PEORIA, Ariz. -- Eugenio Suárez didn¡¯t like what he felt at the plate earlier this week. The timing was off, the rhythm was ¡°getting there¡± and the upcoming World Baseball Classic, where he¡¯ll be playing for Team Venezuela, awaits.?

So, Seattle¡¯s slugging third baseman asked manager Scott Servais if he could play for a third day in a row in Thursday's game vs. the Padres, something not common this early into the Cactus League schedule. If there were kinks, Su¨¢rez seemingly worked them out with a 410-foot homer to right-center field in the 5-4 win.?

¡°I want to be ready to represent my country, so that's why I asked for more,¡± Su¨¢rez said. ¡°And that's going to help me to be ready for the WBC and then back here [to the Mariners] and keep doing it. ... It¡¯s tough because I don¡¯t have time to play around. I¡¯ve got to face pitchers.¡±

Like most Classic participants, Su¨¢rez ramped up his preparation earlier than usual this offseason. He¡¯s thrilled that Team Venezuela begins the tournament in Miami, his offseason home and where he¡¯ll have a big number of family members in attendance.?

¡°I don¡¯t know if this opportunity is going to happen again,¡± Su¨¢rez said. ¡°So that¡¯s why I¡¯m going to go in there and enjoy the moment. ... Of course I¡¯m going to miss my teammates here in Arizona, but I¡¯ll be back, for sure, and ready to put everything together for Opening Day.¡±

It¡¯s been almost one year since Su¨¢rez arrived in Seattle in a big trade with Cincinnati that was largely billed on Jesse Winker, who was coming off an All-Star season and expected to be a major run producer, which the Mariners lacked. Yet, Winker had a disappointing year, finished the season on the injured list and was traded to Milwaukee in December with Abraham Toro for Kolten Wong.?

Su¨¢rez was an established MLB slugger, with more homers (160) since 2018 than any hitter but Aaron Judge (164). Earning $11.3 million in each of the next two years, he wasn¡¯t a salary throw-in, by any means; the Mariners recognize that he was even more productive than they envisioned. Su¨¢rez hit .236/.332/.459 (.791 OPS) with a team-leading 31 homers and 4.1 wins above replacement, per FanGraphs, eighth-most among third basemen.?

At a position that was exclusively manned by Kyle Seager for 10 full seasons before his retirement at the end of 2021, Su¨¢rez quickly caught on.?

¡°He has an intensity about him, but he¡¯s not afraid to share with the group what he's thinking,¡± Servais said. ¡°And most times, it's in total alignment for how we want to play and how we want to go about stuff.¡±

Strikeouts have always been part of Su¨¢rez¡¯s game, and he led the American League with 196 last season. But he also proved to be one of Seattle¡¯s best situational hitters in leverage moments, including the postseason, in which he went 7-for-20 with a homer, two doubles and three RBIs, nearly all delivered in big moments.?

¡°Along the way, you feel better about him hitting with runners in scoring position and not just looking for the homer,¡± Servais said. ¡°But can you find a way to get [runners] in? And he has gotten better in those spots.¡±

On-field success certainly resonates with fans, but it¡¯s Su¨¢rez¡¯s personality that was an even bigger hit.

He arrived here preaching ¡°good vibes only,¡± a phrase that, despite its clich¨¦, quickly caught on for its authenticity. Su¨¢rez lives and breathes it, and fans noticed. A Sunday day game last August featuring a ¡°good vibes only¡± tank-top giveaway became one of the season¡¯s most popular items. He also earned the club¡¯s ¡°Unsung Hero¡± award and gave a passionate speech to the home crowd at T-Mobile Park on the final day of the regular season.?

The nine-year big leaguer said it was the most fun he¡¯s had playing baseball.?

¡°Last year was absolutely a really good year for me and I loved everything that happened,¡± Su¨¢rez said. ¡°Those were the most exciting moments and the most fun team I¡¯ve ever had. ... For me, especially, the new guy on the team, the support that [the fans] gave to me was at another level.¡±

He¡¯s been here only one year, yet Su¨¢rez is already among the franchise¡¯s most familiar faces -- and he genuinely loves that.