Refsnyder reflects on battle for first Mariners hit

This story was excerpted from Daniel Kramer's Mariners Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

SEATTLE -- Only three weeks into the season, Rob Refsnyder might’ve delivered the Mariners’ quote of the year.

First, context: Refsnyder snapped an 0-for-18 start with a leadoff homer that sparked Sunday’s 5-2 win over the Rangers. Then postgame, he was asked about the approach of swinging on a team’s very first pitch of a game.

"It's a crazy tradeoff when you don't have a batting average,” Refsnyder said.

Humorous as it was deciphered, that wasn’t necessarily Refsnyder’s intent.

The 35-year-old journeyman is one of Seattle’s most introspective and thoughtful players. So when he was asked about tagging tough lefty MacKenzie Gore for the solo shot on a fastball up in the zone, Refsnyder was genuinely reflecting.

“You try to do your homework as much as possible and hunt a certain area, and if it shows up in the area, you’ve got to trust your work and your preparation,” Refsnyder elaborated. “But it's hard when you don't have a batting average. Honestly, it's hard to trust yourself in that moment. But I felt good in my routine and my work, and you can't play this game scared or timid.”

It wasn’t evident during his slow start, but Refsnyder is a vital character to this roster’s cast.

This is his 11th season. The Mariners are his eighth organization. He remade himself as a hitter in his 30s. He’s been in playoff runs in pressure-packed Boston and New York.

Basically, he brings the seen-it-all pedigree to a clubhouse that mostly lacks it, and with a big-brother-type vibe.

“Obviously, he's been grinding. But he's been an incredible guy to add to this team,” said Bryan Woo, the other catalyst to Sunday’s win. “He's blended in with the locker room and the guys so easily already. He brings such a calming veteran presence. He's been around multiple teams and for a lot of years, and been on a lot of successful teams, so he's been fantastic.

“So for him to kind of break through a little bit there, and I know he's been hard on himself, that means a lot. And I think everybody was stoked to see that for him, too.”

Signed to a one-year, $6.25 million contract to mash lefties -- which he did on Sunday -- Refsnyder was brought in to back-fill the right-handed at-bats that the club lost from switch-hitter Jorge Polanco, who signed with the Mets last offseason. But because he’s the non-primary half of Seattle’s designated-hitter platoon, there aren’t as many at-bats to go around as there are for Dominic Canzone, the other half.

“It kind of stinks when you’re not getting results, because you have a couple days to sit on it, too,” Refsnyder said.

Refsnyder has a career .813 OPS vs. lefties, but it was even better over his most recent four seasons in Boston, where he had a .923 OPS. And with one big swing on Sunday, he jumped his 2026 clip from .000 to a .374 OPS.

These are baby steps, but in the right direction.

Speaking of, Refsnyder and his wife just welcomed the birth of their third child -- a boy, named Ryan. He joked to Mariners manager Dan Wilson that he’s probably going to have a “different personality” at home vs. the road.

Wholesome content -- even amid struggles -- is the best content.

“You’re going through a really tough start of the year, but probably one of the most beautiful moments of my life is happening at the same time,” Refsnyder said. “So just to try to keep that perspective when you’re not getting results or hits has helped. But I’m very tired. So if I’m pretty monotone or dragging a little bit, hopefully you guys will give me some grace.”