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.
2024
Record: 85-77, Finished 2nd (of 5) in AL West
The 2024 season was a roller coaster ride for the Mariners, who built a 10-game lead in the AL West through June 13 (44-31 record), but five weeks later had lost the lead to Houston. Midseason acquisitions of OF Victor Robles, OF Randy Arozarena and DH/1B Justin Turner supported the outstanding pitching staff. After Dan Wilson took over as field manager and Edgar Martinez took over as hitting coach on August 23, the team finished strong (21-13) to fall just one game short of a Wild Card spot. It was the team’s fourth straight winning season.
The starting rotation again was outstanding and healthy, as only six pitchers made starts. Led by All- Star Logan Gilbert (tops in MLB in innings and WHIP), Mariners starters led MLB in ERA (3.40) and eight other key metrics, including 92 quality starts.
Starters Bryce Miller (2.94 ERA), Bryan Woo (2.88 ERA) and George Kirby (MLB best strikeout to walk ratio) backed up veteran Luis Castillo on the mound. Closer Andrés Muñoz made his first All-Star team.
C Cal Raleigh emerged as a team leader both at the plate (his 34 home runs led all MLB catchers for the third consecutive season; and 100 RBI) and behind the plate (AL Gold Glove and Platinum Glove Awards). Robles was a spark plug, hitting .328 after joining the team on June 4, and stole 30 bases in 31 attempts.
2025
Record: 90-72, Finished 1st (of 5) in AL West
In a historic season on several levels, the Mariners won the American League West Championship for the first time since 2001. While posting their fifth consecutive winning season, the 2025 Mariners set many MLB and franchise records, and the dramatic Postseason run ended just eight outs away from the AL pennant and World Series.
There were historic individual and team performances, moments, milestones and awards in 2025. After beating the Detroit Tigers in Game Five of the ALDS, the Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays battled through a classic seven-game ALCS before the Jays prevailed with a 4-3 win in the deciding game.
C Cal Raleigh was the headliner, hitting the “magic” number of 60 home runs, the most ever by a catcher (topping Salvador Perez), by a switch hitter (topping Mickey Mantle) and by a Seattle Mariner (topping Ken Griffey Jr.). Cal was the AL MVP runner-up to Aaron Judge. He also won the Home Run Derby during All-Star Week in Atlanta.
However, Cal wasn’t the only standout. CF Julio Rodríguez posted his second 30-30 season (with 32 homers and 30 stolen bases). LF Randy Arozarena registered his fifth and best 20-20 season (27 HR, 31 RBI). DH/2B Jorge Polanco was a key in the middle of the lineup and drove in the winning run in the memorable deciding game the ALDS against Detroit.
President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto and General Manager Justin Hollander made two important midseason moves at the trade deadline, acquiring 1B Josh Naylor and 3B Eugenio Suarez. Naylor took over at first base and a spot in the middle of the lineup, provided intensity and leadership, and surprisingly stole 19 bases without being caught. Suarez provided a classic moment in Mariners history, hitting a go-ahead grand slam against the Toronto Blue Jays at T-Mobile Park as the Mariners won Game Five of the ALCS.
On the mound, three of the Mariners starting pitchers spend considerable time on the Injured List, but Luis Castillo was literally a “rock” in the rotation, and Bryan Woo (15-7, 2.94 ERA) went six-plus innings in his first 25 starts to keep the team on track. Andrés Muñoz (38 saves), Matt Brash, Eduard Bazardo and Gabe Speier led an effective bullpen.
Awards:
Five Mariners were named to the All-Star team (Arozarena, Munoz, Raleigh, Rodríguez, Woo).
Cal won his first Silver Slugger Award.
Cal and Julio were named to the All-MLB first team. Woo and Muñoz were named to the All-MLB second team.
Hall of Fame: Ichiro Suzuki was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, joining former Mariners Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson and Edgar Martinez in Cooperstown. Ichiro’s number 51 was retired by the Mariners in August, and in his speech he told the Mariners players to “Seize the Moment,” which became the team’s slogan in October… and the Mariners did.