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Lineup advice to consider, from Mariners manager Scott Servais

“Julio can hit wherever he wants to hit. Everybody is going to have individual preference. Again, the game has changed. It used to be you know for a while you're No. 3 hitter was always your best hitter. Then it switched to your No. 2 guy is your best hitter. Why did that start? Well there are numbers behind it. Analytical people said, 'OK, this is where the best hitter needs to hit. It should be No. 2 and 4 and putting less focus on the No. 3 hitter.’

There are a number of different ways to look at it. I think our lineup will be very fluid. It is going to change. There'll be some nights where Julio hits leadoff. There will be other nights he may not hit leadoff, and the question will be, 'Why would Servais do that?' Well, maybe I just woke up on a different side of the bed that day and I wanted to try it. I don't know. There will always be a reason. It doesn't mean I have to tell everybody. I guess the best way to answer that.

I will say the top three hitters, Ty France is probably going to be one of them. Julio is probably going to be one of them. And there'll be certain days where Kolten Wong is up there. In the middle of the lineup, it's going to be Teoscar [Hernandez]. It's going to be Geno [Eugenio Suarez], and Cal Raleigh is probably going to hit in the middle of them because I think it balances our lineup better. And at the bottom? It’s whoever else is in the lineup. Jarred Kelenic may hit second one night, then the next night he might hit eighth. I don't know. But it will be lineup driven and whatnot.”

Julio Rodriguez, CF

Age: 22 Height: 6-3 Weight: 228 Bats: Right

2023 outlook: What else is there to say about J-Rod’s 2022 breakthrough? He put together one of the greatest rookie seasons in MLB history, becoming one of just four rookies ever to post a 6.0 WAR and an OPS+ of 145 at age 21-or-younger, joining Ted Williams (1939), Albert Pujols (2001) and Mike Trout (2012). Talk about elite company. Julio signed a massive contract extension that could keep him in Seattle for his entire career, and there’s every reason to believe he will continue his ascent as one of the game’s very best players.

Did you know? On Sept. 14, 2022, Julio became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases, surpassing Trout (128 career games). — Courtesy of Alex Mayer, M’s sports information coordinator

2022 stats: .284 avg, 28 HR, 75 RBI, 25 SB, .854 OPS, 6.2 bWAR

Ty France, 1B

Age: 28 Height: 5-11 Weight: 217 Bats: Right

2023 outlook: A first-time All-Star in 2022, France says he’s healthy again after playing through an elbow/wrist injury in the second half of last season. He was one of the best contact hitters in the AL before the injury, hitting .319 with an .873 OPS in his first 69 games. If that version of France returns to the middle of the lineup, the Mariners offense should be formidable.

Did you know? Over the last two seasons, France has five game-TYing hits in the ninth inning or later, which is tied for most in MLB (with Milwaukee’s Willy Adames). — Courtesy of Alex Mayer, M’s sports information coordinator

2022 stats: .274 avg, 20 HR, 83 RBI, .338 OBP, .436 SLG, 3.1 bWAR

Teoscar Hernandez, RF

Age: 30 Height: 6-2 Weight: 215 Bats: Right

2023 outlook: The Mariners’ most significant offseason addition, Hernandez was acquired from Toronto in a November trade for reliever Erik Swanson and minor-league pitcher Adam Macko. He’ll take over for the departed Mitch Haniger in right field and bat in the middle of the lineup. An All-Star in 2021, when he posted 32 homers and 116 RBI, “Teo” was slowed by an oblique injury early in 2022 but still ended up hitting 25 homers and 35 doubles with an .807 OPS. Entering a contract year, he has a chance to be the difference-making run-producer the M’s need.

