Mariners' Ty France: Slow spring, big expectations

France is hitting just .231 (6-for-26) with a home run and three RBI across nine exhibitions this spring but is penciled in as the Mariners' everyday first baseman.

France has forged a collective .294/.368/.449 slash line across the last two seasons, and he's coming off having recorded a career-high 18 home runs and 73 RBI while playing 152 games for Seattle in 2021. The 27-year-old could be primed for an even bigger season in 2022 with more protection around him in the lineup stemming from the offseason acquisitions of Adam Frazier, Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez.