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Seattle Mariners

Daniel Vogelbach’s slam in eighth powers Seattle over Houston 4-1

Seattle Mariners' Daniel Vogelbach, right, hits a grand slam as Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado watches during the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, in Houston. (David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
By Ryan Divish Seattle Times

HOUSTON – In the hours before Monday night’s 4-1 victory over the Astros at Minute Maid Park, Mariners manager Scott Servais was discussing the future of Daniel Vogelbach at the big-league level.

The young slugger without a position, other than designated hitter, has proven over the past three seasons that he can produce at the Triple-A level.

But it’s been different in his short stints in Seattle. The minimal playing time and sporadic at-bats have shown a homer here, a walk there and plenty of strikeouts in between.

“He needs to get the opportunity, and finding the right spot where you can get that opportunity and take it and run with it,” Servais said. “What is opportunity these days? Not many guys get a thousand at-bats to figure it out. So it needs to happen when he does get an opportunity. Being in a situation where someone commits 350-400 at-bats in a season to him and see what you’ve got is probably what he needs, but is that what he’s going to get? I don’t know.”

Given Vogelbach’s defensive struggles last season and the Mariners’ roster setup this season, that opportunity wasn’t available. Even now in the final month, a hamstring injury has limited to him to minimal at-bats.

But over the past two games, he’s been forcing the Mariners to give him a few more at-bats in the season’s final weeks.

Called on to pinch-hit in the eighth inning with the Mariners trailing 1-0, Vogelbach stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one-time Astros closer Hector Rondon on the mound. The hard-throwing right-hander tried to overpower Vogelbach with an elevated 98-mph fastball. But Vogelbach was ready for it, unleashing his short, powerful swing and producing a rocket into the Astros’ bullpen for his first career MLB grand slam.

It was his fourth homer in 79 at-bats with the Mariners. He clubbed a two-run homer on Sunday in Anaheim.

Could the opportunity that Servais spoke of – 350-400 at-bats in a season – find Vogelbach next season?

Well, it all depends on what the Mariners and the power hitter currently occupying his preferred position do in the coming weeks. Vogelbach may have potential to be a productive big-league hitter, but Nelson Cruz is a proven, productive big-league hitter at a level only a handful of players can reach.

But Cruz is free agent after this season, and the Mariners have to decide if they want to bring him back for the next two seasons. Seattle had some thoughts about an extension during spring training, but nothing got done. Now the Mariners’ chances of bringing him back on an extension will be slim if he reaches the open market. The team the Mariners beat on Monday could have significant interest in Cruz, who would be a perfect fit and add another big bat to a potent lineup.

The Mariners got a solid start from Wade LeBlanc, who pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one run. But he didn’t figure into the decision, with Seattle’s offense being held scoreless until Vogelbach’s slam.

Edwin Diaz pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his 56th save.