Spinning Like Arroyo

Michael Arroyo (SEA): 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB.

The Mariners teed off on Gage Jump and the Athletics pitching staff on Saturday in Sacramento, collecting 19 runs, including five home runs. J.P. Crawford, Randy Arozarena, Dominic Canzone, and Cole Young were all familiar Mariners names who had home runs in their blowout victory.

However, one hitter whose home run stood out was Michael Arroyo, who hit his first career MLB home run off Athletics pitcher Joey Estes in the seventh inning.

Arroyo was recently called up and made his debut in Seattle against the Athletics. After going 0-for-3 in his MLB debut in that game and 0-for-1 in a pinch-hitting appearance against the Rangers on September 8th, Arroyo finally broke out, collecting three hits and two RBI, in addition to his first MLB home run. He is now hitting .375 with a 1.319 OPS as a Mariner.

The 21-year-old comes with a lot of prospect hype after spending the season in Double-A and Triple-A this season. He ranks No. 5 in the Mariners’ system and No. 40 overall, according to MLB Pipeline.

In 114 games and 532 plate appearances between the Travelers (Double-A) and Rainiers (Triple-A), Arroyo hit .283 with a .830 OPS. That included 18 home runs, 84 runs scored, 81 RBI collected, and 17 stolen bases. With the Mariners’ playoff hopes pretty much dashed (5.3% playoff odds, according to Fangraphs), it makes sense for Seattle to give players Arroyo a chance down the stretch.

The main issue right now is where to play Arroyo, since he is a middle infielder on a team crowded at the position. However, if Arroyo continues to hit as he did on Saturday, he will force the Mariners to clear room on the roster to give him a regular position in 2027.

 

Let’s see how the other hitters did on Saturday

Francisco Lindor (NYM): 3-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI.

The Mets took game two of the Subway Series against the Yankees on Saturday, thrashing the Bronx Bombers 12-2. Lindor was a main offensive catalyst in the Mets’ blowout win, hitting two home runs and collecting five RBI. It’s been a down year for Lindor, who has 20 home runs this year, but is only hitting .234 with a .764 OPS. He also has just three stolen bases, down from 31 a year ago.

 

Garrett Mitchell (MIL): 4-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, SB.

The Brewers and Reds got caught in a slugfest, with both teams scoring a combined 22 runs (in American Family Field, too). However, Milwaukee got the last laugh, thanks to Mitchell’s four-hit night. He not only launched his 11th home run, but he also stole his 14th base of the season. After only accumulating 78 plate appearances last year, the 28-year-old has finally stayed healthy, accumulating 485 plate appearances this year, a career-high.

 

Michael Harris II (ATL): 4-5, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, SB.

Atlanta is trying to hold off Philadelphia in the NL East, and their 10-run victory on Saturday certainly helped. Harris led the charge with four hits, three RBI, a stolen base, and a home run. The outfielder now has 25 home runs and 11 stolen bases this year, in addition to hitting .288 with an .804 OPS in 570 plate appearances. Harris still doesn’t walk (3.7% BB%), but that hasn’t stopped him from being productive fantasy-wise.

 

Hao-Yu Lee (DET): 3-5, 2 2B, 3B, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB.

Eighteen runs between the Rockies and Tigers? In Comerica Park, not Coors Field? Baseball can be strange at times. What wasn’t strange was Lee’s performance, as he had three hits, including two doubles and a triple. The Tigers’ Taiwanese rookie is having a solid season with eight home runs, a .262 average, and .739 OPS in 300 plate appearances. He may be a better real-life than fantasy player, but he’s a good streamer for short periods.

 

Fernando Tatis Jr. (SDP): 2-3, HR, R, RBI, 3 BB, 2 SB.

It was another close one for the Padres at Oracle Park, as San Diego nearly squandered a four-run lead in the 8th to the Giants. However, they held them off and stayed in the running in the Wild Card race. Tatis was a big help in this one with two hits, three walks, two stolen bases, and his 21st home run of the year. Remember back in April when he hadn’t hit a home run, and people were saying he was cooked? That seems like ancient history now.

 

Eugenio Suárez (CIN): 3-4, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB.

It’s been a vintage Suárez September. In 29 plate appearances this month, he has three home runs and is hitting .304 with a 1.187 OPS. Even though the numbers this year haven’t been great (.212 average and .737 OPS), he does have 23 home runs, and he has 12 home runs and an .834 OPS in the second half. Suarez will never be a batting average darling. However, maybe the home runs can bounce back to 30+ levels in 2027.

 

Drew Gilbert (SFG): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.

Gilbert has proved he can handle Oracle’s tough outfield dimensions on the defensive end. Offensively? There’s still some work to be done, as evidenced by his .235 average and .703 OPS in 366 plate appearances. However, Saturday showed what he can do when he’s on: two hits, two runs, two RBI, and his ninth home run of the year. 10-12 home runs for Gilbert by the end of the year could help him build some nice momentum for 2027.

 

Randal Grichuk (CHW): 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI.

The White Sox looked like they were due for their fifth straight loss. It was the top of the ninth, and Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien had the Pale Hose on the ropes, especially after striking out Munetaka Murakami. However, a botched tag on a stolen base at second kept the game alive, and then with two strikes, Grichuk flicked a sinker on the outside edge just over the right-field wall, out of the grasp of a leaping Victor Scott II. Grichuk has had a nice career rebound with the White Sox, as he has 13 home runs and an .883 OPS in 238 plate appearances this year.

 

Carter Jensen (KCR): 1-4, HR, R, RBI.

The Royals lost their 83rd game of the year, but Jensen made history, launching his 24th home run of the year. That ties him with Bob Hamelin for the most by a Royals rookie in a single season. Even though Kansas City has been bad, Jensen hasn’t, hitting .231 with a .770 OPS in 556 plate appearances. With injuries to Salvador Perez, the 23-year-old has had to take a majority of catching duties this year, but that hasn’t stopped his offensive production, though the strikeouts (27.9% K%) could come down a tad in 2027 to make him more valuable in fantasy baseball.