A year ago, he was in the midst of a monster spring and preparing for what many hoped would be his breakout season at the big league level. Instead, Mike Zunino endured a soul-crushing season of failure.
PEORIA, Ariz. — On the backfields of the Mariners’ spring training complex, he operates with a high level of anonymity for a player who already wears a mask over his face half the game. His jersey doesn’t have his last name on the back. Instead of the No. 3 he wore in the big leagues, he’s wearing No. 2 now. There is no public address announcer to boom: “Now batting, the catcher, Mike Zunino” when he walks to the plate.