PEORIA, Ariz. — The Seattle Mariners had their first official full-squad workout Tuesday, Feb. 21 in Peoria, Arizona at Spring Training.
Scott Servais says there are 75 players in camp right now. For Servais, this is his 35th spring training and his 8th as the manager of the Seattle Mariners.
He knows expectations are high this season and he likes it that way.
KING 5's Chris Egan spoke with Robbie Ray, Marco Gonzales, and J.P. Crawford. All three say this team got a taste of the playoffs last season, but now they are hungry for more.
Cal Raleigh also says he is 100% healthy and excited about the upcoming season.
"I'm changed, but nothing in my mind has changed. I'm still working hard every day," Raleigh said.
Ty France looks to bounce back from injuries
It was a cold and windy day in Peoria, Arizona on Wednesday but the Mariners still had a full practice. Marco Gonzales, Chris Flexen, and Luis Castillo headlined the pitchers that threw bullpen sessions.
King 5's Chris Egan spoke with Mariners first baseman Ty France. France says his struggles in the second half of the season stemmed from a collision he had at first-base on June 23.
Day 3 of Spring Training: Annual picture day
The Seattle Mariners held their annual photo day bright and early this morning. From 6 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. players take time going from station to station having their picture taken for T-Mobile Park, for baseball cards and for Mariners promos.
After photo day, the M's had their last full practice before they begin playing games. The Mariners will play 32 games this spring. On Friday, they'll face the San Diego Padres in game one. King 5's Chris Egan has more on photo day, and he talks with M's pitcher Robbie Ray about getting the start in game one.
Day 4: Mariners win first Spring Training game 3-2
Before today's Mariners game against the San Diego Padres manager Scott Servais announced Kole Calhoun will practice today and Tommy LaStella was scratched from the lineup. LaStella is dealing with a sore right arm. He was originally scheduled to be the designated hitter in game one.
The Mariners ended up beating the Padres 3-2.
Looking ahead to game two, King 5's Chris Egan sat down with Marco Gonzales who will get the start tomorrow and is hopeful for a bounce back season.
Day 5: Mariners lose to the Angels 5-1, J.P. Crawford thirsts for improvement
The Mariners face the Angels in the team's second game of the Cactus League schedule. Seattle loses to Los Angeles, 5-1. Starter Marco Gonzalez goes 2 innings, gives up 4 runs on 5 hits in his first outing of the spring. Rookie Cade Marlowe is looking to make the club. He led the fifth inning off with a solo home run.
KING 5's Chris Egan talked with shortstop J.P. Crawford about his desire to improve, find chemistry with new second baseman Kolten Wong, and to lead the Marines deeper into the playoffs.
Day 6: Jarred Kelenic crushes 2 homers, but Mariners lose to the Royals 8-7
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Mariners start slow before nearly coming back to defeat the Royals. In the end, Seattle lost the game 8-7 to Kansas City.
Easton McGee started the game and got shelled in the first inning. He gave up 5 runs on 5 hits, including two home runs before ending the inning.
Jarred Kelenic reminded us why he was a top prospect for the Mariners a few years ago. Kelenic's new swing produced two home runs. One of those homers popped off his bat with an exit velo of 113 miles per hour.
New reliever Taylor Saucedo looked good in his one inning of work. He struck out two batters and didn't give up a hit.
Chris Egan files another report from Spring Training. He talks with new right fielder Teoscar Hernandez. He talks about his love for playing for his home country, the Dominican Republic, in the World Baseball Classic. Plus, why he's glad to be with the Mariners.
Day 7: Jarred Kelenic is ready for a big season
Mariners' outfielder Jarred Kelenic didn't spend much time resting during the off-season. He worked with coaches in California and Arizona, rather than at his home in Wisconsin.
"I've just been trying to be a sponge, be a student of the game and learn as much as I could, just so I could come into this season and help the team the best I could," said Jarred Kelenic.
The 23-year-old has revamped his swing and changed his approach at the plate. It's early, but Kelenic says he feels more comfortable at the plate and had two home runs in a spring training game against Kansas City.
"I look at what I've done in the big leagues so far is just a lack of information that I've had, this off-season I've learned more than the other off-seasons combined and so I'm looking forward to just letting my ability take over and let my ability speak for itself," said Kelenic.
Day 8: Seattle Mariner Players Adapt to the Pitch Clock
In 2022, the average time of a spring training game was just over three hours. This spring, game times have been about cut in half thanks to the pitch clock.
Major League Baseball wants quicker games with better pace, so this season there will be a pitch clock.
