Luis Castillo Looks Nasty in Spring Finale as Mariners Get Ready for the Real Deal
The Mariners wrapped up Cactus League play Monday afternoon in the Arizona heat, and honestly, Luis Castillo looked like he never left. That's the kind of stuff you want to see right before opening day.
Castillo was absolutely dialed in over five innings against the San Diego Padres in Peoria, giving up just one run on four hits with five strikeouts. He walked one and hit one batter, but here's what matters: he induced 14 whiffs on 76 pitches. Half of those swings-and-misses came on his four-seam fastball, which averaged 94.9 mph and touched 97.1. That's the kind of velocity that makes opposing hitters nervous.
The Lineup is Getting Hot at the Right Time
The five guys who figure to be at the top of the opening day order all got meaningful at-bats Monday. Brendan Donovan, the new third baseman, had a walk and a strikeout, and he scored the game's first run on Julio Rodriguez's RBI single in the first inning. Donovan slashed .413/.491/.543 (1.034 OPS) over 57 plate appearances in his first spring with the M's. That's elite stuff.
Cal Raleigh went 2 for 3 with a 380-foot double off the wall in left-center that was measured at 114.2 mph off the bat. According to Statcast metrics, that ball would have been a home run at 20 MLB parks, including T-Mobile Park. Randy Arozarena contributed an opposite-field homer off Padres starter Germán Márquez in the third inning.
Cleanup Pitching and a New Wrinkle at First
Matt Brash allowed one walk and an unearned run in the sixth. Carlos Vargas pitched a scoreless seventh. The pitching depth looked solid.
One other note: Mitch Garver made his first spring start at first base after winning the backup catcher's job. He's likely a just-in-case option behind Josh Naylor this season. The final score was ugly, 10-3 Padres, but that's because mostly minor-leaguers finished the game for both teams.
Time for Real Ball
The Mariners finished spring training at 11-19, which matches their record from last year's Cactus League. They head back to Seattle tonight with an off day Tuesday and a team workout at T-Mobile Park Wednesday evening before the real stuff starts.
Opening day is Thursday at 7:10 p.m. against the Cleveland Guardians. Logan Gilbert gets the start opposite Tanner Bibee. This is what we've been waiting for.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.