Albuquerque native Mitch Garver aims for backup catcher role with Mariners

This winter tested the patience of Mitch Garver, the La Cueva High graduate and former University of New Mexico baseball standout.

Garver made his major league debut in 2017 with the Minnesota Twins, but the current season was up in the air — until he ended up in a familiar place.

"There was not many options this offseason," said Garver, 35, a catcher who won a World Series ring with the Texas Rangers in 2023.

Just days after the spring training report date, Garver signed a minor deal in mid-February with the Seattle Mariners — the team he had been with in 2024 and 2025. Garver was a free agent after last season.

He welcomes the chance to be back.

"It has been a lot of fun. I love working with this pitching staff," Garver said in a phone interview from spring training in Arizona on Thursday. "We are the favorites in the American League West. The future is bright for Seattle."

Garver is fighting for a spot to be the backup catcher to All-Star Cal Raleigh, who had a historic season last year. The switch-hitting Raleigh hit 60 homers and drove in 125 runs for the Mariners in 2025.

A former Florida State standout, Raleigh just ended a stint with the US national team that lost to Venezuela in the title game of the World Baseball Classic.

"Obviously disappointed," Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who beat out Raleigh for American League MVP last season, told reporters of the silver finish. "All of us put on this uniform to go out there and win a gold medal. We fell short of that."

Despite the loss, Garver continues to be impressed with Raleigh, Seattle’s starting catcher and sometimes DH.

"It seems like a whirlwind. I am impressed with his consistency to go out and play every day," Garver said of Raleigh, the son of former college coach Todd. "It was an absolute monster year. It was fun to watch."

Garver, of course, spends a lot of time with Raleigh in the clubhouse, dugout and bullpen — as well as off the field. "We do pretty much everything together," said Garver, noting he is usually beside Raleigh on team plane flights.

While Raleigh puts up big offensive numbers, Garver has seen his career take a different arc.

The former Lobos star, who was drafted in the ninth round by Minnesota in 2009, hit a career-high 31 homers with the Twins in 2019.

But Garver went deep just nine times in 254 at-bats with Seattle last year while batting .209 in 87 games. The year before, Garver hit .172 in 114 games.

"I used to be an offensive catcher. Now I put a lot of pride in the other side," he said.

Garver had two hits in his first six at-bats this spring but then went 13 straight at-bats without a hit, including an 0-for-3 contest on Tuesday against the San Diego Padres.

"I have never had success in spring training (at the plate) my entire career," he said.

He hopes his defensiveness and familiarity with the Seattle pitching staff will land him a spot on the Opening Day roster. He started 42 games at catcher and 22 at DH last season.

The native of Albuquerque has had to adapt in his major league career, which is nearing the 10-year mark. That includes new MLB rules, such as challenges on ball and strike calls.

"The game has changed so much since I came up. We have had to adjust to a lot of rules over the years. You learn to adapt. I think (the changes) have improved the game," he said.

Seattle opens the season Thursday at home against Cleveland — and Garver hopes to be there.

No matter what happens the next few days, Garver is proud to be one of six natives of New Mexico who played in the majors in 2025. And he is one of three from La Cueva High, according to baseballreference.com, to play in The Show, joining James Paar (2008-09 with Atlanta) and Jordan Pacheco, who played from 2011-16 with Colorado, Arizona and the Reds of Cincinnati.

"I am pretty proud to be from New Mexico," Garver said. "It is not well known for baseball. It is not a hotbed."

Garver recalls thinking how cool it would be to win a World Series ring after New Mexico native Alec Bregman won one with Houston in 2017, then again in 2022.

Portales native Cody Ross was part of the San Francisco Giants' 2010 World Series championship team. His manager that year was Bruce Bochy, who was also the skipper when Garver won a ring with Texas.

"I would say it was pretty special, especially when you think of New Mexico guys who have won a World Series," said Garver, who hit 19 homers for the champion Rangers in 2023. "It was a pretty cool experience."