Rick Rizzs on Mariners OF Mitch Haniger: ‘Watch out for this kid’

Entering his 32nd year with the Seattle Mariners, radio play-by-play announcer Rick Rizzs has seen just about everything you could in the game of baseball. Because of that, there’s nobody better to give you an idea of what the team has in store as spring training begins.

Rizzs joined 710 ESPN Seattle’s John Clayton on Thursday, and he couldn’t help but praise the job general manager Jerry Dipoto did over the offseason in building a lineup that doesn’t have many holes.

“It’s a really set ballclub,” Rizzs told Clayton.

ESPN’s Jim Bowden: Pitching will determine if M’s play in October

One of the areas that the Mariners aren’t so set on, though, is in right field. That being said, Rizzs believes there’s somebody who has a good shot of impressing the team and solidifying himself in that spot.

“Mitch Haniger, watch out for this kid,” Rizzs said. “(He) gives you some power in a corner outfield spot.”

Haniger was the lesser-known piece the Mariners got from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Taijuan Walker and Ketel Marte in a trade in November – the other was one-time All-Star shortstop Jean Segura. And though the 26-year-old Haniger has just 123 career MLB plate appearances, Rizzs gets the feeling he’ll be building on his five career homers before long with Seattle.

“I think they want Mitch Haniger to get a lot of playing time in right field, feel comfortable because he can be a power bat just past the middle of the order,” Rizzs said.

You can hear the rest of the Rizzs interview, including his thoughts on receiving the Keith Jackson Award at the 82nd Annual Seattle Sports Star of the Year Awards, at this link or in the player at the top of this post.

Follow @BrentStecker