For three years, Presley was an effective power hitter for the Mariners, clubbing 28, 27, and 24 homers before slumping to 14 in 1988. He is sixth in career RBI for Seattle and was only the third player to hit 100 homers for the Mariners. In 1986 Presley was the Mariners’ representative in the All-Star Game, and led Seattle with 33 doubles, 27 home runs, 107 RBI, and 172 strikeouts. While not exactly a defensive liability, he did set a major league record in 1982 for the fewest putouts by a third baseman playing in a minimum of 150 games.
His career seemingly on the wane, Presley saw reduced playing time in 1989 following the arrival of rookie Edgar Martinez. Martinez seized the starting job the next year, causing the M’s to trade Presley to the Atlanta Braves for Ken Pennington and Gary Eave. His three errors in one inning on September 16, 1990 tied a major league record. That, along with a bizarre incident involving a fight with his mother, did not endear him to Atlanta management, and they let him go to San Diego that offseason. He was cut only 20 games into the 1991 season after starting off 8 for 59.
Presley later worked for Buck Showalter as hitting coach for the Diamondbacks.
