The Mariners announced they’ve selected infielder Ryan Bliss onto the MLB roster. Second baseman Jorge Polanco is headed to the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. To open a spot on the 40-man roster, the M’s recalled Sam Haggerty and placed him on the major league 60-day IL.
It’s the first major league call for the 24-year-old Bliss. The Diamondbacks picked the 5’7″ middle infielder in the second round of the 2021 draft out of Auburn. Bliss rebounded from a tough first full professional season with a breakout 2023 campaign. The right-handed hitter raked at a .358/.414/.594 clip with Arizona’s Double-A affiliate. He earned a call to the Futures Game last summer and was involved in a significant trade not long thereafter. The D-Backs packaged him to Seattle alongside Josh Rojas and Dominic Canzone for closer Paul Sewald.
That wasn’t the most popular trade in the M’s clubhouse at the time, and the second-guessing only got louder when Seattle narrowly missed the playoffs last season. Sewald, meanwhile, stabilized a shaky bullpen in the desert to help Arizona to a surprising World Series berth. The Mariners have gotten good work from both Rojas and Canzone through the first two months of 2024, though. Bliss now joins them on the big league roster.
Bliss finished last season with the M’s top affiliate in Tacoma, hitting .251/.356/.466 over 47 games. He has similar numbers through 50 contests with the Rainiers this year. Bliss owns a .247/.382/.445 batting line through 229 plate appearances. He has walked at a massive 17% clip against a manageable 21.8% strikeout percentage. Bliss has already stolen 28 bases in 34 tries and has reasonable power numbers (seven homers, nine doubles and three triples).
While his slight frame limits his raw power upside, Bliss offers a well-rounded profile that could make him a viable everyday player. He has split his time about evenly between the middle infield spots this year. Prospect evaluators have generally preferred him at second base rather than shortstop because of his fringe arm strength.
That’s where he’ll slot in during his first MLB look. J.P. Crawford has shortstop secure, but Polanco has played sparingly in recent days because of hamstring discomfort. Acquired as part of an overhauled Seattle offense, the longtime Twin has slumped to a .195/.293/.302 showing to begin his Mariner tenure. The M’s plugged Luis Urías into the lineup when Polanco missed a few games two weeks ago. Seattle optioned him last week and will give Bliss a look at second base instead of the more experienced Urías, another offseason pickup who has only hit .152/.264/.316 in 34 games.
The M’s essentially had an open 40-man roster spot after Haggerty suffered a season-ending Achilles tear last week. That occurred in Tacoma, so the outfielder initially went on the minor league injured list. He’ll spend the rest of the season on the MLB IL, where he’ll pick up major league service. Haggerty should narrowly cross the four-year service threshold and would likely be in line for another salary in the realm of this year’s $900K if the Mariners tender him a contract next offseason.
The situation is getting precarious now.
I hope the magic works again.
Go Mariners!
War Eagle
I like that, kanye.
Quick fix! And guess what – Bliss is in the lineup for tonight.
I’ve never heard of him, but then again, ignorance is Bliss.
Very interesting minor league stats. Anyone know how he handles the glove?
iirc not well enough to play anywhere but 2b unfortunately, so not really a utility bench option
He has an amazing glove and has been MLB-ready defensively for more than a year now. His big issue on the diamond is that his arm is a limp noodle. He’s got all the skills necessary to play 2B at the highest level defensively, but he is not going to make many plays at SS that are outside of the routine.
The question about Bliss has always been whether or not he would hit enough to keep his glove on the field.
Thanks for the input. When it comes to SS defense, I’ve become a skeptic on the “need” for arm strength after David Eckstein’s career.
While admittedly in the early days of defense stats, he was so good at every other part of SS defense, he was an elite defender there for many years. Arm strength is a nice bonus, but — like CF defense — far down the list from getting to the ball. To me, it seems it’s greatest value comes with scouting young amateurs/ low-level MiLers and profiling their ability to stay on the diamond even when they get too slow to stick at SS/ CF.
Depending on the long plan with JP (he’d been below average at SS the last couple years), I’d like to see if Bliss can stick there.
I am jacked for this kid. Over .380 obp and he has great bat to ball, so the low BA is likely bad luck. Dare I say elite speed. Welcome up young man
The low BA had a lot to do with a high whiff rate on fastballs through April. But he adjusted. He hasn’t been missing much at all over the last month. (and especially over the last two and a half weeks)..
I wasn’t anticipating a promotion this early, but with Haggerty out for the season and Polanco on the IL, I’m glad it’s him getting the call.
Hey Stevil just curious, do you follow the Rainers pretty close & listen to the games or basically just scanning the box scores to keep abreast ??
Neither.
I usually don’t have time for those games, unless they’re on at the same time, in which I’ll have them on the computer and A-B them.
But i follow Curto, watch clips, and dig into the limited data that’s available for free.
I’m only about 15 minutes from Cheney, I should go to more Rainiers games than I do. But I’m a flex member with the big club so I already spend a lot of cash on baseball throughout the year.
Rainiers games are a great cheap date if you’re single
Also a fun game for the kiddos if you have a family, like I do!
I’m single but not bilingual. Down in Oly so easier to get to Rainers games.
I don’t live in the area anymore, but remember how this was true.
Minor League games are, in general, a good night for anyone; whether a date, or a night out with family or friends.
Hes probably gonna perform as well as Jonatan clase where he kind of holds his own but still has a low batting average
Wow you’re pretty adept with that Magic-8 Ball, you should consider monetizing it !
Always exciting to see a kid make his debut in “The Show”! Something that can never be taken away. I played one season for the Giants.
(DISCLAIMER: It was the Elks Club Giants in Colt league). So, you know, not the same.
I see you’re not sick of doing this yet.
Let’s goooo
Go where?
To the ball game. Where else?
I don’t expect too much from Bliss, his value is, if and when he gets on base. Speed is his calling card he along with Clase in the lineup and with Moore they can provide for dividends. Wonder if they know how to bunt? take a play out of the Nationals book. all of them were successful.
Wonder if the M’s show any interest in this Robles can he bunt?
Let Robles sit in dry dock for a year maybe with some time, and patience something can come of him.