What Hyphen likes about Mariners’ promotion of Dominic Canzone

After over two months of excelling at the plate at the Triple-A level, the Seattle Mariners recalled outfielder Dominic Canzone on Monday.

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Canzone was tearing it up in Tacoma, hitting .296 with a .924 OPS, 13 home runs and 36 RBIs in 45 games. The left-handed-hitting outfielder had also been channeling his power stroke more often of late, slugging nine of his home runs since May 1.

Canzone’s call-up came as the Mariners decided to cut ties with outfielder Leody Taveras, a former top prospect who they picked up off waivers from the Texas Rangers last month.

During a conversation with Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Monday, Mariners color analyst and former MLB pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith shared his thoughts on the decision to add Canzone to the big league roster.

“This is a move, guys, where Leody Tavares wasn’t doing anything on the team, and a situation where you have a Dominic Canzone, who you do feel glass half-full about if you’re the front office,” Rowland-Smith said. “He is down in Triple-A crushing the ball.”

Why Canzone is in a good spot

This is the second stint in the majors for Canzone this season. He was called up April 7 when Victor Robles was placed on the injured list but appeared in just two games (going 0 for 3) before returning to Tacoma when the M’s promoted rookie third baseman Ben Williamson on April 13. Williamson was needed at third base due to injuries keeping Jorge Polanco from playing the field.

The Mariners are still dealing with some key injuries, notably to Robles and Luke Raley. But this call-up for Canzone seems to have more to do with Canzone getting a real chance to play rather that filling an injury-based need. That’s something Rowland-Smith thinks is beneficial for the 27 year old.

“This is a (situation where they) are DFA’ing the person blocking your spot. We’re getting rid of him even though we paid him a little bit, and here you go,” Rowland-Smith said. “And so for him – not saying there’s not pressure involved in that – he can take a breath, come up and say, I don’t have to go scorched earth out there to try and prove that I can be here. I can just relax and do my thing like I’ve been doing in Triple-A.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player in this story. Tune in to Wyman and Bob weekdays from 2-7 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app. 

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