Can the lefty bat find his way to a higher impact role?
The renowned Italian poem L’infinito was written in 1826 as a result of author Giacomo Leopardi’s wish to travel beyond his restrictive home town of Recanati, and experience more of the world. Broken into two parts, the poem can be viewed first as an expression of concepts that are familiar to the author, and second as an imaginative exploration of the infinite unknown.
Mariners left fielder Dominic Canzone enters the 2025 season facing many uncertainties. A well-rounded outfield of Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez, and Victor Robles leaves the lefty bat with no starting spot as Opening Day draws closer, and a wish to experience more of his outfield home. However, Canzone’s defensive skill and ability to provide platoon depth for the corner outfield positions bring an interesting potential to his upcoming season.
Canzone battled injuries throughout last year, as well as consistency issues behind the plate, but focused on tweaking his swing late in the season to repair a substantial strikeout rate. Although it didn’t necessarily show in his end-of-season stat lines, Canzone showed improvement from the beginning of the year and finished better than projected. His battle for more plate appearances this season will surely rest on his hitting abilities as a lefty, and if he can continue to find stability as a batter. As Connor wrote last year, his defensive capacity likely won’t reach a very high ceiling.
Although familiar with the platoon position and providing important roster depth for the team, Canzone is forced to still imagine what the unknown of a higher impact role could look like. While we hope the outfield stays healthy, there is always a chance that something can happen, and Canzone can be a stable backup addition. In hopes of him proving he can be more than his past restrictions and experience more playing time, I will take the over on Canzone’s 2025 projections.
And as the wind I hear rustling through the foliage, the infinite silence to that voice do I compare: I remember eternity, and the seasons gone, and the one present and alive, and its sound.
Projections
FGDC: 56 PA, 108 wRC+, 0.2 fWAR, .241/.301/.415
PECOTA: 64 PA, 97 DRC+, 0.2 WARP, .233/.295/.401
Overs/Unders
Grant: Over
Is there a better example of a quad-A outfielder than Canzone? In 2023, he hit .354/.431/.634 in AAA; last year, he hit .287/.354/.513. In his MLB career, meanwhile, he boasts a career OPS+ of 87. I’m going to say over this figure, but only because I think the Mariners can’t get enough of Canzone.
Kate: Under
I am wondering what Canzone’s next step is on his big-league journey. He was supposed to be a contact hitter who fit well in T-Mobile Park; so far, he’s put way too many balls on the ground for double plays and been non-selective at the plate, which feels like it’s cost him goodwill with the organization, which seemed content to bury him in Triple-A even as the big league squad floundered. I’m curious to know what’s on Canzone’s PIP, and even more to know what his plan is to get there.
John: Under
Seattle’s dedication to Canzone perplexes me. He’ll presumably get an edge over Austin Shenton due to experience and outfield coverage for the final bench bat role, but also… will he? Perhaps, if nothing else, the Italian stunner’s new goggles will turn him into La Cosa Folle.
Zach: Over
In a system that was swimming in them a couple years ago, suddenly Canzone is easily the team’s best left-handed hitting outfielder. Over a long season, that should garner him a good number of favorable match-ups. So I like the rate-stats projected, but think he’ll earn more overall value thanks to the additional opportunities.
Isabelle: Over
I still believe, damnit.