Mariners claim former UW Huskies catcher off waivers

The Seattle Mariners are bringing former UW Huskies catcher Willie MacIver back to the Pacific Northwest.

The M’s announced Wednesday they have added MacIver on a waiver claim from the Toronto Blue Jays. MacIver will report to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.

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The addition of MacIver brings Seattle’s 40-man roster to 38 players.

The 29-year-old MacIver played for the Huskies from 2016-18, slashing .272/.349/.365 for a .714 OPS in his 123 college games. The Pleasant Hill, Calif., native was taken in the ninth round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies.

If MacIver reaches the Mariners major league roster and appears in a game, he will become the seventh UW Huskies alum to play for Seattle. The list currently is made up of pitchers Austin Voth, Sean White and Sean Spencer, infielders Jake Lamb and Mike Blowers, and outfielder Braden Bishop.

In addition to his time on Montlake, MacIver also played in Washington state over two seasons for the Walla Walla Sweet Onions in the West Coast League, a collegiate summer league with teams in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, British Columbia and Alberta, as well as a season with the High-A Spokane Indians, who are a Rockies affiliate in the Northwest League.

MacIver, who represented the Rockies in the 2021 MLB All-Star Futures Game, signed as a free agent ahead of the 2025 season with the Athletics and made his MLB debut that year, appearing in 32 games with a .186 batting average, three home runs and five doubles.

The righty-swinging MacIver landed with the Texas Rangers as a waiver claim last November, and had his contract purchased by the Blue Jays in April. He was designated for assignment on Monday in order for the Blue Jays to add pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson to their roster.

In 74 Triple-A games this year between the Round Rock Express and Buffalo Bisons, MacIver has a .253/.342/.424 slash line for a .766 OPS with eight home runs, 16 doubles, three triples, 50 RBIs and five stolen bases.

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