Did you know? Hernandez last season was one of three players to rank in the 95th percentile in hard-hit percentage and 85th percentile in arm strength, along with Aaron Judge and new teammate Julio Rodriguez. — Courtesy of Alex Mayer, M’s sports information coordinator

2022 stats: .274 avg, 20 HR, 83 RBI, .338 OBP, .436 SLG, 3.1 bWAR

Cal Raleigh, C

Age: 26 Height: 6-3 Weight: 235 Bats: Switch

2023 outlook: It’s not out of the question that by the end of the season we could be talking about the switch-hitting Raleigh as the best two-way catcher in baseball. His 27 homers last season ranked No. 1 among all MLB catchers, and he ranked as the second-most valuable catcher per FanGraphs’ defensive metrics. His turnaround after a forgettable start last April was remarkable, all the way up to his storybook home run on Sept. 30 that sent the M’s (finally) back to the postseason. One of the most coveted assets in all of baseball is a young, reliable catcher who can hit for power and play steady defense — and the Mariners have found one. Raleigh is still just 26 years old, and it feels like he’s just getting started.

Did you know? Raleigh last season was one of three catchers in MLB history age 25-or-younger to hit 25 home runs, post a 120 OPS+ and more than 1.0 dWAR, joining Johnny Bench (three times) and Mike Piazza. — Courtesy of Alex Mayer, M’s sports information coordinator

2022 stats: .211 avg, 27 HR, 63 RBI, .284 OBP, .489 SLG, 3.9 bWAR

Eugenio Suarez, 3B

Age: 31 Height: 5-11 Weight: 213 Bats: Right

2023 outlook: Suarez, initially considered the secondary piece in the 2022 spring-training trade that also brought Jesse Winker to Seattle, wound up being one of the most valuable players on the Mariners’ playoff team. He led the team in homers (31) and extra-base hits (57), played above-average defense at third, and his "good vibes only" ethos endeared him to teammates and fans alike. The Mariners hope for more of the same in 2023.

Did you know? Suarez has 160 home runs over the last five seasons (2018-22), second-most in MLB over that span behind only Aaron Judge (164 HR). — Courtesy of Alex Mayer, M’s sports information coordinator

2022 stats: .236 avg, 31 HR, 87 RBI, .332 OBP, .459 SLG, 3.9 bWAR

Jarred Kelenic, LF

Age: 23 Height: 6-1 Weight: 206 Bats: Left

2023 outlook: Kelenic’s talent and drive have never been in question. What remains in question is whether Kelenic’s tantalizing potential can carry over into the regular season. And more to the point: How will the former top prospect handle his first rough patch once the season begins? Kelenic had a spectacular spring. He made some notable changes to his swing and his setup. But by all accounts, his biggest adjustment has been his mental approach. He has appeared more relaxed at the plate, and he has been intentional in shortening his stroke with two strikes. It worked wonders in February and March. As much as any hitter, Kelenic should benefit from the elimination of the infield shifts. And if he can keep it going through the summer, the Mariners’ offensive ceiling rises dramatically.

Did you know? On May 14, 2021, Kelenic became the youngest AL player with three extra-base hits out of the leadoff spot since Rickey Henderson on Sept. 7, 1979. — Courtesy of Alex Mayer, M’s sports information coordinator

2022 stats: .141 avg, 7 HR, 5 SB, .221 OBP, .312 SLG, -0.2 bWAR

AJ Pollock, LF/DH

Age: 35 Height: 6-1 Weight: 210 Bats: Right

2023 outlook: The Mariners signed Pollock to a one-year, $7 million free-agent deal in January to add an experienced right-handed bat to the lineup. He’ll platoon with Jarred Kelenic in left field and serve as the part-time designated hitter. An All-Star with the Diamondbacks in 2015, and a World Series champion with the Dodgers in 2020, Pollock has a strong track record against left-handed pitching, and the Mariners will count on more of that this season.

Did you know? Pollock’s .943 OPS against left-handed pitchers ranks fourth among MLB outfielders (min. 400 PA) since 2019, trailing only Aaron Judge, Mike Trout and new teammate Teoscar Hernandez. — Courtesy of Alex Mayer, M’s sports information coordinator

2022 stats: .245 avg, 14 HR, 56 RBI, .292 OBP, .389 SLG, 0.4 bWAR

Kolten Wong, 2B

Age: 32 Height: 5-7 Weight: 185 Bats: Left

2023 outlook: Acquired in a December trade with Milwaukee for Jesse Winker and Abraham Toro, Wong brings a decade of experience to the M’s lineup. He’s coming off a solid year offensively in 2022, when he hit a career-high 15 homers with career-best OPS+ of 118. He could be an option at leadoff when the M’s face right-handed starters, against whom Wong slashed .277/.357/.489 last year. A two-time Gold Glove winner, Wong did commit 17 errors last season, matching his career high. He’s worked this spring to shore up his defense at second base, and that’ll be of particular importance now that infield shifts have been banned.

