Mariners place struggling Rob Refsnyder on IL, activate new pick-up

The Seattle Mariners have placed struggling outfielder/designated hitter Rob Refsnyder on the 10-day injured list with right knee inflammation.

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The M’s announced the move ahead of Monday’s homestand opener against the Los Angeles Angels, coming on the heels of the team losing its third straight series to fall under .500 and cede first place in the AL West to the Texas Rangers.

Taking Refsnyder’s spot on the Mariners’ 26-man active roster is infielder Buddy Kennedy, who the Mariners acquired Sunday from the San Francisco Giants for cash considerations.

Refsnyder mentioned during a postgame interview in late May that his right knee had been “bothering him all year,” though Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said both knees have been an issue upon announcing the IL move on Monday.

“He had injections in his knees last week. They have been bothering him for quite a while now,” Hollander said. “I know he referenced that a couple times when asked about it. He’s not making an excuse in any way, but I think we’re to a point where it just doesn’t feel like his foundation is stable enough to do the things he needs to be able to do.”

Hollander said he expects Refsnyder to report to the team’s complex in Arizona in the coming days to “take some time to start strengthening his lower half.”

The 35-year-old Refsnyder was an offseason signing in free agency by the Mariners, who added him to be a right-handed platoon bat against left-handed pitchers. Refsnyder was one of the best hitters in MLB against lefties in 2025 while with the Boston Red Sox, averaging .302 with a .399 on-base and .560 slugging, with seven of his nine homers and nine of his 12 doubles coming against lefties.

Refsnyder has struggled mightily in his first season with Seattle, slashing just .133/.203/.219 for a .422 OPS with three homers in 49 games. He has a minus-1.0 bWAR, well on pace to be the worst of his 11-year MLB career, with no doubles or triples. Refsnyder is just 1 for 17 with a walk, a hit by pitch and a sacrifice bunt in his last seven games.

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Amid Refsnyder’s struggles, the Mariners rank last out of the 30 MLB teams with a .205 batting average against left-handed pitching, 14 points lower than the No. 29 team. They also rank last in on-base and slugging against lefties.

Kennedy, 27, played seven games this season with the Giants, going hitless in seven at-bats with three strikeouts and a walk. He has spent most of the year with Triple-A Sacramento, hitting .321 with eight home runs and a .967 OPS in 48 games.

A fifth-round MLB Draft pick in 2017 by Arizona, Kennedy has a career .171 batting average with two homers and a .527 OPS in MLB. A right-handed hitter, Kennedy has mainly played second base and third base. He hits from the right side and has played in his career with Detroit, Philadelphia, Toronto and the Dodgers in addition to the Giants.

Mariners Radio Network coverage on Seattle Sports of Monday’s game begins at 5:30 p.m. with the pregame show. First pitch is set for 6:40.

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