Mike Salk: Mariners have ‘difficult call to make’ on Mike Zunino

While youngsters Mitch Haniger and Taylor Motter have lived up to their billing and then some thus far in 2017, the Mariners’ 26-year-old catcher, Mike Zunino, remains an enigma.

“Mike Zunino is struggling,” 710 ESPN Seattle’s Mike Salk said Monday. “… At some point, this organization’s got a really difficult call to make.”

Zunino is off to a tough start to the season, batting .206 with only one extra-base hit to go with 13 strikeouts vs. just one walk through 10 games. Veteran Carlos Ruiz, who was acquired this offseason, has not fared much better, posting a .182/.357/.273 slash-line in four games.

The Mariners have been patient with Zunino, who was the third overall pick in the 2012 draft and has never batted above .214 in any of his four seasons in the big leagues. The team’s other feasible option at the position is 33-year-old Tuffy Gosewisch, who is batting .200 in 15 at-bats Triple-A Tacoma.

In the video above, Brock Huard and Mike Salk discuss the tricky situation with Zunino.

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