There are seasons so bad people want to forget them.
But sometimes, it’s the players themselves who can’t forget.
In 2024, Luke Raley was one of the Seattle Mariners’ unexpected bright spots. 137 games, 22 home runs, 3.2 bWAR, 128+ OPS. A seemingly supporting signing suddenly became a crucial piece of the lineup. Even in the second half of the 2024 season, he had 0.895 OPS – a number that would inspire confidence in any coach.
Then 2025 came.
A right oblique injury. Two months of almost no action. He returned, only to suffer back spasms. Twice on the injured list. A total of only 73 games. And the numbers don’t lie: -0.3 bWAR, 0.202/0.319/0.311, 0.631 OPS.
But the chilling part wasn’t the statistics.
It was the confession.
“After returning from my oblique injury, I didn’t feel like myself anymore… Just a millisecond difference can change everything.”
For a hitter, a millisecond is the line between a line drive and a harmless pop-up. Raley began to wonder: had his swing speed slowed down? Was he still making the motion he wanted?
According to data from Baseball Savant, the answer was yes: he had lost about 1.2 mph of bat speed compared to 2024.
That number sounds small. But in MLB, it’s the difference between dangerous and mediocre.
Ironically, Raley hadn’t started 2025 particularly well even before the injury. A .206 batting average after 24 games wasn’t disastrous, but it wasn’t promising either. However, given the precedent of his explosive second half in 2024, many believed he would adjust.
Injury denied him that opportunity.
After returning from back spasms, he hit .143 with .425 OPS. And when the ALCS arrived, the Mariners decided not to include him on the roster.
It wasn’t just a tactical decision.
It marked the end of a season where both the player and the fans sensed “something was wrong” very early on.
What makes the story even more significant is that Raley isn’t the type to give up easily. He stated clearly: “I’m not the type to lie down and quit.” But between willpower and body, sometimes the body wins.
Now, spring 2026 opens a new beginning. Three hits in his first four at-bats in the Cactus League. Coach Dan Wilson (now the Mariners coach) is excited, speaking of “confidence returning.”
The Mariners even put him on the lead-off in two of the first three games. A sign of confidence. A chance for rebuilding.
But the memory of 2025 still lingers.
A season where Raley admitted he felt out of sync. A season where his body betrayed timing – the lifeblood of a hitter.
The question isn’t whether he’s talented or not. He’s already proven it.
The question is: when a player once says he’s “no longer himself,” can the old version truly return?
Or are the Mariners betting on the memory of 2024… more than on the present?
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