There is no question that last year was a bit of a down year for Robinson Cano and the Seattle Mariners.

Cano’s dip in production definitely did not help things as the Mariners ended up with a 76-86 record, easily missing the playoffs. Cano and company are looking to put last season behind them and although the Mariners had a hard-luck loss on Monday, the offense has been powerful.

For a team that supposedly switched from a power hitting philosophy to one based around on-base percentage, the Mariners sure have hit a lot of home runs in the first three games. Of the nine home runs the Mariners have hit in the first three games of the season, Cano has hit four of those.

Cano’s four home runs in three games definitely shows that Cano is past the injuries that plagued him last season. Not only that, but he has hit at least one in each game (a Mariners record to start the season), demonstrating it was not just a single pitcher he dominated. His two-run homer in the ninth inning of today’s game put the Mariners firmly ahead of the Texas Rangers in the 9-5 Mariners win. He also hit a two-run homer in the first inning.

It might seem like it’s early to say that Cano has turned it around from the down year last season, where he hit for a .287.334/.446 batting line, but his production during spring was impressive as well. Cano hit seven home runs and 17 RBIs to go along with a .368 average in 57 at-bats. He already has seven RBIs in the first three games of the regular season.

Cano is 4-for-13 at the plate to start the regular season, not only demonstrating his contact rate, but considering all four of those hits are home runs, you can’t ask for much more. Cano hit 21 home runs last year, two less than his career average. With 159 games left in the season, I have a strong feeling he will not only top last year’s number, but top his career average for a 162-game season.

Cano is not the only one who has shown power early in the season. Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager both already have a home run to their credit (Seager getting his on Monday and Cruz on Tuesday). Seth Smith, Leonys Martin and Luis Sardinas each have one as well. It should be noted that the Mariners are playing at Globe Life Park in Arlington, known as an extremely hitter-friendly ballpark.

When the Mariners return to Safeco Field on Friday, I’m sure the number of home runs will drop. It is nice to see the stars of the team shining so early, though. If you take out the two errors in Monday’s game that eventually led to a loss, the Mariners could have started the season 3-0 on the road against the previous division winners. Not too shabby of a start for Cano and the Mariners.