A second-round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks from Auburn in 2018, Ryan Bliss is on a Major League roster for Opening Day for the first time and is expected to be at second base when the Seattle Mariners start their 2025 season on Thursday night.

“It’s definitely been awesome,” Bliss said of spring training. “Coming in here, I knew I had a shot to just go out there and compete and show what I could do. Wasn’t really thinking too much about winning the competition or losing the competition. Honestly, just wanted to come in here and get prepared and show the org what I could do. Wherever that is, whatever that looks like at the end, I just want to show them that I can do it.”

Jorge Polanco served as Seattle’s regular second baseman last season. But with the departure of third baseman Josh Rojas for the Chicago White Sox in free agency, Polanco has changed infield positions for 2025.

That opened a competition at second that came down to Bliss and Dylan Moore. Moore won the American League Gold Glove for utility players in 2024, when he played every infield position plus left field and center field. Moore hit 10 home runs and stole 32 bases while playing in 135 games last season, but he also had a .201 batting average.

While stealing 54 bases in 93 games with the Tacoma Rainiers, the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate, in 2024, Bliss also made his Major League debut with 33 games for Seattle. He hit .222 with two home runs and five stolen bases in 71 plate appearances.

In the Cactus League this spring, Bliss batted .308 in 17 games.

“Ryan has done such a great job of taking to this idea of identity and his identity as a player,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “Defensively, he handles the ball. Offensively, he’s going to use the middle of the field and get on base. And when he gets on base, he’s going to use his legs.”

In the offseason, Bliss focused on fastballs. Last season with Seattle, he hit .350 against the breaking ball and .194 against the fastball.

“That was something that I knew I had to tackle coming into this spring and heading into the season,” Bliss said. “Worked on it this offseason, and it’s been showing off in-game. Just my whole focus, just getting on the heater, being on the heater and not letting that be me. And I feel like I’ve been doing well. My work has paid off. And I just hope I can keep that going into the season.”

In three seasons at Auburn, Bliss batted .328 with 121 runs, 20 home runs and 22 stolen bases in 134 games. The Diamondbacks traded Bliss, Rojas and outfielder Dominic Canzone to the Mariners for relief pitcher Paul Seward on July 31, 2023.

The Mariners play the Athletics at 9:10 p.m. CDT Thursday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.