Randy Arozarena will likely be the Mariners lone representative at the All-Star game in 2026.
Major League Baseball announced on Saturday the initial rosters for the American and National League All-Star teams. This included each team's starting lineup (chosen by fans) as well as their pitchers and reserves (chosen by players and the commissioner's office).
Arozarena was the only Mariner named to the team for the AL. He was not selected by fan vote, nor did any Mariners players make it to the second phase of fan voting. But he's a deserving All-Star nonetheless, ranking fifth among AL outfielders with 2.3 fWAR. He's been the Mariners most valuable hitter with a 141 wRC+ (.280/.370/.436) and their most valuable base runner (19 stolen bases and 2.2 BsR). No matter what flavor of WAR you use, Arozarena is on track to have his most valuable season as a big-leaguer should current trends hold, something he credits to fully buying in to the Mariners' approach of using the whole field.
"This year, I came with a different approach," Arozarena said through team interpreter Freddy Llanos. "I've been listening a lot more to the hitting coaches, coming in with a plan and sticking to that plan, and you've seen teh results this season. Before, I think I would just go out there and every pitch, my mentality was, hit this ball out of the ballpark.
Now, I've been able to use the middle of the field, hit the ball around and make those adjustments. Now I'm going up there and thinking, where can I place this ball, and trying to use all my tools that I can to place that ball in that spot."
Major League Baseball announced on Saturday the initial rosters for the American and National League All-Star teams. This included each team's starting lineup (chosen by fans) as well as their pitchers and reserves (chosen by players and the commissioner's office).
Arozarena was the only Mariner named to the team for the AL. He was not selected by fan vote, nor did any Mariners players make it to the second phase of fan voting. But he's a deserving All-Star nonetheless, ranking fifth among AL outfielders with 2.3 fWAR. He's been the Mariners most valuable hitter with a 141 wRC+ (.280/.370/.436) and their most valuable base runner (19 stolen bases and 2.2 BsR). No matter what flavor of WAR you use, Arozarena is on track to have his most valuable season as a big-leaguer should current trends hold, something he credits to fully buying in to the Mariners' approach of using the whole field.
"This year, I came with a different approach," Arozarena said through team interpreter Freddy Llanos. "I've been listening a lot more to the hitting coaches, coming in with a plan and sticking to that plan, and you've seen teh results this season. Before, I think I would just go out there and every pitch, my mentality was, hit this ball out of the ballpark.
Now, I've been able to use the middle of the field, hit the ball around and make those adjustments. Now I'm going up there and thinking, where can I place this ball, and trying to use all my tools that I can to place that ball in that spot."
2 months ago
