The only notable position battle of the Seattle Mariners’ spring involves two once-rising stars, only one of whom is likely to make the roster.
Manager Lloyd McClendon said it’s likely only one of the two shortstops battling for a starting job will make the team; the other will probably end up at Triple-A.
“If we don’t have injuries,” McClendon told reporters, “I doubt we can take them both.”
Brad Miller and Chris Taylor have both looked like Seattle’s shortstop of the future at times. Taylor, 24, is the flavor of the month after starting out strong during a midseason call-up last year, hitting .287 (but with only nine RBIs) in 47 games.
Taylor did enough to unseat Miller, who came out of the gates with a similar trajectory one year earlier. Miller looked like a future star during the first few weeks of his 2013 call-up but cooled off down the stretch. His 2014 season was nothing short of a disaster, leaving him as a backup utility player who had a few key hits down the stretch.
Miller was the subject of several trade rumors and still appears to be the more highly regarded of the two shortstop prospects, but the 25-year-old could begin this season at Triple-A.
With veteran Willie Bloomquist returning from injury and infielder-turned-outfielder Rickie Weeks on the roster, Seattle has plenty of options among backup infielders.
“I think Chris is probably a little ahead of the game defensively,” McClendon said, “and Brad’s a little ahead of the game offensively. It’s a nice combination. We’ll see what happens.”