A few days ago, I read an article about the park factor. An interesting thing in the article is that T-Mobile Park is a hard place for MLB hitters. Well, we all know that Coors Field is a hitter-friendly ballpark. So, after reading the article, I just thought about one thing.
T-Mobile Park is the home of the Seattle Mariners. How about the performance of the Mariners’ hitters in this ballpark?
To solve my doubts, I decided to check on the MLB website.
Firstly, let’s look at the Mariners’ hitting performance in 2021. At T-Mobile Park, the Mariners hitters only hit .214 with 94 home runs and 318 RBI. A batting average of .214 was the lowest among 30 MLB teams in home games. And their OPS was below .700 at home. However, in away games, they had a batting average of .237, which ranked 18th among 30 MLB teams and their OPS was over .700.
In 2022, the Mariners eventually clinched a postseason berth for the first time since 2001. In the 2022 season, the Mariners batters hit .223 at home with 97 home runs and 306 RBI. A .223 batting average ranked 29th among 30 MLB teams. Their OPS was below .700 as well. Nonetheless, in away games, they batted .236, which ranked 16th among 30 MLB teams. Additionally, their xwOBA of .326 in away games was certainly higher than their xwOBA of .306 at home.
In 2023, the Mariners’ batting average at home was .235 and they owned an OPS of .710. This time, they blasted 93 home runs and collected 342 RBI. A batting average of .235 ranked 26th among 30 MLB teams. Meanwhile, in away games, they batted .249, which was the 13th among 30 MLB teams. And their OPS was .757. They smashed 117 home runs in away games in 2023.
Last season, the Mariners only batted .214 at home. And again, it wasn’t good. A batting average of .214 at home was the lowest among 30 MLB teams. Their OPS was below .700 again. Additionally, they only crushed 87 home runs at T-Mobile Park. In the previous 3 seasons, they were able to belt 90+ home runs at this ballpark. In the meantime, let’s look at the numbers in away games. They batted .234, which ranked 22nd among 30 MLB teams. Their OPS was over .700. Nevertheless, an interesting thing was that their xwOBA of .312 at home was actually higher than their xwOBA of .310 in away games.
Looking back at the Mariners hitting performance over the last 4 seasons, it’s quite clear that they didn’t hit well at T-Mobile Park. Most of the time, the Mariners fans wouldn’t be happy when they saw the team’s batting average at home. However, in away games, they certainly did a better job. For example, their OPS was higher than .700 in away games in each of the last 4 seasons. So far this season, the Mariners have a batting average below .200 at home. And in away games, they now have a batting average of .282 and an OPS of .782. Well, it’s just the beginning of the 2025 season. But it’s worth watching if the Mariners batters can slightly improve their hitting performance at T-Mobile Park this season and that would certainly be helpful to clinch a spot in the postseason.
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