It’s been a fine start to the season for R.C. Smooth.
It’s been a fine start to the season for R.C. Smooth. (USATSI)

Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano is off to a magma-hot start in 2016. He came into Wednesday's matinee against the Rangers (SEA 9, TEX 5) slugging .889. Then in the first inning, he did this ...

And in the ninth, he did this ...

That leaves Cano in 2016 batting a robust .308/.357/1.231 on the young season and on pace for, as mentioned, 216 home runs. Will he reach that figure? Absolutely.

Cano's of course now in the third year of the whopping 10-year, $240 million deal he inked with the M's. While he's been quite productive over his first two seasons in Seattle (130 OPS+, 156.5 games played per season), a big power season for a contending Mariners team would help redefine his tenure there. Consider this a fine start toward that. 

Cano also has a mighty hand in this bit of early-season weirdness ... 

Developing!