Mariners closer recruits Kris Bryant to Seattle during MLB lockout

Seattle Mariners closer Paul Sewald is trying to get fans excited about the prospect of signing Kris Bryant once the MLB lockout ends.

The Mariners are expected to be a major player in the free agent market as soon as the MLB lockout ends.

At least one Seattle player isn’t wasting time waiting for that day to come. Pitcher Paul Sewall is already making a case for Kris Bryant to join him with the Mariners.

On Sunday, Sewald posted a picture to social media showing him hanging out with Bryant.

Mariners Paul Sewald recruits Kris Bryant to Seattle during MLB lockout

“M’s fans, you want this guy in Seattle or nah?” Sewald asked in the caption.

Sewald and Bryant go way back. Though separated by two years, they were both high school baseball players out of Las Vegas and landed at the University of San Diego for college ball. They were teammates in 2011 and 2012 during Bryant’s first two years with the Toreros.

The pitcher was drafted by the Mets in the 10th round of the 2012 draft while Bryant went No. 2 overall to the Cubs in 2013.

It only took Bryant a couple of years to break into the majors. Sewald finally made his debut for New York in 2017 as a reliever. He landed with the Mariners on a minor league deal in 2021 but made his way back up early in the season and went 10-3 with an ERA of 3.06. It was by far the best season of his career.

Sewald has now proven himself to the Mariners on the mound. Could he manufacture an even bigger win by convincing Kris Bryant to come to Seattle?

He has his ear it seems. You never know.