Seattle Mariners Midseason Grades: The Outfielders

Jul 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners outfielder Austin Jackson (16) stands in the dugout before the start of the game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Franklin Gutierrez – 33 PA, .290/.303/.452, 108 wRC+, 0.1 WAR

Guti should get an A+ just for making it back to the majors. He’s a good bet to hold onto his roster spot for the rest of the season, provided he doesn’t suffer a season career-ending injury – which could happen at any given moment, whether he’s playing the field or brushing his teeth. It’s amazing how whenever Gutierrez takes the field he’s the same player he ever was. Grade: B+

Austin Jackson – 270 PA, .251/.295/,355, 84 wRC+, 0.9 WAR

It’s now pretty clear that Jackson isn’t the above-average hitter he looked like in the earlygoing with Detroit – or is it? Could just be that the Mariners take good players and make them worse, almost out of impulse. Like, they want Jackson to hit well, but they’re just so used to destroying these kind of hitters. At least he’s having a nice year in the field, saving Seattle all kinds of headache. Grade: C+