The Seattle Mariners' spring has been a bit of a rollercoaster, and not the thrilling kind. With a Cactus League record sitting at 6-16, fans were hoping for a lift from their players in the World Baseball Classic. But as the tournament winds down to its finale between the USA and Venezuela, the Mariners' involvement has been more of a swing and a miss.
Let's talk about the vibe. It hasn't been great.
The tension between Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena wasn't exactly what fans were hoping for, and injuries to Miles Mastrobuoni and Julio Rodríguez have added to the woes. Rodríguez did manage to shine for the Dominican Republic, robbing Aaron Judge of a home run in a tight 2-1 semifinal loss to the USA.
Yet, despite his heroics, the Mariners' stars have struggled to find their groove in the WBC.
The Mariners' lineup in the tournament, including Raleigh, Rodríguez, Arozarena, Josh Naylor, and Dominic Canzone, hasn't quite delivered. Their collective batting average of .160 is a stark contrast to their .264 average and 134 wRC+ from 2025.
With only two homers between them, it's been a tough outing. Raleigh's swing issues might even see him benched in favor of Will Smith for the USA's final game.
The Mariners' pitchers haven't fared much better. Eduard Bazardo, after a solid start, gave up a long ball to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., echoing some painful memories from last season.
Andrés Muñoz, pitching for Mexico, couldn't find his rhythm either, allowing a run and struggling with control. Gabe Speier might still get a chance in the USA's bullpen, but his performance so far has been shaky.
Out of 18 Mariners in the WBC, the standout has been second base prospect Michael Arroyo for Colombia. His impressive .308 average and knack for quality contact have been a bright spot in an otherwise dim showing.
The hope was that the WBC would be a victory lap for the Mariners after a promising 2025, setting the stage for bigger things in 2026. Instead, the tournament has been a reminder of the challenges they face. Seattle fans are left hoping for a hero moment from Raleigh or Speier in the final, but regardless of the outcome, this spring is one they might want to forget.