By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – The first player profile in our 34-player series for the 2022 Seattle Mariners ballclub is Abraham Toro. The lowest ranked qualified player by WAR (Wins above replacement), Toro had a rough 2022 season, his first full campaign with Seattle after being acquired at the 2021 trade deadline. While remaining largely in a utility role and as an injury replacement, the 25-year-old has a lot of work to do to remain with the big-league club in 2023.
Abraham Toro rounds the bases in game two of Seattle's doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Season overview
Abraham Toro is in a unique position. A decently young utility player, the Mariners can certainly find places to put Toro. Unless he finds a way to improve his swing in order to be more consistent, and is able to be a sounder defensive player, he won’t fill the presumable hole at second base. He could certainly be stick on the bench as one of the versatile plug and play men that Seattle loves (see Dylan Moore, Sam Haggerty), but considering that this was the spot Toro held for the majority of the season and he still failed to make an impact, something may need to change. The most positive thing that Toro seems to have going for him currently is that he has an odd clutch gene, where he hits homers in late innings.
Toro takes a swing (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Best stretch
April 17th-24th: These seven days were easily the best for Toro, as he had a four-game hit streak and only went hitless once over that time. Recording seven hits, 13 total bases, four extra base hits, four RBIs, and five walks over that stretch, Toro had a great offensive approach at the plate and really sort of showed his best possible self. Playing some divisional opponents (Houston and Texas), and ending with the Royals, Toro really left us with a taste, hoping for much more of a sample. We never really saw much more of that outside of a few two-three game stretches.
Toro gets a start at third base, amongst other positions (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Worst stretch
It’s hard to really pick one stretch of time for Toro that was the ultimate low, because he never really had that great of a stretch. He spent some decent time in the minors, a time in which the organization was hoping that he could really find a consistent swing. The power is obviously there for the infielder, it’s just about being a better hitter, and we haven’t really seen that come together yet for Toro.
Toro during the Mariners "Steelheads" game against the LA Angels (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Their status heading into next season?
Toro is technically not under contract for the 2023 season, but is eligible for arbitration through the 2026 season. President of Baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has said that the team wants to get better in free agency and they plan to do so aggressively, mentioning improving everywhere. That sort of comment may mean that Toro is going to be in an odd man out situation, which is tough. It could be nice to see Toro play himself into a bigger role, but heading into an era of Mariners baseball that is more competitive than wait and see on players, Seattle may not want to wait. Tally Toro down as a “doubtful” to return in 2023 and beyond, unless it’s in AAA.
Toro looks to turn two against the Detroit Tigers (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Quick facts
Toro hit for a .185 batting average with 13 doubles, 1 triple, 10 homers, driving in 35 runs this past season.
Toro had his first career walk off when he singled home the game-winning run-on July 2nd vs Oakland.
Toro made numerous appearances at first base, second base, and third base this past season, playing the majority at second base where he appeared in 46 games.
Toro is Trilingual, speaking English, French, and Spanish.
Toro has appeared in one postseason game, during the 2020 season with Houston. He drew a walk in his only plate appearance.
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