Michael Arroyo looks like a totally different hitter since coming off the injured list.
The Mariners’ No. 5 prospect missed a week and a half with a hamstring issue in mid-May, before returning to the Double-A Arkansas lineup on May 26. Arroyo took his momentum to a new level Wednesday night when he tallied four hits and drove in five runs, both season highs, in the Travelers’ 12-7 win over Corpus Christi at Whataburger Field.
MLB’s No. 47 prospect headlined that performance with a pair of home runs in consecutive frames. Arroyo hit the first of three Arkansas home runs in the second inning when he lifted a solo shot into the Hooks’ bullpen off Corpus Christi right-hander Ramsey David (HOU No. 26 prospect). Hunter Fitz-Gerald and Lazaro Montes (MLB's No. 29 prospect) joined the power party with back-to-back home runs later in the frame.
Arroyo found himself back at the plate in the third inning and authored a similar result. His two-run blast cleared the left-field wall against Hooks righty Bryce Mayer (HOU No. 5 prospect). Arroyo also tallied a pair of run-scoring singles in the fifth and seventh innings for good measure.
COMPLETE MARINERS PROSPECT COVERAGE
In five games since returning from the injured list, Arroyo is 8-for-20 with 14 total bases. Wednesday marked the fourth multihomer game of his career and his fifth outing with four or more hits. The pair of roundtrippers ended a homer drought dating back to May 14 and marks the second straight night an Arkansas batter delivered a two-homer performance, following in the footsteps of Montes.
Arroyo is one of seven Mariners prospects featured on the overall Top 100 Prospects list, tied for the most in all of baseball with the Dodgers. Seattle inked him during the 2022 international signing period to a historic $1.375 million bonus for a Colombian-born player.