Seattle Mariners leadoff hitters are slashing .239/.312/.344, for a .656 OPS. It’s the third-worst mark in baseball, ahead of only Baltimore and Texas. It also makes no sense, considering the talent on Seattle’s roster.
Randy Arozarena has had plenty of success this season, yet all of it was before he moved into the leadoff role. Since moving to the leadoff spot on July 31st, Arozarena is slashing .195/.287/.299, with a .586 OPS. He has hit two home runs in the 19 games he’s spent leading off, compared to seven home runs in the 19 games before that.
Arozarena’s OPS has fallen from .822 to .784 in the past three weeks since he became the Mariners leadoff hitter. While it’s a short enough stint that the Mariners should not panic too much about their left fielder, it might be worth looking into.
Randy Arozarena isn’t the first Mariner to struggle in the leadoff spot
Take J.P. Crawford. He had a .787 OPS on April 29th, the last game before he moved into the leadoff spot. Over his next 77 games as the leadoff hitter, the Mariners shortstop slashed .261/.345/.355, for an OPS of .700, 89 points worse than when he was in the No. 9 hole.
Since moving back down the lineup, his OPS is .744 over the past 19 games. It’s less drastic than Arozarena, but Crawford certainly has been a better hitter when not hitting leadoff.
It is worth wondering if the Mariners have a better option to hit leadoff. Julio Rodríguez is another potential possibility, but he has struggled (.571 OPS) in the 15 games in which he’s appeared at the leadoff spot in 2025.
But there might be another member of the Seattle lineup who could thrive in the No. 1 spot for Dan Wilson: Cole Young. Since July 5th, he has a .387 OBP. The rookie second baseman has been steadily improving, and he has the bat-to-ball skills needed out of a leadoff hitter.
It may be worth a shot to try Young out in the leadoff spot. It might take some pressure off Arozarena and allow him to move back to the four-hole, where he was feeling most comfortable.
