The key to Solano's turnaround? 'I never quit' 

This story was excerpted from Daniel Kramer's Mariners Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

MINNEAPOLIS -- If Donovan Solano let doubt into his mind during one of the worst stretches of his career during the first two months of the 2025 season, he never let it consume him.

“I never quit,” the Mariners veteran said. “That's the thing, I never quit. I tried to come here every time, try to help the team win, tried to pull my 100 percent with everything I have every single time, every single night. God has helped me now. That's what happens when you never quit.”

Indeed, Solano has been in the midst of one of Seattle’s most productive stretches, reaching exactly a full month on Tuesday.

Since May 24: 18-for-40, three homers, one double, 12 RBIs, five runs, 15.9% K rate, 6.8% walk rate, slash line of .450/.500/.700 (1.200 OPS).

Before May 24: 9-for-65, zero homers, two doubles, one RBI, one run scored, 26.5% K rate, 2.9% walk rate, slash line of .138/.162/.169 (.331 OPS)

Just about everything about his hitting profile has seen improvement. He’s making harder contact (an increase in exit velocity from 84.3 mph to 93.5 mph), doing it more consistently (an increase in hard-hit rate from 19.8% to 51.5%) and hitting all types of pitches (with a .563 batting average against fastballs and .364 against secondaries).

Yet Solano insists that he hasn’t changed anything, from his swing, setup or approach.

Some of that shows in how he’s retained his most productive attribute -- spraying balls into the gaps -- but he’s also been able to tap into more power when the situation calls for it, such as steamy and windy conditions this weekend in Chicago, where he had two homers on Sunday.

“It's hard, but we prepare mentally,” Solano said. “Playing this game as professionals, we know that we have to continue no matter what. And nothing in life is easy, so it's going to be hard. And we have to continue -- like a horse -- continue forward and try to battle as best we can. And you're seeing the result now. But at the end of the day, you'll see, like, 'OK, I gave everything I had.'”

The recent sample size is smaller, given that Solano’s playing time had dwindled mightily and that when he was still getting opportunities, it was in a first-base platoon. But that should change after the club moved on from Rowdy Tellez on Friday when reinstating Luke Raley from the injured list.

In the four games since, Solano has made two starts at first base -- both against a right-handed starting pitcher, his first of the season by design.

“They've wanted to use me against lefties, but at the same time, I just want to help the team as much as possible,” Solano said, “and I'm ready for any situation. Whatever they want to use me in, I'll be ready.”

Solano was out of Seattle’s starting lineup for Monday’s game against the Twins, with Raley making his first start at first base since returning. But how Raley was used over the weekend -- making two starts in right field with Dominic Canzone making the other, all against righty starters -- hints at how the Mariners will allocate playing time for that trio in the coming weeks.

“It's going to be mixing and matching as we go,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “And Donnie swung the bat very well [last weekend]. We've seen him at first base do a great job. So, just kind of continuing to find spots for guys to play, and things will look different from time to time. ... As we look at it, obviously, the way guys play and what they do on the field is a big factor in that.”

First base is a position that the Mariners are planning to target ahead of the July 31 Trade Deadline, but at least for now, Solano has found a resurgence in his age-37 season.