Under the new rule, a pitcher has 15 seconds with the bases empty and 20 seconds with runners on to begin their delivery.
The Mariners pitchers have worked well with the clock so far during spring training.
"There is nothing we can do about it, other than work quick, and I've always felt that is a benefit to the pitcher to work quick anyways, so it should not effect us, we don't have many guys that are on the cusp of being burnt by it," says Marco Gonzales.
If a pitcher violates the time rule, it's an automatic ball. But hitters also have to be aware of the clock.
They need to be in the box and alert to the pitcher with at least 8 seconds left on the clock. If not they get an automatic strike.
Eugenio Suarez: Good Vibes Only
This spring Eugenio Suarez once again rolled into Mariners' spring training with his "good vibes only" approach to the game.
"He is always happy, always laughing, and always having a good time," said Ty France.
In just one year on the team, Eugenio has become a clubhouse leader, and the thirty-one-year-old third baseman has become a very productive player for the M's.
Suarez has belted more than 30 home runs in each of the past four seasons. Last season Suarez played in 142 of the Mariners' first 143 games before injuring a finger.
He replaced Kyle Seager at 3rd base and the Mariners believe his defensive improvement from working with infield coach Perry Hill in 2022 will only continue to grow in 2023. King 5's Chris Egan has more from Peoria, Arizona.
Julio Rodriguez: The face of the franchise
In 2022, Julio Rodriguez had a lot of reasons to smile.
Julio Rodriguez has an All-Star, a homerun derby runner-up, and the American League Rookie of the year.
"There were definitely a lot of things I didn't think about," Rodriguez said. "My whole approach a year ago was just basically to do the best that I can with my preparation and let everything take over from there. But there were definitely a lot of surprises once it got going."
Rodriguez became just the third rookie in major league history with at least 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases, but he also says he learned a lot during a tough playoff loss to the Houston Astros.
Chris Egan has more on Julio for Peoria, Arizona.
Logan Gilbert preps for big 2023 Season
The Mariners are off March 7 but will battle the Dodgers March 8. Logan Gilbert gets to start in that game.
Last season, Logan Gilbert led the Mariners with 13 wins. During the month of April Gilbert allowed one earned run as was the American League pitcher of the month. Last season, Gilbert pitched 185 innings across 32 starts.
So far this spring, Gilbert has only made one start. The 25-year-old has added a new pitch, a split-change up. In his Cactus League debut, Gilbert allowed three runs, three hits and two walks.
Justin Hollander enjoying his first Spring Training as General Manager
Two days after clinching their first playoff berth in 21 years the Seattle Mariners announced that vice president and assistant general manager of baseball operations Justin Hollander had been promoted to be the next executive vice president and general manager of baseball operations.
He's been with the Mariners since 2016, but he's enjoying his first spring as the GM. Before joining the Mariners, Hollander spent nine years working in the Los Angeles Angels front office.
Hollander says he's learned a lot over the past decade working closely with Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto. Scott Servais has called Justin Hollander "the glue guy" of the Mariners' front office.
Jerry Dipoto says his passion, intelligence, people skills, and creativity show up every day and the Mariners are a better organization with Justin in this role. Chris Egan sat down with Justin Hollander in Peoria and has more on the Mariners General Manager.
Cooper Hummel is living out a childhood dream
Cooper Hummel, 28, is having a big Spring Training. The switch-hitting catcher and outfielder spent the first seven years of his major league career playing for the Brewers and Diamondbacks, but now he's playing for the team he grew up watching.
"Ever since I remember I had a Mariners T-shirt on or a jersey or a Mariners hat," Hummel said.
Hummel grew up in Portland and spent many days driving north with the family to watch his favorite team.
"I love the Mariners. I love baseball, I couldn't get enough and my parents fed the monster as much as he wanted to be fed. It was Mariners and it was baseball, I had every player's T-shirt you could imagine," he said.
Hummel also had a Mariners-themed bedroom.
"This is my team. My bedroom had a Seattle Mariners logo on it, and I had a Seattle Mariners bedspread."
Hummel wanted to be a Mariners player so badly that he actually missed the moment he was drafted.
"I thought Seattle drafted me, but then I got a call from Milwaukee," says Hummel.
Seven years later, Hummel got the call from Seattle when the Mariners traded Kyle Lewis for him. Battling Cal Raleigh and Tom Murphy for playing time will be tough, but the M's love his bat and his versatility. Hummel can DH, catch or play in the outfield.
"This is where I've wanted to be my whole life, I said when I was 4 or 5, I'm going to play for the Mariners, that was my dream," says Hummel.