The Seattle Mariners are gearing up for their Cactus League opener against the San Diego Padres, and fans are in for a treat with a glimpse of two top prospects in action.
Slotted in the No. 8 and No. 9 spots are Michael Arroyo and Colt Emerson, handling second and third base, respectively. Arroyo is ranked No. 67, and Emerson an impressive No. 9 on MLB Pipeline’s top-100 list. While Arroyo isn't expected to make the Opening Day roster, Emerson's chances are still on the table, and today marks the start of his journey to earn a spot.
But the real intrigue lies with Luke Raley. In a bold move, he's leading off and playing center field. This is a significant shift, as Raley didn’t start in the leadoff spot last year and only had seven starts in center field over the past two seasons.
Raley's journey has been a rollercoaster. After a stellar debut with a 128 OPS+, 22 homers, and 3.2 rWAR in 2024, last season was a struggle.
An oblique strain and back spasms limited him to 73 games, dropping his production to an 85 OPS+ and -0.3 rWAR. Despite this, the Mariners didn’t cut ties with him in November, showing they still believe in his potential.
The plan is to utilize Raley in platoons with right-handed hitters Victor Robles and Rob Refsnyder, leveraging his career 126 wRC+ against right-handers. His leadoff role today suggests the Mariners want to maximize his at-bats to gauge his readiness for a comeback. Placing him in center field also tests his ability to occasionally cover for Julio Rodríguez.
While Raley’s performance today won't decide his fate, it’s a chance to reignite his motivation and prove his value to the team.