Franchise Timeline
2020
Record: 27-33, Finished 3rd (of 5) in AL West
Just as the COVID-19 pandemic dominated the world in 2020, the health crisis also had a significant impact on the world of baseball. For safety reasons, spring training came to an abrupt halt on March 10 and the regular season was shortened to 60 games, beginning on July 24.
Despite dealing with many issues due to the pandemic, the Mariners made great strides forward with its youth movement. Led by American League Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis, who was the top Major League rookie in runs, walks, total bases and tied for most home runs, the Mariners also saw strong rookie showings from starting pitchers Justus Sheffield and Justin Dunn.
The young team came together to go 19-14 over the final 33 games
Awards: First baseman Evan White, first-round draft pick in 2017, became the first rookie to ever win a Gold Glove Award, as did rising shortstop J.P. Crawford.
Fan Cutouts: For health reasons, fans were not permitted to attend sporting events in 2020. However, for fun, Mariners fans purchased nearly 15,000 “Seat Fleet” cutouts which were placed in the stands at T-Mobile Park for the 30 home games. The physical presence of the cutouts helped bring color and atmosphere to the ballpark and on TV screens. A portion of the proceeds were donated to local COVID relief efforts.
2021
Record: 90-72, Finished 2nd (of 5) in AL West
The 2021 season was a major step forward as the Mariners won 90 games for the first time since 2003 and remained in playoff contention as they entered the final weekend of the season tied with Boston thanks to an 11-2 run down the stretch in September. The result was three sold out crowds at T-Mobile Park.
In the third year of its rebuild, the Seattle club surprised the experts at the big league level while at the same time putting together the number-one ranked farm system in the game.
As the world and the game of baseball rebounded from the pandemic and fans were slowly allowed to return to the ballpark, the Mariners led MLB with a 33-19 record in one-run games, thanks to an outstanding bullpen (Paul Sewald, Casey Sadler, Drew Steckenrider) and an underrated starting rotation (Chris Flexen, Marco Gonzales and the debut of Logan Gilbert).
RF Mitch Haniger, 1B Ty France, 3B Kyle Seager and SS J.P. Crawford were the leading position players, as young products of the farm system C Cal Raleigh and OF Jarred Kelenic made their Major League debuts.
Seager’s Retirement: 3B Kyle Seager, who spent his entire 11-year career in Seattle, announced his retirement at the end of the season. He finished strong, with 35 home runs and 101 RBI, and with an emotional goodbye from teammates and fans at T-Mobile Park on the final day of the season.
2022
Record: 90-72, Finished 2nd (of 5) in AL West; AL Wild Card
Signature Moment: At 9:28 pm on Friday, September 30, when Cal Raleigh’s home run crashed into the window of the Hit It Here Café in right field at T-Mobile Park, the Mariners clinched a postseason playoff berth for the first time since 2001. That iconic shot set off celebrations on the field, in the seats and around the Northwest that instantly became one of the most memorable moments in franchise history.
There were many storylines for the 2022 Mariners. After a slow start (29-39 through June 19), the Mariners had the second-best record in the AL (61-33). They led MLB in one-run wins (34) for the second straight year, the first team to do so since 1897-98.
- The Mariners clinched a Wild Card berth with a dramatic walkoff homer by C Cal Raleigh at T-Mobile Park in game #156.
- They then swept the Blue Jays in the best-of-3 AL Wild Card Series at Toronto, highlighted by a dramatic come-from-behind win in Game 2 to overcome an 8-1 deficit to win 10-9.
- The Mariners played great baseball but lost the AL Division Series to the Houston Astros, including an instant classic, 18-inning, 1-0 defeat in Game 3 at T-Mobile Park.
- CF Julio Rodriguez burst onto the scene to lead the team. The 21-year old was named the AL Rookie of the Year and received a Silver Slugger Award (28 HR, 75 RBI, 25 SB). He was named to the AL All-Star team and put on a spectacular performance in the Home Run Derby at Dodger Stadium.
- A midseason trade for RHP Luis Castillo completed an outstanding starting rotation (with Robbie Ray, Marco Gonzales, Logan Gilbert and rookie George Kirby). Another outstanding performance by the bullpen was instrumental in the successful season.
2023
Record: 88-74, Finished 3rd (of 5) in AL West
The Mariners competed in a highly competitive American League West until the final weekend of the 2023 regular season, ultimately falling short of a Postseason berth by just two games. The season was highlighted by a memorable August, when the club tallied the most wins (21) in any month in franchise history.
The team was led by an outstanding starting rotation – featuring Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo – and bullpen fronted by Andrés Muñoz and Matt Brash. The pitching staff set a franchise record with 1,459 strikeouts.
On the offensive side, reigning Rookie of the Year OF Julio Rodríguez recorded a 30/30 season, earning his second Silver Slugger and a 4th-place AL MVP finish. Also pacing the lineup were SS J.P. Crawford and C Cal Raleigh, who both posted career years at the plate.
2023 All-Star Week: MLB’s All-Star festivities were held in Seattle for the first time since 2001, with Julio Rodríguez putting on a record-setting show in the Home Run Derby with 41 blasts in the opening round. He, along with George Kirby and Luis Castillo, represented the hometown team at T-Mobile Park in the 93rd Midsummer Classic. The Mariners also partnered with MLB and Ken Griffey Jr. to host the first-ever HBCU Swingman Classic, providing a showcase for 50 HBCU Division-I players to compete on the national stage.