Arozarena breaks Seattle Mariners' odd opening day streak

Randy Arozarena is set to break an odd opening day streak for the Seattle Mariners.

See the Seattle Mariners’ opening day lineup vs Guardians

Arozarena is in the lineup in his usual spot in left field and batting fifth for the M’s against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday night at T-Mobile Park, making him the first Mariner to start consecutive opening days in left field in more than a decade. Arozarena was acquired by the Mariners in a July 2024 trade, making Thursday just his second opening day with the club.

The last Mariner to start back-to-back opening days in left field was Dustin Ackley during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Here’s a look at all the starting left fielders the M’s have had since Ackley made his 2015 opening day start. Kudos to anyone who could name every player without looking it up.

• 2015: Dustin Ackley
• 2016: Nori Aoki
• 2017: Jarrod Dyson
• 2018: Ichiro Suzuki
• 2019: Domingo Santana
• 2020: José Marmolejos
• 2021: Jake Fraley
• 2022: Jesse Winker
• 2023: Jarred Kelenic
• 2024: Dominic Canzone
• 2025: Randy Arozarena
• 2026: Randy Arozarena

As it turns out, the M’s breaking their streak of 11 opening days starting a different player in left field isn’t the longest such streak that was broken this season. The San Francisco Giants broke their record-tying streak of 19 different players starting in left field over 19 seasons during their opener on Wednesday when Heliot Ramos got the start in left for the second straight year. That streak dated back to Barry Bonds’ final season in 2007.

The Giants’ run of 19 different opening day left fielders over 19 seasons tied a record set by St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles from 1937-55, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs.

Seattle’s opponent on Thursday has its own impressive opening day streak going as well. Rookie Chase DeLauter is getting the start in right field for Cleveland, becoming the 15th different opening day starter in right field over 15 seasons for the Guardians. Cleveland’s streak is now the longest active one in baseball, per Langs. Cleveland’s list of different opening day right fielders includes Mariners’ first baseman Josh Naylor in 2021.

The Mariners face the Guardians at 7:10 p.m. on Thursday night. Radio coverage can be heard on Seattle Sports 710 AM and the Seattle Sports app starting with the pregame show at 6 p.m.

Arozarena breaks Seattle Mariners’ odd opening day streak

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