Mariners Victorious in Final Game of Season, Wave Goodbye to 2019

The Seattle Mariners 2019 season will be viewed from the outside as another year with no playoffs. However, the front office has plenty to be excited about heading into 2020.

Despite missing a massive chunk of the season, Kyle Seager proved his worth. His absence showed how valuable a good third baseman is, and he still collected 20 home runs this season. Seager hit a two-run homer, his 23rd, in the first to give Seattle a lead they would not relinquish.

After spending years mostly injured, Kyle Lewis made some serious noise after making his MLB debut in September. Lewis collected another RBI with his single in the fifth.

The Mariners future was with the club this weekend, either on the field or in the stands. Former first round pick pitcher Logan Gilbert and outfielder Jared Kelenic were both present during the M’s series against Oakland.

Gilbert earned the M’s Jamie Moyer Minor League Pitcher of the Year award. The former Stetson University stud finished 10–5 with a 2.13 ERA (32 ER, 135.0 IP) in his first professional season through 26 starts (with A West Virginia, High-A Modesto and AA Arkansas).

Kelenic received the Ken Griffey Jr. Minor League Hitter of the Year award. Kelenic hit .291 with 80 runs scored, 23 home runs and 68 RBI. He also stole 20 bases in 117 games in his first year in the Seattle farm system (with A West Virginia, High-A Modesto and AA Arkansas). The 20-year-old led all Mariner farmhands in runs scored and doubles (31), while ranking second in home runs, third in hits (192) and 4th in RBI, according to Mariners Blog. Kelenic was the prized piece Seattle got back in the Robinson Cano, Edwin Diaz trade to the Mets.

The Mariners win in Game #162 put Seattle’s record at 68-94, and they will draft sixth at the 2020 MLB Draft. Fan disappointment at the win total aside, the Mariners future looks really bright.

Before 2019, the farm system was regularly ranked near or at the bottom of 30 teams.

MLB.com ranked the M’s 11th in their Farm System Rankings after being unranked (outside the top 15) last year. The piece was written before Kyle Lewis debuted and Justus Sheffield pitched well in September, as evident by this line: “Seattle would benefit if left-hander Justus Sheffield and outfielder Kyle Lewis could get back on track.”

Lewis finished with six HRs, 13 RBI, and a .268 batting average. Sheffield gave up one or zero earned runs in three of his five September starts, and despite getting no decisions himself, the M’s won Sheffield’s last four starts.

Mariners win 3-1.

Winning Pitcher, (1-1) Reggie McClain: 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB

Losing Pitcher, (10-10) Tanner Roark: 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 K, 2 BB

Save (5), Anthony Bass: 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 0 K, 1 BB

With the season complete for the M’s, we want to thank YOU for listening, reading and enjoying Seattle Mariners Baseball on 750 The Game. We’ll be back with Mariner Baseball next year!

Here are the highlights from the game:

Bottom 1st … Kyle Seager 2-Run Home Run, 2-0 Mariners