The Seattle Mariners ran most of their projected Opening Day starting lineup out there against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday afternoon and saw excellent results.
The M's knocked $325 million man Yoshinobu Yamamoto out after 4.2 innings, getting him for eight hits and four earned runs. Starting shortstop JP Crawford got him for a hit, as did Julio Rodriguez. Jorge Polanco hit a blistering single and Mitch Garver and Ty France each had hits that brought in runs.
Furthermore, Mitch Haniger went 1-for-3 on the day, delivering a scolding single to right field. In addition, Haniger also robbed Shohei Ohtani of a home run in the first inning.
You can watch the play below, which saw Haniger fight a tough Arizona wind.
Given his health issues of the past, it's not clear how much time Haniger will actually spend in the outfield this year, but the team intends to use him out there as long as his body feels good. Always armed with a good throwing arm, Haniger clearly has something left defensively as a whole as well.
He was re-acquired this offseason by the M's in the trade that sent Robbie Ray to the San Francisco Giants.
The 33-year-old Haniger is a lifetime .256 hitter who has played for the Diamondbacks, Mariners and Giants. He got only 211 at-bats and hit .209 with six homers last season as injuries once again piled up.
Haniger also missed the entire COVID-shortened 2020 season and then was injured in 2022 when he played just 57 games.
His best season came in 2021 for Seattle, when he hit 39 homers and drove in 100. He also made the All-Star team in 2018 when he ended up hitting 26 homers and bringing in 93.
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