The 24-year-old was a success while working out of the top of the order during a trial run near the end of last season, slashing .296/.342/.521 with nine extra-base hits (five doubles, one triple, three home runs) and nine RBI across 71 at-bats. The Mariners are therefore interested in seeing if Long can extend that success this spring, and both his minor-league career .351 on-base percentage and .333 figure during 168 major-league plate appearances last season provide reason for optimism that he could be up to the task. "I thought the key to Shed's awesome September was his ability to control the strike zone," manager Scott Servais said. "His swing decisions were outstanding and when he does that, he has really good results. He can drive the ball and there's a good chance you'll see him up there [leading off] a bunch this spring."

It sounds like the Mariners are planning to deploy Dee Gordon in a utility role while giving Long the reins at second base. Long spent most of the 2019 season shuttling between Triple-A Tacoma and the Mariners, though he put together a .289/.337/.518 triple-slash over his final 23 games after earning a September promotion.

Long continued his season-ending hot streak at the plate and ultimately crossed the plate with the winning run on J.P. Crawford's double. Long is hitting .316 in September following what was his ninth multi-hit effort of the month, and his well-balanced contributions during that stretch partly consist of 10 extra-base hits (five doubles, one triple, four home runs) and 10 RBI.

Long's September tear continued in fine fashion, as the rookie pushed his average during the month to .422 (19-for-45), a figure partly comprised of eight extra-base hits. Long started at second base in place of Dee Gordon on Sunday, with the keystone projected as his long-term position despite the fact he's put in time in the outfield recently as well.