Ryan Bliss Is Healthy Again-But Is There Still Room for Him in Seattle?
Just under a year ago, Ryan Bliss was riding high. The Mariners’ second base job was his to start the 2025 season, a spring training performance had earned him the Opening Day nod, and he was gearing up for a January wedding with teammate J.P.
Crawford set to officiate. It was shaping up to be a dream year-on and off the field.
But baseball, like life, doesn’t always follow the script.
On April 8, during a game against the Astros, Bliss tore his left biceps mid-swing. The next day, he was placed on the 10-day injured list.
Then came the tough news: he’d need surgery and would be sidelined for four to five months. The hope was he'd follow a path similar to Víctor Robles-get healthy, ramp up in time, and rejoin the team for a late-season playoff push.
That comeback never materialized. During a September rehab assignment, Bliss suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee.
Another surgery. Another setback.
And just like that, his 2025 season was over.
A Crowded Infield Picture
Fast forward to now-spring training in Peoria. Bliss is healthy again and back in camp, but the landscape around him has shifted. The Mariners’ infield is more crowded than ever, and Bliss finds himself in a tough spot: technically in the mix, but realistically on the outside looking in.
Right now, Cole Young is penciled in as the starting second baseman. If that doesn’t stick, or if top prospect Colt Emerson forces the issue, the recently acquired Brendan Donovan-who spent most of last season starting at second for the Cardinals-is waiting in the wings. Donovan’s versatility gives Seattle options, but it also tightens the squeeze on players like Bliss.
And it doesn’t stop there. Leo Rivas is in the picture, thanks to his switch-hitting and defensive flexibility.
Miles Mastrobuoni is out of minor league options, which gives him a leg up in roster decisions. All of this makes the path back to the big leagues that much steeper for Bliss.
What's Next for Bliss?
Let’s be real: barring injuries or a surprise spring breakout, Bliss is likely headed to Triple-A Tacoma to begin the season. That’s not necessarily a bad thing for the Mariners-they get a quality depth piece who’s already proven he can contribute. But for Bliss, it’s fair to ask: is this the right place for him to grow?
The numbers don’t tell the whole story. Sure, he’s hit just .214 with a .654 OPS in 44 big-league games.
But that’s a small sample size. Before the biceps injury, he was on a six-game hitting streak and had an .833 OPS in that stretch.
And in the minors, he’s posted a career .800 OPS-proof that there’s real offensive potential here.
Bliss was part of the return in the 2023 trade that sent Paul Sewald to Arizona. At the time, Seattle saw him as a key piece-an athletic, high-energy infielder with upside. That evaluation hasn’t changed, but the timing and circumstances just haven’t worked in his favor.
A Player Worth Watching
Bliss is still just 26. He’s healthy again.
He’s shown flashes of what he can do. The question now is whether Seattle is the place where he’ll get the opportunity to prove it over a full season.
With the infield logjam and the organization’s depth, it might take a trade to unlock his next chapter.
For now, he’ll keep working in Peoria, trying to force the issue. And if he does end up in Tacoma, don’t be surprised if he becomes one of the first names called if the Mariners need help at second base.
Because despite the setbacks, Ryan Bliss still has the tools-and the drive-to make an impact. Whether that’s in Seattle or somewhere else remains to be seen.