Mariners Notebook: Carlos Santana hitting 5th, at 1B in M’s debut

The Mariners’ newest addition will be right in the thick of things Tuesday evening when they host the visiting Baltimore Orioles.

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Veteran switch-hitting first baseman Carlos Santana, who the Mariners acquired on Monday from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for two minor-league relievers, is in the lineup hitting fifth and starting at first base in the 7:10 p.m. game. To make room for Santana on the 26-man MLB roster, the Mariners optioned infielder Drew Ellis to Triple-A Tacoma.

Santana has been in the big leagues since 2010 and has played all but one season in the American League, so the Mariners have a very good idea of what the one-time All-Star can do.

“We’ve known him a long time, played against him a bunch,” manager Scott Servais told Seattle Sports 710 AM’s Bump and Stacy on Tuesday. “He’s got a ton of experience and hopefully he can help us out a little bit at first base until Ty France gets back.”

With France, Seattle’s best hitter this season, on the 10-day injured list with a left elbow sprain, Santana will have the opportunity to play a lot of first base until he returns. Once that happens, the Mariners may still have an opening at designated hitter with Kyle Lewis yet to return from the concussion injured list. And even when Lewis does return, he will still need regular days off coming off reconstructive knee surgery, so Santana could fit into a platoon at DH.

Santana’s overall 2022 numbers don’t look too impressive as he’s slashing just .216/.349/.341, but he’s working a lot of walks and has been red hot in June. In 17 games this month, Santana is slashing .357/.478/.554 with two home runs, 11 RBIs, 13 walks and seven strikeouts.

Coverage of Tuesday’s game will be carried on Seattle Sports, the flagship station of the Mariners Radio Network, beginning with the pregame show at 6. See the lineups for both teams plus some Mariners notes below.

Mariners lineup

J.P. Crawford, SS
Julio Rodríguez, CF
Jesse Winker, LF
Eugenio Suárez, 3B
Carlos Santana, 1B
Taylor Trammell, RF
Cal Raleigh, C
Adam Frazier, 2B
Abraham Toro, DH

Robbie Ray, SP

Orioles lineup

Cedric Mullins, CF
Austin Hays, RF
Anthony Santander, LF
Ryan Mountcastle, 1B
Adley Rutschman, DH
Tyler Nevin, 3B
Rougned Odor, 2B
Robinson Chirinos, C
Jorge Mateo, SS

Dean Kremer, SP

Mariners Notes

• Both Lewis (concussion) and Mitch Haniger (ankle) took batting practice on Tuesday. Servais told Seattle Sports 710 AM that both sluggers are trending in the right direction in their respective recoveries.

Both Haniger and Lewis worked out on the field today with Haniger taking swings. Said he believes he is on track with his original estimate of being ready for a rehab assignment 10-12 weeks out from the injury.

— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) June 28, 2022

• Mariners starter Robbie Ray has been stellar since adding a two-seam fastball/sinker to his arsenal. In his last three starts, Ray has thrown 20 innings and allowed just two runs (0.90 ERA), 10 hits and four walks while striking out 20. He also has not allowed a home run in that span.

• Catcher Cal Raleigh homered for the 10th time this season on Monday. He’s tied for the fourth-most home runs by a catcher in MLB this season. In 22 games (19 starts) in June, Raleigh is slashing .257/.358/.600 with six home runs, 11 RBIs, and 18 strikeouts to 10 walks.

• Since the start of the Mariners’ last road trip, outfielder Jesse Winker is slashing .429/.586/.810 with two home runs, two doubles, six RBIs, seven walks and five strikeouts. Winker’s 49 walks lead MLB this season.

• Winker, shortstop J.P. Crawford and outfielder Julio Rodríguez are all appealing the suspensions they received as part of Sunday’s scrum with the Angels. Winker got seven games, Crawford got five while Rodríguez got two.

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