In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
As the 19-year-old shortstop jumped a 2-0 fastball and crushed a line drive into left-center field for a two-run single Sunday, Rainer’s inexperience didn’t show. The left-handed hitter waited on his pitch and sent it towards the opposite gap at 114 miles per hour, according to the Braves video board. It was his second hit and second and third RBI of his unofficial pro debut. It looked like a Major League approach, and it came from a teenager whose career is just getting started.
“Honestly, it didn't feel like I hadn't played a game in a year,” Rainer said after the Tigers’ 6-3 win for their second consecutive Spring Breakout victory. “It felt like I was just rolling right back out there.”
As far as opening statements go, the Spring Breakout game is a nice platform. It was a statement victory for an organization rated as having baseball’s best farm system by MLB Pipeline.
Rainer’s first hit also went to the opposite field, a fly ball that sent Braves left fielder Owen Carey to the fence but unable to make the catch, plating a run.
“I think the wind might have helped that one a little bit,” said Rainer, the No. 4 ranked prospect in the Tigers system and No. 52 in the MLB Pipeline Top 100.
The Tigers counted their blessings when Rainer fell to them with the 11th overall pick in last year’s Draft. His left-handed power bat and 6-foot-3 frame has brought comparisons to Rangers star shortstop Corey Seager, but injury prevented him from putting that on display last summer.
“I know he’s said it to me, that Corey Seager [comp], being from the L.A. area and all that,” said Hall of Famer and Tigers special assistant Alan Trammell, who managed the team to a Spring Breakout win for a second straight year. “That would be awesome, wouldn’t it? Anybody would like to pattern their game after him. But he has the ability to be that kind of [player] with the size and the swing. And the defense is really good. I mean, I’m pleasantly surprised with his defense at this point in his career.
“He’s just getting his feet wet in pro ball. Pro ball’s different. Like anybody that played, we can help them, but they have to figure out some of it on their own. And he’s just in the early stages, but he’s going to be fine.”
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
Rainer worked out at the team facility in Lakeland last summer, but stayed out of games. After a normal offseason, he was an early arrival to Spring Training.
Not surprisingly, Trammell takes particular interest in shortstops, as Rainer has discovered.
“He’s there a ton. I don’t think I haven’t seen him there in a day. It’s honestly pretty crazy,” Rainer said. “People think he just talks about defense, but he’s in the cage with us, he’s on the field giving us whatever he’s got. It seems like he’s always working.”
The line-drive single in his third and final at-bat is an example of the up-and-middle approach the Tigers preach to their hitting prospects.
“Trying not to do too much,” Rainer said.
Rainer’s first pro at-bat in the second inning looked like it could have been a hit. He bolted down the line and might have beaten the throw to first on his ground ball to the left side. He didn’t get the call, leaving him smiling as he slowed up past the bag, but he more than made up for it.
The first glimpse hopefully carries Tigers fans for a bit. While the talent is apparent, Rainer still has to start his climb up a Tigers farm system that has built depth, especially at his position. Their starting infield for Sunday’s Spring Breakout featured three ranked shortstop prospects. While Rainer got the start at short, Kevin McGonigle (Detroit’s No. 3 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 28 overall) started at third. Franyerber Montilla, the Tigers’ No. 14 prospect, started at second.
“It’s awesome,” said Rainer, who added the crowd surpassed his expectations. “I really didn’t know what to expect. Some of the guys from the Draft before mine didn’t even get to play in this, and it was kinda new to a lot of us. It was definitely good, especially to get a win.”
Senior Reporter Jason Beck has covered the Tigers for MLB.com since 2002.