Did you know? Wong on Oct. 10, 2015, became the first player in National League history, and third in MLB history, to homer on his birthday in the postseason. — Courtesy of Alex Mayer, M’s sports information coordinator

2022 stats: .251 avg, 15 HR, 17 SB, .339 OBP, .430 SLG, 3.1 bWAR

J.P. Crawford, SS

Age: 28 Height: 6-2 Weight: 202 Bats: Left

2023 outlook: A Gold Glove winner in 2020, Crawford was again the middle-of-the-field anchor for one of the AL’s best defenses in 2022. It’s largely for that reason that the Mariners have continued to double down on their commitment to Crawford at shortstop, despite his offensive dropoff in 2022. Still, even in a down year at the plate, he did produce a 2.7 Baseball Reference WAR and a league-average OPS+ (100). The Mariners plan to be more intentional about giving Crawford days off — and protecting him from some tough left-handed starters — in hopes of keeping him healthy and fresh throughout the season.

Did you know? In the M’s wild-card-clinching victory at Toronto on Oct. 8, Crawford became the second player with a three-RBI, game-tying hit with the bases loaded in the eighth inning or later in postseason history, joining David Ortiz (grand slam on Oct. 13, 2013). — Courtesy of Alex Mayer, M’s sports information coordinator

2022 stats: .243 avg, 6 HR, 42 RBI, .339 OBP, .336 SLG, 2.7 bWAR

Sam Haggerty, INF/OF

Age: 28 Height: 5-11 Weight: 175 Bats: Switch

Did you know? Sam Haggerty last season was the second-most valuable player in MLB by WAR (2.2) among players with less than 200 at-bats, trailing only Matt Carpenter (2.4). — Courtesy of Alex Mayer, M’s sports information coordinator

2022 stats: .256 avg, 5 HR, 13 SB, .335 OBP, .403 SLG, 2.2 bWAR

Cooper Hummel, C/UTL

Age: 28 Height: 5-10 Weight: 198 Bats: Switch

Did you know? On April 10, 2022, Hummel became the first player to homer out of the leadoff spot within his first four career games since Jarred Kelenic did it for the Mariners on May 14, 2021. — Courtesy of Alex Mayer, M’s sports information coordinator

2022 stats: .176 avg. (in 176 ABs), 3 HR, 4 SB, .274 OBP, .307 SLG

Tom Murphy, C

Age: 32 on April 3 Height: 6-1 Weight: 206 Bats: Right

Did you know? Tom Murphy’s .930 OPS against left-handed pitchers ranks second among MLB catchers (min. 200 PA) since joining the Mariners in 2019.

2022 stats: .303 avg, .439 OBP, .455 SLG (14 games before injury)

Tommy La Stella, INF

Age: 34 Height: 5-11 Weight: 180 Bats: Left

Did you know? Tommy La Stella leads the majors in pinch hits (55) and times on base (86) as a pinch hitter since making his debut in 2014. — Courtesy of Alex Mayer, M’s sports information coordinator

2022 stats: .239 avg (180 AB), 2 HR, .632 OPS

Dylan Moore, INF/OF

Age: 30 Height: 6-0 Weight: 205 Bats: Right

Did you know? Last season, Moore was the only player in the majors to play at least seven positions and produce an OPS+ of at least 120. He became the first MLB player to do that (min. 100 PA) since … Dylan Moore in 2020. Note: Moore (oblique strain) is expected to start the season on the injured list.

2022 stats: .224 avg, 6 HR, 21 SB, .368 OBP, .385 SLG, 1.4 bWAR