Notebook: Mariners prospect ‘stole the show’ in Cactus League opener

You’ve no doubt heard the name Michael Arroyo when Seattle Mariners prospects are discussed. His name is not quite at the top of the list, but always right there as he’s climbed through the minor leagues to Double-A Arkansas in 2025.

Watch: Prospect Michael Arroyo hits Mariners’ 1st spring training HR

Signed in 2022 out of Cartagena, Colombia, at the age of 17, the infielder/possible outfielder has displayed a good approach at the plate, registering a .408 on-base percentage across four minor league seasons.

On Friday, Arroyo found himself in the Mariners’ lineup, likely because he’s one of the players scheduled to leave for the World Baseball Classic at the end of the month. Getting that group of hitters early at-bats is a priority for the Mariners, and Arroyo made the most of his early opportunity.

Arroyo belted the first home run of the spring for the Mariners with a two-run opposite-field blast off an 0-2 changeup in his first at-bat, and then followed it with a hard-hit double to right-center in his second.

Not a bad first-day introduction.

“Arroyo kind of stole the show there,” manager Dan Wilson said after the Mariners beat the San Diego Padres 7-4 in their Cactus League opener. “When he’s in a good spot, that’s where his stroke goes. He looked really good today.”

Scouts have noted Arroyo to be an advanced hitter from a young age, with good on-base ability and sneaky power. For his part, Arroyo tries to keep it simple at the plate.

“I just think my game is let the ball come to me and try to make contact where I think it is best at,” Arroyo said at his locker.

It’s an approach that came from his older brother, Carlos, the person Arroyo credits with teaching him to hit.

“I looked at him as an idol as I was growing up,” he said.

M’s Notebook: See the first lineup of spring training

Arroyo anticipated receiving a full breakdown of his at-bats Friday from his brother, who is staying with him while in Arizona. Along with his mother, they make up his most important support team.

“Whenever they are home, I try to keep them as close as possible,” he said. “I consider them a blessing.”

Another blessing for Arroyo is on the near horizon.

“It’s a dream come true for me being able to represent my country, but not just that – my brother is going too,” he said. “We got to play together there professionally too in Colombia over the winter, and now we get to go to the Classic. It’s even a bigger stage where we are going to be together.”

Notes

• The crowds this week have been noticeably bigger for the Mariners’ workouts in Peoria. That translated to the stadium, with the attendance Friday announced at 9,956 – the largest crowd for a Cactus League home opener in franchise history.

• Cal Raleigh wasted no time in making his first challenge behind the plate, challenging a ball call in the first inning. Unlike last season when he was near-perfect with challenges, this call was confirmed. A ding on his spring record, but still a win in Raleigh’s eyes.

“I kind of wanted to see if ABS had changed from last year with the top of the zone being gone, and it’s definitely like it was last year,” he said. “That’s definitely the part they took away the most. I think you are going to see more opportunities down at the bottom.”

Along with feeling out the zone, Raleigh pointed out that he will not have the opportunity to work with ABS this spring as it’s not being used in the WBC.

• Up next, the Mariners host the San Francisco Giants in Peoria at 12:10 p.m. Pacific time on Saturday, with right-hander Emerson Hancock to get the start.

More on the Seattle Mariners

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• Drayer: Mariners give a different first impression this spring
• Salk: Mariners doing one more thing besides ‘draft, develop and trade’
• Why Mariners’ offense can withstand having less power in ’26
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