Mariners add spring training standout to MLB roster

It’s time to get Rowdy in the Pacific Northwest.

The Seattle Mariners announced Tuesday that they have selected first baseman/designated hitter Rowdy Tellez to the major league roster.

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The move indicates Tellez, who could have opted-out of his deal over the weekend, will be with the big league club Thursday when it opens the season against the Athletics at T-Mobile Park, although no official announcement about the final 26-man roster has been made as of yet.

The 30-year-old Tellez was a standout for Seattle during spring training while vying to make the club as a non-roster invitee on a minor league contract. In 47 at-bats, the left-handed-hitting slugger slashed .298/.320/.574 with an .894 OPS, four doubles, three home runs and five RBIs.

The potential addition of Tellez to the 26-man roster would give the Mariners another option at first base alongside Luke Raley and Donovan Solano. It could also free up the M’s to take advantage of Raley’s versatility and use him more in the outfield than initially planned, as well as allowing Solano to get more time at third base.

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Tellez is coming off back-to-back seasons of being a below average hitter in the majors, but he has flashed the ability to be a valuable member of the lineup over parts of seven seasons in MLB. In 2022 with Milwaukee, he swatted a career-high 35 home runs and drove in 89 runs with a 110 wRC+. He also hit .283 with an .886 OPS and 132 wRC+ over 35 games during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.

In 664 career games for the Blue Jays, Brewers and Pirates, he’s hit .234 with .739 OPS, 97 doubles, 105 home runs and 319 RBIs.

The M’s 40-man roster now features 39 players.

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