Tim Lopes is raking this spring, but will it win him the Mariners’ utility job?

For Tim Lopes, working in the cage with Seattle Mariners hitting coach Tim Laker this offseason was so freeing it almost felt like going to church.

“I would leave kind of refreshed every time we’d work together,” Lopes said. “It was definitely nice having him. … We got to know each other a little bit when I first signed here. Just during the season working together late in September, I really liked the things he had to say.

“I think he’s really knowledgeable about hitting and about the offensive side of the ball. I decided I wanted to work with him a little bit more.”

About once a week during the winter, Lopes would make the long drive north from his home in Orange County to Laker’s facility in the Santa Clarita Valley, and they would hit.

The routine was similar to what Lopes worked on with Laker last offseason, as well as last summer, when Lopes was promoted from Triple-A Tacoma — fine-tuning mechanics and approach at the plate, and adjusting Lopes’ stance for better balance.

“It was kind of like a checkpoint in the offseason, making sure everything was working the way we wanted it to,” Lopes said.

How did Lopes’ progress check out? Well, entering the week he led all spring training players with five doubles, had a team-leading seven RBI, and his 7-for-13 (.538) start gave him the best batting average of any Mariners player this spring with multiple at-bats.

“He really reinvented himself,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “I think early in his career he was kind of a slap, contact guy. He made some swing changes, understanding that he’s got more juice in there. He’s got a little more power and can drive the ball in the gaps.

“It’s played out very well. He’s a real threat with the bat. He can hit a fastball — I don’t care how hard they are throwing. He’s one of the guys that can handle velocity. It’s pretty valuable in our game.”

Lopes was drafted by the Mariners in the sixth round back in 2012 out of high school, but was traded to Toronto four years later, where he continued his climb through the minors, reaching Triple-A by 2018.

He signed with Seattle again as a minor league free agent last offseason, and was invited to spring training, but started his season back in Triple-A.

While he waited for his big league opportunity to come, Lopes tore up Tacoma. He was hitting .302/.362/.480 through 91 games with 30 doubles, two triples, 10 homers, 60 RBI and 24 stolen bases when he was called up, and had an active 14-game hitting streak.

The call came when the Rainiers arrived at the airport in Reno to begin a short road trip. Lopes was instructed to turn around and jump on a plane back to Seattle.

“It was a dream come true,” he said. “You envision that as a kid. You envision playing in the big leagues your whole life. It was a long journey to get there, and it was everything I ever wanted. I was just happy to be a part of it.”

Lopes debuted in July, a month after his 25th birthday, was hit by a fastball between his left ear and shoulder the following night, and spent the next 11 days on the concussion list.

When he did return to Seattle’s lineup, he wasted little time showing the Mariners how much pop his bat has. In his first at-bat after being cleared to play, he ripped a two-run homer for his first major league hit.

He finished the season hitting .270/.359/.360 with seven doubles, the home run and 12 RBI in 41 games, got in that offseason work with Laker and made his way to Seattle’s spring training complex in Peoria the final week of January.

“I like getting acclimated, getting my place to live and getting into the everyday routine,” Lopes said. “I’m definitely an early starter. I’ve always done that in my career. I think it’s been beneficial.”

There’s no arguing with the results he’s produced. They say if you hit, you play. The only question the Mariners have is where can they put Lopes?

With Seattle’s infield already set — Evan White at first, Shed Long Jr. at second, J.P. Crawford at shortstop and Kyle Seager at third, and veteran Dee Gordon as the first utility option — Lopes is looking at battling for a second utility job.

Dylan Moore, who was Seattle’s go-to utility player last year, is also a top competitor for that spot.

Moore is currently moving through concussion protocol, but could return to the lineup as early as Wednesday, and was also producing offensively this spring before his injury.

“Now that we’re into March, everybody’s played a few games, we’ll kind of start sorting it out a little bit, and focus on what those guys can do that are in competitions,” Servais said. “Moving them around to different positions, all of that other stuff plays into what’s going on here the next 10 days or so.”

Lopes has mostly played second and third during his professional career, but logged 33 games for the Mariners in left field last season, and was a serviceable outfielder despite having little experience there.

Moore played every defensive position except catcher at least once for the Mariners last season.

There is a scenario where the Mariners could carry both players on their active roster, but it likely involves dropping their fourth outfielder and using Lopes or Moore as outfield substitutes when needed.

“It depends how our outfield lines up versus what we have for the backup infield spots,” Servais said. “You don’t want to put guys on the team (without a position). What is their way into the lineup? It’s not just, OK, this guy sprains his ankle or pulls his hamstring. It’s how do you keep that guy going and get him into the lineup?

“You’ll see some of our infielders back in the outfield for a bit here over the next 10 days and just make sure we get all the bases covered on what they can and can’t play, what they’re most comfortable at. Hopefully they keep swinging the bat like they have.”

However camp breaks, Lopes is focused on continuing to produce at the rate he has this first week of games.

“I’m just trying to show up every day and do my job — trying to make the team better, trying to help the team win,” he said. “That’s really all I can control.”

This story was originally published March 1, 2020 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Tim Lopes is raking this spring, but will it win him the Mariners’ utility job?."

Lauren Smith

The News Tribune

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Lauren Smith is a sports reporter at The News Tribune. She has covered high school sports for TNT and The Olympian, as well as the Seattle Mariners and Washington Huskies. She is a graduate of UW and Emerald Ridge High School.