MiLB Notebook: 2 M’s pitching prospects return from injuries

Two Seattle Mariners pitching prospects made their long-awaited returns from injuries last week.

2 undersung Seattle Mariners pitchers – for very different reasons

Right-handers Taylor Dollard and Teddy McGraw both pitched for the High-A Everett AquaSox, marking the first non-rehab outing for each player since at least last season.

Dollard, who has been out since April 2023 while recovering from a torn labrum, pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings, struck out two batters, walked one and allowed no hits for Everett last Thursday.

A fifth-round pick in the 2020 draft, Dollard’s prospect status was on the rise before the injury that sidelined him for more than two years.

He reached Double-A and had a breakout campaign with Arkansas in 2022, notching a 16-2 record with a 2.25 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over 144 innings. Those efforts helped the right-hander receive a non-roster spring training invite and the No. 9 ranking in the Mariners’ farm system by MLB Pipeline in 2023. But Dollard’s 2023 season was derailed by the labrum injury after just four appearances with Triple-A Tacoma.

Dollard made six rehab appearances with the Mariners’ Arizona Complex League affiliate before his outing with Everett.

“I think throwing him into the PCL environment or even a Double-A environment after not pitching for over two years probably unfair to him,” general manager Justin Hollander last Friday on Dollard joining High-A Everett.

“Just letting him get the competitive juices going in a game environment at an affiliate, but doing it in Everett I think made the most sense to build him back for a little bit.”

More: Touted Seattle Mariners prospect sidelined with another injury

McGraw, a 2023 third-round pick, made his debut with Everett on Sunday. The right-hander struck out four, walked one and allowed no runs or hits over three innings.

McGraw was coming off his second Tommy John surgery when he was drafted and didn’t make his pro debut until last August with High-A Modesto. He made just four starts before he was shut down with a flexor strain in his right elbow.

McGraw, ranked as the Mariners’ No. 17 prospect, elected to avoid another surgery following his shutdown, but flexor issues delayed his start to this season as well. He made five rehab appearances with the ACL Mariners before his start Sunday.

Hollander said McGraw will pitch one three-inning outing a week while he builds up volume.

Harry Ford keeps raking

Last week was another solid one for catcher Harry Ford. Seattle’s fifth-ranked prospect went 6 for 19 with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs over five games in Triple-A Tacoma’s series with the Sacramento River Cats.

Ford’s week included back-to-back games with a home run, a six-RBI game Wednesday and a three-hit game with two doubles Saturday.

Ford has a .315/.427/.495 slash line with 12 doubles, eight home runs and 37 RBIs in 52 games this season. His .427 on-base percentage ranks second and .922 OPS 10th in the Pacific Coast League.

Michael Arroyo on a tear

Michael Arroyo emerged as one of the Mariners’ top prospects with an impressive 2024 season between Single-A and High-A, but the second baseman was hitting just .195 at the end of April this year. He’s turned things around since and is now in the midst of a red-hot run.

Arroyo has a 12-game hitting streak since the start of June. He’s slashing 405/.537/.881 with six home runs, 14 RBIs and seven walks over that stretch.

The June surge has helped Arroyo raise his OPS to a Northwest League-best .969 and tie teammate Lazaro Montes for the league lead with 14 home runs.

Minor trade acquisition excelling with Rainiers

In a move that wasn’t on the radar of many, the Mariners acquired left-handed reliver Joe Jacques for the Los Angels Dodgers for right-hander Will Klein on June 2.

Both pitchers had been struggling in Triple-A, but Jacques has turned things around early with Tacoma.

The southpaw has yet to allow a run over 5 2/3 innings in four appearances, striking out eight while allowed four hits and two walks.

Jacques appeared in 23 games for the Red Sox in 2023 and one game apiece for the Red Sox and Diamondbacks last season. The left-hander has a career 5.46 ERA over 29 2/3 innings in 25 big league games.

M’s claim OF on waivers

The Mariners picked up outfielder Jacob Hurtubise off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.

Hurtubise, 27, is set to report to Tacoma.

The left-handed hitting outfielder is batting .144 with a .522 OPS in 34 games at the Triple-A level this year. He went 1 for 12 while appearing in 12 games for the Reds.

Hurtubise, who was drafted in the 39th round by the Mariners in 2019 but didn’t sign with the team, has a career .167 average and .503 OPS in 41 MLB games. He began his pro career in 2020 after signing as an undrafted free agent with Cincinnati.

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