PHOENIX -- Ever since Victor Robles sent himself hurtling headlong into the netting down the right-field line at Oracle Park on April 7, dislocating his left shoulder in the process, the Mariners have been searching for a right fielder.
Over the past month, they thought it could be Leody Taveras. But after a 28-game stretch in which he hit .174 with just a 37 OPS+, the team decided to move on from the 26-year-old, designating him for assignment prior to Monday’s game against the D-backs at Chase Field. The move comes as something of a surprise, considering the club is on the hook for the $4.75 million remaining on his contract this season.
Taveras was long-viewed as one of the premier prospects in the Rangers’ system, having rated as their No. 1 talent prior to the 2018 season. While he has established a reputation as a solid defensive outfielder over his five big league campaigns, the switch-hitter has struggled to find his footing offensively with a .651 OPS in 533 games.
“I think Leody is a very talented player and has a lot of tools,” manager Dan Wilson said. “But I think offensively, it was a little inconsistent.”
Taking Taveras’ roster spot is outfielder Dominic Canzone, who is back for a second stint with Seattle this season. He appeared in two contests during early April and went a combined 0-for-3, coming off the bench in a pair of late-game scenarios.
Canzone is the latest name to have enjoyed a strong stretch with Triple-A Tacoma and be rewarded with a promotion, having slashed .296/.360/.564 across 45 games. The left-handed hitter swung the bat particularly well during the month of May, compiling 29 RBIs in 24 contests.
What clicked in that span? It’s simple, really:
“Just trying to get heaters in the middle of the plate, trying to get offspeed up,” Canzone said, “and just trying to simplify everything and just stay in the middle of the field.”
His arrival is particularly timely as Seattle acquired the 27-year-old Canzone from Arizona at the 2023 Trade Deadline as part of the Paul Sewald deal. His final game as a D-back came against the Mariners on July 30, 2023, so getting the call to return to The Show at the park he first debuted made it extra sweeter.
“Dom's been swinging it well, so [this is] a chance to get him up here and give him some at-bats and see how it goes,” Wilson said. “We know Dom can hit for power; we've known that and we saw that in Spring Training as well. When he gets the barrel to the ball, it goes. I think getting him back here, he started doing that pretty well down in Tacoma -- swinging pretty consistently -- so he’s getting a chance back up here to do that.”
Canzone is expected to be part of a mix-and-match group that sees time in right field. Utility man Miles Mastrobuoni got the start there for Monday’s series opener, with Dylan Moore joining Canzone as part of the group that will accrue at-bats.
Luke Raley (right oblique strain) has made 10 starts in right this season as well and is currently sidelined on the 10-day injured list, but he is expected to begin a Minor League rehab stint this week.
On the prospect front, the highest-ranking right-field option down on the farm would be Jared Sundstrom (SEA No. 23), who has made 37 starts at the spot at Double-A Arkansas but is yet to appear at the Minors’ highest level. Harry Ford, the club’s No. 5 prospect and MLB’s No. 63, hit .411 with a 1.120 OPS during the month of May for Tacoma but has played entirely behind the dish or at designated hitter this season after making eight starts in left field last year and is not on the club’s radar as an option in the outfield.