The Seattle Mariners turned to right-hander Cooper Criswell in a crucial moment during their 5-4 win over the Oakland Athletics, according to an April 23 report. Criswell pitched the eighth inning, holding a one-run lead and earning his first career hold with just nine pitches.
Criswell’s performance comes after a period of change for both him and the Mariners’ bullpen. Earlier in Spring Training, he was competing for a spot in the starting rotation but ultimately joined the bullpen as a depth piece. In his first seven appearances for Seattle, he primarily pitched when games were not close. However, injuries and inconsistent performances among other relievers have led to new opportunities.
“I feel like I made it clear to the staff in Spring Training: I’m open to doing whatever role they need me to do and I’m excited for any opportunities,” Criswell said.
Manager Dan Wilson praised Criswell’s adaptability, saying: “He’s been around, he’s been in different situations. For him, he will take the ball at all times. Sometimes it’s going to be a length situation, and sometimes it’s going be today where we need him to get the eighth inning and get to [Andrés Muñoz] in the ninth. What he has done for us so far, he’s really excelled in all those roles. To have a guy down there where you know you can count on him, that’s big.”
Criswell joined Seattle after being designated for assignment by another team earlier this year and has posted strong numbers so far out of the bullpen with a 1.80 earned run average across ten innings prior to Wednesday’s game.
Reflecting on his outing, Criswell said: “I just tried to treat it like any other situation. Not trying to put too much pressure on yourself in the situation, go out there and stick to our game plan, which is attacking the strike zone. I felt like I did a good job of that. I liked the results.”
The Mariners’ decision signals trust in newer faces amid ongoing adjustments within their pitching staff.
