Mariners recall Triple-A MVP candidate José Marmolejos
Aug 30, 2021, 12:59 PM | Updated: 1:13 pm
José Marmolejos leaves the Rainiers as the Triple-A West leader in RBIs and OPS. (Getty)
(Getty)
The Mariners have added some potential punch to their offense for the stretch run.
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Seattle recalled outfielder/first baseman José Marmolejos from Triple-A Tacoma on Monday, making room on the active roster by designating right-handed pitcher Jimmy Yacabonis for assignment.
Marmolejos began the 2021 season on the Mariners’ 26-man roster but was designated for assignment, cleared waivers and outrighted to Tacoma in May.
It turned out to be a very good thing for the Mariners that the left-handed slugger remained with the franchise. The 28 year old took off with the Rainiers and leaves an MVP-caliber stat line behind him in Tacoma. In 72 games, he leads the Triple-A West in OPS (1.152), on-base percentage (.452), slugging percentage (.700) and RBIs (71), and he ranks second in the league in average (.360) and home runs (23).
446 feet lol#Marmo https://t.co/1r4rFCR9mT
— Tacoma Rainiers (@RainiersLand) August 27, 2021
In 31 games with the Mariners this year, Marmolejos has a .139/.266/.278 slash line with three home runs, two doubles and 14 walks. He played 25 games with Seattle in 2020, slashing .206/.261/.411 with six homers, four doubles and seven walks.
The addition of Marmolejos provides additional outfield depth for the Mariners, who lost outfielder Jake Fraley to the 10-day injured list Sunday due to shoulder inflammation. Fraley, who hits left-handed, had been in a platoon in left field with the right-handed Dylan Moore as of late. Marmolejos joins Jake Bauers as a candidate to take the left-handed side of the platoon with Moore, and like Bauers also provides additional positional flexibility at first base and right field.
Marmolejos initially joined the Mariners after the 2019 season as a minor league free agent and made his MLB debut with Seattle in July 2020. He is likely the first of a few additions to come to Seattle from Triple-A this week as MLB active rosters will expand by two players to 28 on Wednesday.
Marmolejos is expected to be available when the Mariners (70-61) begin a three-game series with the American League West-leading Houston Astros (77-53) at 7:10 p.m. Monday night. Coverage begins at 6 p.m. on 710 ESPN Seattle with the pregame show.
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