It’s been a tough few weeks for Seattle Mariners fans, as General Manager Jerry Dipoto recently delivered some unwelcome news. On April 9th, Dipoto announced that the team would be without two of its key players for an extended period of time.
Outfielder Mitch Haniger and starting pitcher Marco Gonzales are both expected to miss significant time due to injuries. Haniger is out with a ruptured testicle, while Gonzales is dealing with shoulder fatigue. Both players were expected to be key contributors to the team this season, so their absence is a major blow to the Mariners’ hopes of competing in the American League West.
The news was especially disappointing for Haniger, who was off to a great start in 2021. He was batting .267 with three home runs and seven RBIs in just nine games. Gonzales was also off to a strong start, with a 3-1 record and a 3.60 ERA in four starts.
The Mariners have not yet announced how they will replace the two players in the lineup, but it’s likely that they will need to make some roster moves to fill the void. In the meantime, the team will need to lean on its other players to pick up the slack and keep the team in contention.
It’s never easy to lose two key players, but the Mariners are hoping that they can weather the storm and stay in the hunt for a playoff spot. With Dipoto at the helm, the team is confident that they can make the necessary adjustments and remain competitive in 2021.
