Michael Saunders #55

Michael Edward Brett Saunders. Graduated from Lambrick Park Secondary School in Victoria, BC in 2004. Played baseball at Tallahassee Community College in 2005 where he was teammates with Royals OF Lorenzo Cain. Played for Team Canada in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics... Played for Canada in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Played in the 1999 Little League World Series… Also played hockey and lacrosse growing up.

2016

Named to his 1st career All-Star team (0-1)...Spent the season with TOR...Established career highs in games (140), doubles (32), HR (24) and walks (59)...Tied for the team lead in pitches/PA (4.27; Russell Martin)...Posted a .999 OPS over his first 61 games, 4/3-6/17...Hit .292, .372 OBP and .551 SLG % in 82 games before the All-Star break before finishing .178/.282/.357 in 58 games following the break...Went 3-for-5, 3 HR, 3 R and 8 RBI, 6/17 at BAL...His 8 RBI on 6/17 at BAL were tied for the most in MLB with BOS' Mookie Betts, 8/14 vs ARI, and LAD's Adrian Gonzalez, 8/22 at CIN...Became only the 2nd TOR player ever with 3 HR and 8 RBI in a game (other: Edwin Encarnacion, 3 HR and 9 RBI, 8/29/15 vs DET)...Was 1 of just 6 OF with at least 30 doubles, 20 HR and 50 walks (others: LAA's Mike Trout, BOS' Jackie Bradley Jr., STL's Stephen Piscotty, PIT's Gregory Polanco and MIA's Christian Yelich)...Played games in LF (106), RF (22) and CF (1)...Appeared in 8 playoff games and batted .381/.409/.571

2015

Appeared in just nine games after suffering a knee injury in the early days of spring training. Underwent surgery in late February to remove part of the meniscus in his left knee. Began the season rehabbing before his return to the Blue Jays on April 25. Was placed on the disabled list after his game on May 9 and did not return for the balance of the season.

2014

Appeared in 78 games, making 62 starts (RF-53, CF-9)...Recorded a .791 OPS, which was 2nd-best on the club behind Robinson Cano (min. 200 PA)...Despite collecting only 231 at-bats, set career bests in average (.273), on-base percentage (.341) and slugging (.450)...Hit .292 with, 10-2B, 2-3B, 7HR, 31RBI and an .830 OPS in his final 57 games (since May 1); began the season hitting .179 with 1-2B, 3B, HR and 3RBI in his first 21 games...Hit .276 with 9-2B, 2-3B, 8HR, 26RBI & .831 OPS against RHP; hit .262 against lefties...Had two stints on the disabled list: June 12-27 (right AC joint inflammation) and July 11-Sept. 8 (strained left oblique)...During two rehab assignment with AAA Tacoma hit .327 with 3-2B, 3B, HR and 9RBI in 15 games...While on his second rehab assignment, missed time with a viral infection after the birth of his daughter...Started May 5 vs. Oakland in center field, moved to left in the 8th, then to right field in the 9th...Became just the third Mariners player ever to play all three outfield spots in one game...Joined Rich Amaral (Sept. 11, 1992 vs. MIN) and Stan Javier (April 21, 2001 vs. LAA).

2013

Appeared in 132 games, making 109 starts in the outfield (CF-78 G/69 GS, RF-34 G/28 GS, LF-24 G/12 GS). One of 8 players in club history to start 10 or more games at each outfield position, first since Stan Javier in 2000. Led the team for second straight season with 13 stolen bases… also led team with 7 outfield assists. Recorded 5th career multi-HR game Aug. 3 at Baltimore (2x4, 2 HR, 5 RBI). Career-high 10-game hitting streak July 8-21 (.351/13x37, 10 R, 5 2B, 3B, HR, 11 RBI). Recorded career-high 3 extra-base hits May 4 at Toronto (3x5, 2 R, 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI)…was his second multi-homer game at Rogers Centre, he also went deep twice April 27, 2012 (solo in 9th, grand slam in 10th). Hit first leadoff home run April 29 vs. Baltimore in first PA after returning from disabled list. On 15-day disabled list April 11-29 with a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder (collided with the right field fence 4/10 vs. Houston).

