Seattle Mariners’ Ty France Aims to Avoid Repeat of Rare 2023 Feat

Seattle Mariners’ first baseman Ty France is gearing up for the 2024 season, hoping to steer clear of the historic milestone he achieved in 2023. Last year, France set a club record by being hit by a pitch a staggering 34 times, a feat accomplished by only four players in the last 120 years of baseball history.

According to Mariners PR, France’s 34 hit-by-pitch instances in 2023 tied for the ninth-most in MLB history. He joins a select group of players, including Ron Hunt, Don Baylor, and Craig Biggio, who have endured similar levels of plunkings in a single season since 1900.

While France’s ability to get on base through hit-by-pitches boosts his on-base percentage, he aims to improve his offensive output in the upcoming season. Despite being an All-Star in the first half of the 2022 season, France experienced a decline in performance thereafter, notably in his power numbers. In 2023, he managed only 12 home runs and 58 RBIs, batting .250.

With offseason training at Driveline and the Mariners’ recent acquisitions of Jorge Polanco, Luke Raley, Mitch Haniger, and Mitch Garver, France is optimistic about rediscovering his previous form. As a lifetime .270 hitter known for his batting prowess, France’s resurgence could bolster Seattle’s offense for the upcoming season.