Can Patrick Wisdom Reclaim His Glory? The Mariners’ Dilemma

Daniel Kim 2026.05.27 Views

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[MyDaily = Reporter Kim Jin-seong] That puts the Mariners in a dilemma.

Patrick Wisdom (35, Seattle Mariners) quietly returned to the majors, but at first glance you might not even notice he’s back. Wisdom was absent from the lineup for the May 26, 2026 game (Korean time) at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, a road matchup against the Oakland Athletics.

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Wisdom signed a minor-league deal with Seattle before the season and promptly took over Triple-A. With the Tacoma Rainiers he led the Pacific Coast League in home runs and forced the organization’s hand. The Mariners promoted him to the majors on April 15.

In his debut against the San Diego Padres he had just one plate appearance and struck out, then disappeared from the roster. The team placed him on the injured list on April 18 with left oblique pain. He remained out until early May and was sent back to Tacoma on May 6.

His numbers in Tacoma dipped slightly from earlier form, but Seattle recalled Wisdom again on May 19 because the club is thin at both first and third base. There isn’t a clear backup for starting first baseman Josh Naylor.

More importantly, Brandon Donovan, who had been handling third base, was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 17 with a left groin strain. Another option, Miles Mastrobuoni, is on the 60-day injured list, leaving Colt Emerson as the only other third-base candidate.

On paper, that situation should open a window for Wisdom. In reality, playing time has been scarce since his recall. He’s logged just 11 plate appearances — during the May 20–21 games vs. the Chicago White Sox and the May 23 game vs. the Kansas City Royals.

He hasn’t even been guaranteed at-bats against left-handed pitching. On the 26th, Oakland happened to use only right-handers. This season Wisdom has appeared in four MLB games, collecting one hit in 12 at-bats (.083) with two RBIs and a .250 OPS. He hasn’t hit a home run.

From 2021 through 2023 with the Chicago Cubs, Wisdom hit 28, 25 and 23 home runs, respectively, but his career trajectory slowed after that. In 2025 he slugged 35 home runs for the KIA Tigers in the KBO, yet concerns about the quality of those numbers and struggles against off-speed pitches kept him from re-signing. He returned this year to chase another big-league opportunity, but each day has been a grind.

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At 35, Wisdom isn’t getting any younger, so this opportunity feels precious. But if he goes back to Triple-A and tears it up again, will it meaningfully change Seattle’s evaluation? It’s a true dilemma for the club and a situation that could erode his motivation.