2012

Appeared in 139 games, making 133 starts (CF-107, LF-22, RF- 4)...hit .247 (125x507) with 71 runs, 31 doubles, 3 triples, 19 home runs, 57 RBI, .738 OPS ... Set career-highs in games (139), at-bats (507), runs (71), hits (125), doubles (31), triples (3), home runs (19), walks (43), steals (21) ... Hit 19 homers and led the team with 21 stolen bases...fell one HR short of becoming Mariners first 20 HR-20 SB player since Mike Cameron in 2002 ... One of 5 AL players with at least 19 HR and 19 SB: Mike Trout (30 HR, 49 SB), B.J. Upton (28 HR, 31 SB), Alex Rios (25 HR, 23 SB), Ian Kinsler (19 HR, 21 SB)...ranked T5th in the AL in the Bill James Power-Speed statistic at 20.0 (2 x HRxSB/HR+SB) ... Hit .261 (47x180) with 11 doubles, 1 triple, 8 home runs, 18 RBI vs. LHP, the 11th highest by lefty vs. lefty in the AL ... Hit 9 home runs over his last 28 games, batting .272 (28x103) with 15 extra base hits, 22 RBI, .359 OBP, .612 SLG, .971 OPS ... Hit 4 home runs over 4 game stretch Aug. 19-22, including third career multi-homer game Aug. 20 vs. Cleveland (3x4, 2 R, 4 RBI) ... Missed six games Aug. 25-30 after collision that ended game Aug. 24 at CWS (collided with Eric Thames) ... Recorded 8 games of 3+ hits, all since May 29 including a career-high 4 hits June 2 at Chicago (AL)...back-to-back 3-hit games May 29-30 at Texas ... Hit a solo HR in the 9th inning, and a grand slam in the 10th April 27 at Toronto to help lift the Mariners to a 9-5 comeback win in 10 innings over the Blue Jays...was only the third time in club history that a player has hit two home runs in the 9th inning or later: Donnie Scott on April 29, 1985 vs. MIL (solo in ninth, 2-run in 10th) & Jim Presley on April 8, 1986 on Opening Day against Angels (2-run in 9th, walk-off grand slam in 10th) ... Became the fourth Canadian-born player to hit 2 home runs in a game while playing in Canada April 27 at Toronto, joining Larry Walker (4/5/97 vs. MON, 6/28/92 vs. PIT, 8/4/94 vs. STL at Olympic Stadium & 6/14/05 vs. TOR at Rogers Centre), Matt Stairs (8/13/99 vs. TOR at Rogers Centre) & Justin Morneau (7/23/07 & 5/17/10 vs. TOR at Rogers Centre).

2011

Made Opening Day 25-man roster for the first time in his career...two stints with Seattle, April 1-June 2 and Sept. 6-end of season...Appeared in 58 games, making 47 starts in the outfield (CF - 46 G/42 GS, LF - 12 G/5 GS)...started 20 consecutive team games in center field (April 23-May 17)...Recorded an RBI in each of his first 5 games of the season (April 2-10), tying the Mariners record with John Olerud (2001)...Spent majority of season with AAA Tacoma...named Rainiers Gold Glove award for best defensive player after putting together a .978 fielding percentage over 64 games in the outfield...Placed on minor league temporary inactive list on June 17, reinstated July 3...Tied career-high with 5 hits July 30 vs. Las Vegas, going 5-for-5 with 2 runs scored, 2 home runs and season-high 4 RBI (also: 6/6/07 vs. Inland Empire)...Reached base safely via hit or walk in 58 of 64 games...walked 50 times, the most since walking 67 times combined between High Desert and West Tenn in 2007.

2010

Appeared in 100 games including 85 starts (LF - 74, CF - 11). ...Among American League rookies ranked 3rd in home runs (10), 7th in RBI (33) & walks (35). ...Recorded first career multi-HR game June 30 at Yankee Stadium (2x4, 2 HR, 3 RBI)...became 12th rookie in club history to have multi-homer game...first Mariners rookie to record a multihome run game at Yankee Stadium since Ken Griffey Jr. (5/30/89). ...Led team with 8 outfield assists despite playing in just 89 defensive games...assist total is T6th most in team history. ...Hit first Major League home run on May 9 (Mothers Day) vs. LAA (off Ervin Santana). ...Hit 3 go-ahead home runs (June 7 at TEX; July 24 vs. BOS; Sept. 22 at TOR) ...Had a career-high 8-game hitting streak July 11-27 batting .400 (10x25). ...Had career-high 4 RBI June 23 vs. Chicago (NL), going 2x3, 2 runs, 1 home run. ...Drew a walk in a season-high 5 consecutive games July 3-7. ...Recalled to Seattle on May 6 (M. Bradley placed on restricted list). ...Opened the season with AAA Tacoma, hitting .200 (16x80) with 5 RBI in 21 games.

