Mariners’ Dipoto confident about Rivas, Hancock filling in

There are two recognizable names missing for the Seattle Mariners as they begin the 2026 season, but team president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto doesn’t seem to be concerned about Seattle’s ability to weather the storm until they’re back on the field.

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The most noticeable absence on opening day is shortstop J.P. Crawford, who was slowed in spring training by right shoulder inflammation. In his place, the Mariners are starting the switch-hitting Leo Rivas, who has played 91 major league games over the previous two seasons and had a few big moments in 2025.

With Crawford out, it cleared the way for Rivas to make the opening day roster for the first time in the 28 year old’s career.

“Leo is about as pro as it gets. You can rely on him to do anything you need,” Dipoto said Thursday when he joined Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy at T-Mobile Park.

With Crawford not expected to miss much time – both Dipoto and M’s general manager Justin Hollander estimated he could be activated in a week or less – having Rivas and Cole Young available made filling the shortstop position a little easier on Seattle.

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“The conversations around our opening day roster were really driven by how long we anticipated J.P. being out,” Dipoto said. “If it was a longer stretch, we probably would have had a different roster construction. But with what is expected to be a short absence, we went with Leo, feeling like Leo, Cole Young – who is a shortstop by trade – (and) others on the roster could give us enough flexibility over a seven-game stretch to get us back to J.P. as opposed to doing more dramatic roster shifts that could create unintended consequences.”

The other key player missing from Seattle’s roster is starting pitcher Bryce Miller, who is recovering from oblique inflammation. With Miller sticking around at the Mariners’ spring training complex in Arizona, former first-round MLB Draft pick Emerson Hancock takes over for the time being as Seattle’s fifth starter.

Hancock, 26, has 31 starts and 37 total appearances for the Mariners dating back to 2023. While he’s established as Seattle’s sixth option for the five-man rotation, Dipoto was complimentary of how the lanky right-hander has looked of late.

“It gives you great comfort when you’ve got pros like Leo and Emerson. (Hancock) has been out there for the last couple of years contributing in big moments,” Dipoto said. “You feel confident in his ability to go out there and hammer the strike zone. He had a very good spring, showed an improved breaking ball, more sustenance with his velocity. And again, just a grown-up that you can trust in those moments.”

Hancock should get a handful of starts in before Miller is ready to return, as the Mariners estimate Miller will need roughly a month to get up to speed after being shut down for much of spring training.

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• ESPN’s Jeff Passan picks M’s to reach World Series, shares four reasons
• The one question Passan has about the Seattle Mariners
• Seattle Mariners unveil 2026 opening day roster, who’s on IL

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