12 Alumni on Mariners Spring Breakout Roster
Major League Baseball and the Seattle Mariners announced today the Mariners roster for the 2025 Spring Breakout game, set for Thursday, March 14 at 5:05 PT against the Cleveland Guardians prospects. Spring Breakout showcases baseball’s future stars, as each Major League organization fields a team full of their top prospects
Adam Jones elected to Orioles Hall of Fame
The Baltimore Orioles on Thursday announced that former AquaSox Adam Jones have been elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame. After being selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 2003 MLB draft, he reported to Everett for a handful of games at the end of the season. Jones spent 11
Women’s History Month: Baseball Pioneer Emma Hough
In 2022, Rachel Balkovec became the first women to manager full time in the minor leagues. Since then, several other women have coached at the professional level and in the Northwest League. As we celebrate Women's History Month, we remember a baseball pioneer from our own backyard. Emma A. Hough
AquaSox 2025 Promo Schedule Released
January 18, 2025 - EVERETT, WA: 2025 marks 30 years of the AquaSox affiliation with the Seattle Mariners and the upcoming season will be packed with special events, theme nights, giveaways, fireworks and more. AquaSox Opening Night at Funko Field is slated for Tuesday, April 8 against the Hillsboro Hops
2025 Bookmark Contest Winner Announced
We are excited to announce our 2025 Reading Program Bookmark Contest winner! We received hundreds of entries into the contest and thank everyone who entered. The winners are: Agan (7 years old) – Mill Creek Elementary For over a decade, the AquaSox have been facilitating a free, local, incentive-based program
Three Former Frogs To Join M's Broadcast Team
February 20, 2025 - PEORIA, AZ: Seattle Mariners Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communications Gregg Greene and Vice President of Creative and Content Services Ben Mertens announced today the lineup of announcers for Seattle Mariners Radio and Television this season. “As the calendar turns to baseball season, we are
Black History Month: Remembering Jimmy Claxton
"Everybody knows about Jackie Robinson, and he's credited with breaking the color barrier, but here we have Jimmy Claxton, the one who really does it decades before," Mukilteo historian Steven K. Bertrand said. "It was Jimmy's legacy." Claxton was born on December 14, 1892, in Wellington, British Columbia, to American
Mariners Extend 31 Invitations to Major League Spring Training
Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Justin Hollander announced today the club has invited 31 non-roster players to Major League Spring Training. Of the 31 invitees, 12 are AquaSox alumni Pitchers (16): Peyton Alford, LHP Luis F. Castillo, RHP Tyler Cleveland, RHP Hunter Cranton, RHP
MiLB Collaborates With Stand Up To Cancer
Minor League Baseball (“MiLB”) today announced a new collaboration with Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C), an organization that funds the development of new and promising cancer treatments to help patients today. Founded in 2008, SU2C raises awareness and funds research to detect and treat cancers with the aspiration to cure
Mariners Announce AquaSox Staff For 2025 Season
EVERETT, WA: Seattle Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto, Director of Player Development Justin Toole, and Vice President of High Performance and Medical Rob Scheidegger announced today the High-A Everett AquaSox staff for the 2025 season: - Zach Vincej, Manager - Jordan Cowan, Hitting Coach - Matt Carasiti, Pitching
Felix Hernandez - Hall of Fame Candidate
Nicknamed “King Felix.” Felix Hernandez is one of the most popular Mariners of all time, the right-hander spent his entire 15-year ML career in Seattle beginning as a 19-year-old graduate of the Mariners farm system. Finished his career as the franchise leader in wins (169), ERA (tied-3.42), starts (418), innings
Everett City Council Advances Proposed New Downtown Development Project
DECEMBER 18, 2024 - EVERETT, WA: The Everett AquaSox potential new ballpark got a boost Wednesday night when the City Council unanimously voted to move ahead with a year-round outdoor entertainment venue in downtown Everett. “On behalf of 7th Inning Stretch, we’d like to express our gratitude to Mayor Franklin,
New Ballpark Site Selection Vote - December 18
If you attended our meeting last week at the Courtyard – THANK YOU! A lot of fans have asked – now what? We have two important meetings coming up. The Everett City Council is going to vote on the site selection for our new ballpark. They have three options –
AquaSox Host First EVER Hot Stove Banquet!
In celebration of the team’s 30th year as a Seattle Mariners affiliate, the Everett AquaSox are excited to announce their FIRST EVER Hot Stove Banquet on Thursday, January 30th at the Courtyard by Marriott in Downtown Everett. The Sox are also very pleased to announce that Seattle Mariners Manager, Dan
Step Up To The Plate - New Ballpark Info Meeting
The Everett City Council is going to have a very important vote in mid-December that will decide the future of the AquaSox in Everett! To show the City Council how important the vote is to the AquaSox community, we are going to have another New Ballpark Update Meeting / Rally
Santa Webbly Is Coming To Town!
Santa Webbly is coming to town! Come get your picture taken on Friday, December 6th from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the AquaSox front office (3802 Broadway) next to Funko Field. Photos with Santa Webbly are FREE and he will be passing out gifts to all the good little baseball
Tis The Season For Giving
The AquaSox annual “Giving Tree” is up in our office! We are collecting gifts for Make-A-Wish Washington & Alaska to stock their toy room for wish families! Stop by to grab a tag for a specific item. All gifts can be returned to the office by December 23rd Don’t have