2009

Selected from Tacoma (AAA) on July 25...made Major League debut that night vs. Cleveland (0x4 in start in LF)...Appeared in 46 games, including making 34 starts in left field...Recorded first Major League hit on July 26 vs. Cleveland (single off Cliff Lee)...added RBI single to LF in 9th...6 of his 27 hits were bunt singles...is 4th Mariner rookie with at least 6 bunt hits in a season (Ichiro-10, 2001; S. Monahan-7, 1998; J. Reed-6, 2005)...Recorded first career extra-base hit Aug. 5 at KC (3B)... • Had season-high 3-game hit streak Sept. 17-23 (5x5) and Aug. 4-6 (6x13/.462)...Broke an 0-for-24 streak with a single in the 13th inning on Sept. 17 vs. CWS...Recorded hits in 5 consecutive at-bats, Sept. 17-23...singled on Sept. 17 vs. CWS and 19 vs. NYY and went 3x3 with a triple, 2 runs scored and a stolen base on Sept. 23 at TB...Opened the season on the minor league DL recovering from shoulder surgery (right shoulder); reinstated and assigned to the Tacoma roster on April 30...Started 64 games for Tacoma (LF-39, CF-24, RF-1)...Hit 5 of his 13 home runs during a 7 game stretch, April 30-May 7...also recorded three 3-RBI games over 4 games, April 30-May 4...Scored a run in 22 consecutive games (29 runs total), May 6-31...Recorded season-high 15-game hit streak, batting .400 (26x65) with 21 runs scored, 3 doubles, 1 home run and 5 RBI, May 14-31...On the 7-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring, June 30-July 9...Hit .340 (17x50) in 13 games in July, including batting .394 (13x33) with 7 runs scored, 4 doubles, 2 home run and 3 RBI during 8-game hit streak, July 17-24...Rated by Baseball America as the Mariners No. 2 prospect heading into the 2010 season...also rated as being the best defensive outfielder in the Mariners organization.

2008

Began season with West Tennessee...recorded 8-game hit streak (.424/14x33), April 12-19 and a season-high 9-game hit streak (.390/16x41), May 2-11...promoted to Tacoma (AAA) on June 19...competed for Team Canada in the Beijing Summer Olympics, July 28-Aug. 25...hit .286 (8x25) with 5 runs, 2 doubles, 2 home runs and 4 RBi in 7 games...returned to Tacoma and placed on the disabled list on Aug. 27 after having surgery on his right shoulder.

2007

Split season between High Desert (A) and West Tennessee (AA), finishing T3rd among all Mariners Minor Leaguers in RBI (84), T4th in stolen bases (29) and 7th in average (.298)...had 38 multi-hit games with High Desert, including 6 three-hit games, 1 four-hit game and 1 five-hit game...recorded season-high 14-game hit streak, hitting .400 (24x60) with 17 runs scored, 9 extra-base hits and 20 RBI, May 6-22...recorded 2 multi-home run games, May 22 vs. Lake Elsinore and June 10 at Stockton...recorded 25 RBI in 28 games in May...named Southern League Player of the Week twice, May 7-13 and June 4-10... promoted to West Tennessee on Aug. 9, hitting safely in 10 of 15 games...placed on the DL with a skull contusion, Aug. 27...member of the World Team in the 2007 MLB Futures Game...represented Canada in the 2007 International Baseball Federation (IBAF) World Cup in Taiwan, Nov. 6-18.

2006

Spent season with Wisconsin in the Midwest League...led the team with 22 stolen bases, 8 triples and 48 walks...hit .400 (10x25) during 6-game streak, July 21-27... played with Canada in the Olympic Qualifier games...participated in the Mariners Arizona Instructional League.

2005

Joined Mariners organization as a draft-and-follow...began pro career with Everett... hit .270 (53x196) with 7 home runs and 39 RBI in 56 games...batted .325 (27x83) with 17 RBI in 24 games in August...participated in 2005 Arizona Instructional League.