The Seattle Mariners are still looking to sort through the final spots on the roster with just under two weeks remaining until Opening Day against the Cleveland Guardians on March 26.

One Mariners infielder is making a strong case that he should be on the 26-man roster when the team begins its season at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

Leo Rivas was one of the feel-good seasons of the 2024 season for Seattle. After more than a decade in the minor leagues, the 28-year-old switch-hitter made his major league debut with that year's team.

Rivas entered 2025 with an opportunity to break camp for the first time in his professional career but was one of the final cuts of the spring and began the year with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.

Rivas still ended up making an impact in '25 and slashed .244/.387/.333 with a .720 OPS, hitting two doubles and two home runs with nine RBIs in 48 games.

Rivas also had the game-tying RBI single in the seventh inning of Game 5 of the American League Divisional Series against the Detroit Tigers on Oct. 10. The Mariners won the game 3-2 in the 15th-inning after a walk-off single from Jorge Polanco.

Rivas has earned the praise of teammates and coaches due to his do-it-all mentality and ability to come up in big moments for the team. He's also able to play multiple infield positions, which helps his roster candidacy. His newfound power has also been a welcome site.

Rivas' two homers last season were his first in the majors. From last season to now across his stints in the minor leagues, major leagues and spring, he's hit 14 homers. That's twice more than he had in a single-season prior. His first right-handed home run in a Mariners uniform came in a spring training game against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 8.

Those factors alone could get Rivas a spot on an Opening Day major league roster for the first time in his professional career, but his elite understanding of the strike zone could be what solidifies his spot.

According to a post on "X" from FanGraphs writer Dan Szymborski, Rivas had an 11.2% out-of-zone swing percentage last season, which was the seventh-lowest among hitters with at least 100 plate appearances in the Statcast era (c. 2015). He has an 8.5% out-of-zone swing percentage this spring (entering play on Friday).

Rivas is currently projected to make the major league roster as a bench player, according to FanGraphs. If he is able to maintain his plate discipline, then he'll continue to be a valuable contributor for Seattle.

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