They told him to learn a new position. They told him he had to lose weight. They told him he needed to change his style of hitting. They urged him to show more intensity. They even told him to learn how to run differently.

And then the Mariners brought in veteran Fernando Vina to spring camp, and told Jose Lopez, his "can't-miss" prospect status seemingly fading at age 22, that he had to win a job, too.