Mariners DFA Souza, Toro to IL, activate Trammell and Haggerty
May 22, 2022, 10:12 AM | Updated: 11:51 am
Taylor Trammell celebrates his single ior the Mariners on June 13, 2021 in Cleveland. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
(Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
The Mariners shuffled their roster before the final game of their road trip Sunday, set for 10:35 a.m. against the Red Sox on Seattle Sports Station 710 AM.
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The moves:
• OF Taylor Trammell recalled from Triple-A Tacoma
• IF/OF Sam Haggerty selected from Triple-A Tacoma
• IF Abraham Toro placed on 10-day injured list
• OF Steven Souza Jr. designated for assignment
Toro, 25, lands on the IL a day after colliding with right fielder Adam Frazier as both tried to track down a pop fly in shallow right field. Toro, who was playing second base, suffered a left shoulder sprain. Mariners manager Scott Servais indicated while talking to the media Sunday that the hope is Toro will only need to be out the required 10 days for an IL stint.
A midseason acquisition in 2021 from the Houston Astros, the switch-hitting Toro has a .179/.237/.366 slash line in 38 games this season with six home runs. He has appeared in 17 games at second base, nine at third (his most natural position), one at first base and 10 at designated hitter.
Haggerty will slide into Toro’s role as a switch-hitting utility player who can spell Frazier, the usual starting second baseman, as well as play the outfield. The speedy 27 year old played 35 games for Seattle last year until suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. He slashed .186/.247/.291 for the Mariners in 2021 with two homers and five stolen bases in six attempts. In 32 games with the Rainiers this season, he’s hitting .304 with five home runs and 13 stolen bases.
Trammell, 24, is in the lineup Sunday hitting ninth and playing right field as he returns to the M’s for the first time since last July.
Closing out the road trip in Boston. pic.twitter.com/Xl4HT2ATRc
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) May 22, 2022
He has been at extended spring training working his way back from a hamstring strain suffered just three games into his season in Triple-A. In 51 games as a rookie for Seattle in 2021, the left-handed Trammell slashed .160/.256/.359 with eight homers, seven doubles and 75 strikeouts to 17 walks. He plays strong outfield defense, has speed, power and a good eye at the plate, but is susceptible to strikeouts.
Souza, a local product from Everett’s Cascade High School, is an eight-year MLB veteran who struggled after getting called up from Triple-A at the beginning of Seattle’s road trip. The 33-year-old outfielder was just 3 for 19 with one RBI, eight strikeouts and no walks in his six games with the team. He also had some issues defensively in right field, a position the Mariners are trying to solidify with All-Star Mitch Haniger on the injured list potentially into July with a high-ankle sprain.
The M’s signed veteran outfielder Justin Upton on Saturday as a potential solution for right field, and they could see the return of Kyle Lewis from a rehab stint with Tacoma shortly, though Lewis will likely spend the majority of his time at DH as he comes back from reconstructive knee surgery. Upton is probably a few weeks away from being up to speed enough to join the M’s.
No timeline on when Upton will join the club, he will need some time in extended spring training.
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) May 22, 2022
The Mariners (17-24) will look to avoid a four-game sweep by the Red Sox on Sunday. They will then return home to start a set with the Oakland Athletics at 6:40 p.m. Monday. All Mariners games air live on Seattle Sports Station 710 AM, with coverage beginning roughly an hour before with the pregame show.
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