For two days, they got to live a dream that is so achingly close to becoming a reality.
And that was the point of the prospects’ invitations to major-league spring training this year and the purpose of them being in Seattle for the two exhibition games vs. the Padres instead of the backfields of the team’s complex in Arizona with the rest of the Mariners’ farmhands. It’s part of their development.
“It’s a really good experience for them, a chance to get a few at-bats here at the ballpark,” manager Scott Servais said. “I don’t know how comfortable they’re going to get, but just to say they’ve been there and done it and stood in the batter’s box or on the mound here I think is important.