SEATTLE -- The Mariners¡¯ bats were again held in check in a 7-1 loss to the Angels in Saturday¡¯s nightcap of a doubleheader, but the return of arguably their best player could mean better times ahead.?
After a 14-week recovery from a Grade 2 right high ankle sprain, Mitch Haniger was activated from the 60-day injured list in between Seattle¡¯s 2-1 win in the matinee and the finale. The right fielder received a roaring ovation when his name was announced and again when he took the field.?
Though Haniger didn¡¯t inject immediate life to the lineup, going 1-for-3 with a walk and double, his return represents a possible huge addition as the Mariners eye the final eight-plus weeks of the season.
¡°I was feeling really a lot of energy all day today,¡± Haniger said. ¡°I¡¯m really excited to get back out on the field and rejoin the team. We¡¯ve been playing great, and I¡¯ve been itching to get back ever since I got hurt. It¡¯s just about making sure that I¡¯m feeling good, my body is ready to play every day and that I¡¯m checking all the boxes.¡±
The Mariners have sorely missed Haniger¡¯s middle-of-the-order presence and have essentially lacked a player with his pop while he¡¯s been shelved. Eugenio Su¨¢rez might be the closest such bat, with 18 homers, but he¡¯s far streakier than Haniger, who was one of just nine big leaguers with 39 homers and 100 RBIs in 2021.
Haniger¡¯s return was a leading reason that the Mariners didn¡¯t add an impact bat ahead of the Trade Deadline, instead viewing him as the midseason, difference-making addition.
Julio Rodr¨ªguez, expected to return next week from a right wrist contusion, has emerged as an offensive threat, too, but he¡¯s given manager Scott Servais the ideal power/speed combo at leadoff. With most lineup constructions slated to feature Rodr¨ªguez, Ty France and Haniger, in order, the bottom half becomes deeper, and opponents won¡¯t be able to pitch around France and Rodr¨ªguez as regularly as they did during Seattle¡¯s downturn in May and June.
¡°We certainly need guys back and swinging it and clicking,¡± Mariners manager Scott Servais. ¡°Like I said, the middle of our lineup, we struggled today.¡±
Haniger was activated between games to allow him to complete a more regular pregame routine. As has been the case with most Mariners returning from injury this season, he¡¯ll likely see DH time. Haniger played in 11 games on a Minor League rehab assignment, hitting .267/.488/.567 (1.055 OPS) with three homers in 43 plate appearances.
¡°I think it¡¯ll literally be day to day,¡± Servais said. ¡°We¡¯ll stop in every night and stop in before we leave the ballpark and have an idea if he¡¯s available the next day and if he¡¯s in the lineup or not. I¡¯m expecting that he¡¯ll be good to go. His rehab was extensive. It was long. And part of that was so that he can be close to 100 percent and be able to play.¡±
There¡¯s also a leadership component here, too. Last October, after Seattle came just short of the postseason, Haniger penned a passionate letter in the Players¡¯ Tribune to Mariners fans, vowing that he would do all he could to help end the club¡¯s 20-year playoff drought. Haniger has been around T-Mobile Park all along and was a regular clubhouse presence, but it¡¯s naturally harder to lead when you¡¯re injured.
¡°Whether we¡¯re playing really well or really bad, I want to be out there, so it sucks to be on the sidelines and it kills me more than anyone,¡± Haniger said. ¡°And I¡¯ve spent a lot of time on the sidelines over the last couple of years, and I¡¯m hoping all the injuries are behind me.¡±
Beyond these final two months -- and potentially October -- Haniger eyes what could be his final stretch in Seattle. The 31-year-old is slated to become a free agent at season¡¯s end.
¡°I¡¯ve been really happy with how the team has been playing,¡± Haniger said. ¡°The guys have been doing great. I¡¯ve been really excited to get back, so I¡¯ve been working as hard as possible to lead this team to the playoffs and win the World Series. That¡¯s always been the goal.¡±