ARLINGTON, Texas — The first month of Mitch Haniger’s 2017 season had Mariners’ fans thinking that general manager Jerry Dipoto had gotten a steal of an everyday right fielder along with shortstop Jean Segura in the trade with the Diamondbacks that sent Taijuan Walker and Ketel Marte to Arizona.
But a severely strained oblique on April 25 presented a major obstacle that interrupted and cooled that torrid start, sidelining him for eight weeks. A 95-mph fastball to the mouth on July 29 also caused delays and issues for a hitter, who was already struggling.
Just about the time people were ready to write off Haniger’s start — a .