Mariners’ Michael Arroyo Lives Up To Billing This Spring

When the Mariners signed shortstop Michael Arroyo out of Colombia in January 2022, they believed he was one of the more advanced pure hitters in that year’s international class.

Arroyo certainly has lived up to that billing so far.

The 18-year-old righthanded hitter compiled a standout pro debut in the Dominican Summer League last season, batting .314/.457/.484 with four home runs in 50 games. He totaled nearly as many walks (27) as strikeouts (33).

He then continued to impress with a strong performance at minor league camp this spring.

“He stood out to everybody,” Mariners assistant general manager Andy McKay said. “He just showed really impressively on both sides of the baseball.”

With elite plate discipline and an exceptional feel for the strike zone, Arroyo has a particularly mature approach for his age. And with quick hands and a compact swing, he excels at producing consistent contact.

“It’s the presence in the batter’s box—the calmness, the confidence, how slow it is for him at such a young age,” McKay said.

After signing with the Mariners for $1.375 million, Arroyo put his advanced approach and hitting prowess on full display in the DSL last year. Yet perhaps even more impressive was Arroyo’s ability to replicate those traits against a higher level of competition in Arizona this spring.

“For him to walk into that environment and maintain that level of presence and confidence was great to see,” McKay said. “. . . It didn’t overwhelm him one bit.”

Arroyo complements his hitting with average arm strength, average fielding and average speed.

Due to a stockpile of shortstops in the Mariners’ system, Arroyo could eventually move off the position. Last year, he played 27 games at shortstop, 11 at third base and seven at second base.

Arroyo began the year in extended spring training to prepare for the Arizona Complex League season in June.

“I don’t think there could be more excitement about him right now,” McKay said.

MARINADE 

— It was an eventful spring for Mariners top prospect Harry Ford. The athletic 20-year-old catcher performed well in his first major league spring training, highlighted by a 2-for-4 showing at the plate in game action. He also starred for Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic, blasting two home runs and a double in four games.

“He was working in drills next to (big league catchers) Cal Raleigh and Tom Murphy, and he fit right in,” McKay said. “He earned some respect . . . And for him to step up the way he did in (the WBC) was just another huge growth moment for him.”

— The Mariners have a talented wave of pitching prospects in the upper levels of their system. Righthander Taylor Dollard opens the season at Triple-A Tacoma, while righthanders Bryce Miller, Emerson Hancock, Bryan Woo and Prelander Berroa start at Double-A Arkansas.