Potential positive COVID test results in 4 Mariners relievers placed on IL
May 21, 2021, 3:48 PM | Updated: 7:16 pm
(Getty)
The Mariners made a number of roster moves on the off day on Thursday, but they were even busier Friday, placing four relievers on the injured list while activating one veteran reliever and calling up three players from Triple-A Tacoma.
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The Mariners announced Friday that relievers Anthony Misiewicz, Robert Dugger, Drew Steckenrider and Will Vest have on been placed on the injured list. Meanwhile reliever Keynan Middleton has been activated from the 10-day injured list and relievers Aaron Fletcher, Yohan Ramírez and Wyatt Mills as well as infielder Eric Campbell have been called up to the MLB roster.
The roster shuffle comes due to a “potential positive test,” according to the press release, referring to COVID-19. After working with MLB on contact tracing measures, the Mariners placed the four relievers on the injured list.
The Mariners are scheduled to begin a series with the San Diego Padres on Friday, who recently had a COVID outbreak in their locker room but didn’t miss any games. Seattle had players test positive last year ahead of the shortened season, but had no reported positive tests during the 60-game season, though many teams and even some of the Mariners’ opponents last year did.
The positive COVID test was first reported Friday by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Passan also reported that the Mariners have a “relatively low level of vaccination within the clubhouse” which could be “problematic.”
The Seattle Mariners have at least one COVID positive, sources tell ESPN, and there is concern within the organization that the relatively low level of vaccination within the clubhouse could be problematic. The Mariners, source said, are among the least-vaccinated teams in MLB.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 21, 2021
The players
Misiewicz has been the lone lefty in manager Scott Servais’ bullpen for most of this year and is 2-2 with a 4.11 ERA in 19 appearances.
Steckenrider has been one of the Mariners’ best relievers in 2021, compiling a 2-1 record with a 2.45 ERA in 14 appearances.
Vest was the Mariners’ Rule 5 pick from the Detroit Tigers and has been used quite a bit to start the season. He has a 1-0 record with a 4.22 ERA in 19 appearances.
Dugger has been a recent addition to the club, and he has a 2.25 ERA in six appearances, including one start.
Middleton was a free-agent signing this offseason who had a strained right bicep. He has a 3.86 ERA in 11 games in 2021.
Fletcher has appeared in just three games this year and has a 13.50 ERA.
Mills made his MLB debut in 2021 and has a 7.71 ERA in 4 2/3 innings.
Ramírez was Seattle’s Rule 5 pick last year from the Houston Astros. He hasn’t pitched in MLB in 2021, but while with the MLB roster in 2020, Ramírez had a 2.61 ERA in 16 games.
Campbell hasn’t played in an MLB game since 2016 when he was with the Mets. The corner infielder has a career .212/.312/.311 slash line with seven home runs in 196 career games between 2014 and 2016.
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