Mariners’ Scott Servais out due to COVID; Kristopher Negrón to manage
Apr 20, 2022, 2:42 PM | Updated: 2:56 pm
Mariners manager Scott Servais looks on during a game against the Angels on Oct. 2, 2021. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The Mariners will be without manager Scott Servais and third base coach Manny Acta for at least Wednesday’s game against the Texas Rangers.
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The team announced Wednesday afternoon that Servais and Acta will miss the game due to COVID-19, with first base coach Kristopher Negrón stepping in as acting manager. Hitting coach Tony Arnerich will take over third base coach duties for Acta.
Additionally on Wednesday afternoon, relief pitcher Paul Sewald was placed on the injured list without an injury designation, which is usually an indication of a player going on the COVID-19 IL. Rookie Penn Murfee has been called up from Tacoma to take his place on the roster.
Right fielder Mitch Haniger and catcher Luis Torrens are also on Seattle’s COVID-19 IL.
The Mariners have added Tacoma Rainiers coach Zach Vincej to the staff to be first base coach for Wednesday’s game, and minor league hitting coordinator C.J. Gillman and special assignment coordinator Dan Wilson will join the team as uniformed staff in the dugout.
Scott Servais & Manny Acta will miss tonight’s game due to COVID. Kristopher Negrón will serve as acting Manager.
In addition, Rainiers Coach Zach Vincej, Hitting Coordinator C.J. Gillman and Special Assignment Coordinator Dan Wilson will be assisting for tonight's game. pic.twitter.com/SnzqowOcz2
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 20, 2022
Negrón, 36, was the Rainers manager last season. He joined the coaching ranks in the Mariners organization in 2020 after spending 2019 as a player with both the M’s and Dodgers.
The 30-year-old Vincej was also a recent Mariners player, appearing in one game with the team in 2018.
Wilson, 53, is a very familiar face and name to Mariners fans having served as Seattle’s primary catcher from 1994 to 2005. He regularly joins Mariners radio and TV broadcasts, including Tuesday night on Seattle Sports Station 710 AM.
Servais, 54, is the second-most winningest manager in Mariners history with a 444-437 record since joining the franchise prior to the 2016 season.
Acta, 53, has been a coach with the M’s since the start of Servais’ tenure. He has previously managed with both Washington and Cleveland.
The 31-year-old Sewald, a breakout pitcher for the Mariners in 2021, has allowed no baserunners and struck out three in 3 2/3 innings over four appearances this season.
Murfee, 27, has yet to make his MLB debut. The side-arming right-hander has thrown eight scoreless innings with two saves and 10 strikeouts over five appearances with Tacoma in 2022.
🔥 Two innings. Five strikeouts. 🔥 @PennMurfee was dealing. #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/4y4y1hiMY0
— Mariners Player Development (@MsPlayerDev) April 7, 2022
The Mariners continue their three-game series against Texas at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday. Coverage will be carried on Seattle Sports Station 710 AM, SeattleSports.com and the Seattle Sports app beginning with the pregame show at 5:30.
