The Seattle Mariners have been blessed with a late-blooming gem in their bullpen this season in Justin Topa. The 26-year-old right-hander has been a revelation for the Mariners, providing them with a reliable arm out of the bullpen.
Topa was drafted by the Mariners in the 11th round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of the University of San Diego. He had a solid first season in the minors, but it was his second season that really opened eyes. In 2017, Topa posted a 2.66 ERA and 1.02 WHIP across two levels of the Mariners’ minor league system.
This season, Topa has taken his game to another level. He has appeared in 21 games for the Mariners, posting a 2.45 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. He has been especially effective against right-handed hitters, holding them to a .186 batting average and .542 OPS. His fastball has been particularly effective, as he has held opposing batters to a .179 average and .490 OPS against it.
Topa has also been a reliable arm out of the bullpen for the Mariners, as he has only allowed one run in his last 11 appearances. He has been especially effective in high leverage situations, as he has allowed just one earned run in his last 10 appearances in those situations.
It is clear that Topa has been a major asset for the Mariners this season. He has been a reliable arm out of the bullpen and has been especially effective against right-handed hitters. His emergence as a late-blooming gem in the Mariners’ bullpen has been a major reason why they have been able to remain competitive this season.
