Seattle Mariners: 3 takeaways from reported signing of Ken Giles

3) Pitching repertoire

Giles is mostly renowned for a fastball which can reach as high as 103 miles per hour. For his career he has averaged 97 mph; as per Brooks Baseball he was slightly below this average last year at 95 mph, albeit in just four appearances.

The former Philadelphia Phillie primarily compliments his fastball with a slider which averaged 85 mph in 2020, but will occasionally mix in a sinker and change up. Overall, he is seen as an aggressive pitcher who is excellent at striking out batters.

Other Notes:

• Career averages of 2.74 ERA, 2.45 FIP, 1.117 WHIP and 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
• Finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting for 2014.
• Part of a combined no-hitter on Sept. 1, 2014, striking out all three hitters he faced.
• Toronto franchise record of 27 consecutive relief appearance with at least one strikeout.
• Converted 34 consecutive save attempts between Sept. 12, 2017 and Apr. 8, 2019.

What is your opinion of the reported signing of Giles? Are you encouraged by what he brings to the Seattle Mariners, or concerned about if he will fully recover from Tommy John surgery? Let us know in the comments section below.