info@marketing.mlbemail.com to your address book to ensure our messages reach your inbox. If you no longer wish to receive commercial email messages from MLB.com, please unsubscribe or log in and manage your email subscriptions.

Postal Address: MLB.com, c/o MLB Advanced Media, L.P., 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.