Mariners recall Mike Zunino, option Daniel Vogelbach in series of moves
May 22, 2017, 2:22 PM | Updated: 2:46 pm
Mike Zunino will be back with the Mariners on Tuesday after hitting five homers in 12 games in Triple-A. (AP)
(AP)
The Seattle Mariners will have catcher Mike Zunino back in uniform when they start their series against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, and they’ve cleared the way for second baseman Robinson Cano to return from the disabled list in the game, as well.
Seattle recalled Zunino and right-handed pitcher Emilio Pagan from Triple-A Tacoma on Monday afternoon, optioning catcher Tuffy Gosewisch, right-handed pitcher Chris Heston and first baseman Daniel Vogelbach to the Rainiers in the process. That leaves the Mariners with 24 players on their 25-man active roster during the off day, with the extra spot presumably reserved for Cano when he’s eligible to come off the DL from a quad strain Tuesday.
M’s should see key injury returns this week, and they’ll need them
Zunino, 26, went 12 for 41 (.293) with five home runs and 11 RBIs in 12 games with Tacoma after being demoted by the M’s on May 5 after hitting .167 in 24 games. General manager Jerry Dipoto said earlier this month that the Mariners were determined to not let Zunino’s slow start at the plate steamroll into something more prolonged, which factored into their decision to give him some time to work on things in the minors.
Pagan, 26, will be joining the Mariners for his second MLB stint this season. In 10 relief appearances with Tacoma, he has a 3.24 ERA with 21 strikeouts over 16 2/3 innings.
The 33-year-old Gosewisch went 2 for 28 (.071) in 11 games with the Mariners.
Heston, 29, started Sunday’s loss to the White Sox for Seattle, giving up seven runs on seven hits and four walks over three innings.
Vogelbach, 24, went 1 for 3 Sunday after being called up earlier in the day by Seattle to give the Mariners some help with first baseman Danny Valencia nursing a sore wrist.
