Seattle Mariners fans were deep in their emotions on Friday when the team re-acquired outfielder Mitch Haniger in a trade with the San Francisco Giants.
Haniger, who played with the Mariners from 2017-2022, was acquired alongside Anthony DeSclafani in a deal for pitcher Robbie Ray.
His re-acquisition made most people in Mariners' social media-land happy and was a perfect time to bring back one of the best moments in Mariners' history.
Back in 2021, as the M's were facing their first playoff appearance since 2001, they needed to keep winning in the season's final week. In the second-to-last game of the season, trailing the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 in the eighth inning, Haniger hit a bases-loaded, full-count single which scored two runs and the M's went onto win 6-4.
That win kept them alive, but they were eliminated from playoff contention on the season's final day. But Haniger's hit, coupled with his 4-for-5 with five RBI night, and Dave Sims's reaction on the mic, helped make the moment go viral.
The 33-year-old Haniger is a lifetime .256 hitter who has played for the Diamondbacks, Mariners and Giants. He's coming off an injury-plagued season for San Francisco in which he only got 211 at-bats and hit .209 with six homers.
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.
The Mariners went 88-74 last season and will count on Haniger to play some right field and some designated hitter.
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