Mariners activate CF Leonys Martin (hamstring) from 15-day DL
Jun 10, 2016, 3:52 PM | Updated: 4:10 pm
Leonys Martin is back for the Mariners, just in time to face his old team.
Despite missing a scheduled rehab game Thursday with Triple-A Tacoma because of a soggy outfield, the Mariners activated Martin after the minimum 15 days on the disabled list Friday to play in the opener against first-place Texas.
Even without the rehab start, Seattle has deemed Martin fully healed from the strained left hamstring suffered on May 25 during a win over Oakland, thanks in part to a simulated game in which he took 10 at-bats on Wednesday.
Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto had said earlier Friday on “Brock and Salk” that the team planned on activating Martin.
To make room for Martin, infielder Luis Sardinas was optioned to Triple-A. Sardinas has a .190 average, two homers and 10 runs scored in 25 games played over two stints with the Mariners this season.
Martin was on fire when his injury occurred, having raised his average from .182 on May 2 to .262. He already has a career-high nine home runs to go with 20 RBIs, 22 runs scored and eight stolen bases.
The Mariners are especially happy to get his glove back in center field after two weeks of Norichika Aoki mainly playing there.
Martin is in center field and hitting ninth in the lineup for Seattle against the Rangers in the 7:10 game, which will air live on 710 ESPN Seattle.