SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Seattle Mariners, more than almost any team in the American League, understand the importance of pitching depth.

Last season, four starting pitchers missed time due to injuries. Logan Evans and Emerson Hancock both made 15 starts for the Mariners in place of those injured hurlers. One of those substitutes, Evans, is out for the 2026 season after undergoing elbow surgery.

Due to those factors, the depth of the rotation behind the typical five of Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, George Kirby, Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller has an added meaning this year.

Cooper Criswell could be a pitcher that factors into those plans after his latest outing.

Criswell took the mound on Wednesday in Seattle's 9-4 loss against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Ariz. He struck out one batter, allowed two hits, hit a batter and didn't allow a run in three innings of work. It was his first start of the spring.

Criswell was originally selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 13th round of the 2018 MLB Draft out North Carolina.

Since then, Criswell has bounced around several organizations. He spent time with the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and New York before landing with the Mariners.

The M's acquired Criswell in a trade from the Mets in return for cash Jan. 23.

Criswell has had stints in the major leagues as both a starter and multi-inning reliever. His longest stay in the majors came in 2024 with the Red Sox. He posted a 4.08 ERA and fanned 73 batters in 99.1 innings pitched across 26 appearances (18 starts).

It's still up in the air whether Criswell will be used a multi-inning reliever, starter or both in 2026 but he's been prepping as a starter and has bought into the potential of being a Swiss army knife for Seattle. He's out of options which complicates things further for the M's.

"Just knowing that I feel comfortable in either role, hopefully the team feels the same way," Criswell said after his start Wednesday. " ... Each and every day, you don't know what's gonna come but you're there on the team. Any way you can help."

Criswell boasts a unique arm slot and an arsenal that includes a changeup, a cutter and a sweeper, which favors a swing-and-miss approach.

However, the Mariners are a team that preaches attacking the strike zone. The former Tar Heel has embraced that mentality and showed an example of that against the Giants.

Criswell inadvertently hit San Francisco outfielder Luis Matos in the head with an 87.1-mile per hour cutter in the second inning of Wednesday's game. After several moments on the ground, Matos was able to take first base and continued to play.

In the next at-bat, Criswell's first pitch was the same one that connected with Matos: and 87.1-mph cutter, which landed in the zone for a strike.

"The past couple (outing), just been really focusing on getting ahead with strike zone," Criswell said. "Continue to attack the zone and try to nibble and pick the corners. ... As far as building up and stuff, I'm gonna build up as a starter. You never know what's gonna happen the rest of the spring. It's always easier to go from built up as a start to long relief versus only being built up for a couple innings long relief and then having to, if you do have to, jump into the rotation. ... At the end of the spring, we'll know more."

Seattle has a starter-turned-reliever in Hancock, who moved from the rotation to the bullpen last year. Casey Lawrence, who's on the 40-man roster, is also an occasional starter who the team used in long relief last season.

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