Seattle Mariners' bounce-back candidate can be impact player

If the Seattle Mariners can reach their goal of winning a World Series, there’s no doubt stars like Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez and many of the other names that make up the top end of the roster will be major reasons why.

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But the club will also need to get key contributions up and down the roster from more than just those players.

Each and every year championship teams have unexpected players step up and be a major part of their runs, whether it’s a rookie, a veteran having a career year or a player rebounding from a down season.

The Mariners have a handful of candidates who could be that unexpected hero of the season in 2026. On Thursday, Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob discussed who they think the “dark horse” player for the M’s will be.

When it came to the position players, both agreed on right fielder Victor Robles.

“I think he’s easily their best defender in right field,” Bob Stelton said. “… I think he can have an impact on the basepaths. I think he can have an impact certainly at the plate. He doesn’t have the pop that (Luke Raley or Dominic Canzone) have, but he can be a nuisance up there. He can make that pitcher work. He can make the pitcher uncomfortable.

“There’s just an element and an energy to him that when he’s healthy and he’s at his at his best as we saw when he first came here, he’s an impact player.”

Robles had a breakout year after he was signed by the M’s on June 4, 2024. In 77 games with the team, the former top prospect hit .328 with a .393 on-base percentage, .467 slugging percentage, .860 OPS, four home runs, 20 doubles and 30 stolen bases. He also provided strong defense in right field. It led to the M’s giving Robles a two-year contract extension that August to keep him in Seattle through the 2026 season.

Robles was slotted in as Seattle’s leadoff hitter at the start of last season, but his year was quickly derailed when he fractured his shoulder making a diving catch into the netting in right field at San Francisco’s Oracle Park just 10 games into the season.

Robles ended up missing nearly five months and didn’t produce much at the plate after he returned. In 32 total games last season, he hit .245 with a .281 on-base percentage, .330 slugging percentage, .611 OPS, one homer, four doubles, one triple and six stolen bases.

But the limited time didn’t stop Robles from making one of the most memorable and impactful plays of the Mariners’ season. In Game 2 of a critical three-game road sweep of the Houston Astros in September, he made a sliding grab at full extension and threw to second base for a game-ending double play that sealed a 6-4 win.

“I would just love to see a full year of him,” Dave Wyman said. “I think he’s awesome in the outfield, and then just his hustle … I just think having a guy like that, it’s inspiring. And if you can get him going at the plate, he might be the guy that (makes a difference).”

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

Seattle Mariners’ bounce-back candidate can be impact player

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