The Mariners had an harm scare this night as catcher Mitch Garver was strike within the wrist by a pitch from Twins right-hander Joe Ryan throughout this afternoon’s recreation and exited with what Seattle termed a proper wrist contusion. As famous by MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer, supervisor Scott Servais instructed reporters after the sport that x-rays on Garver’s wrist got here again unfavourable, however that the membership doesn’t plan on making a call about subsequent steps relating to the 33-year-old till Tuesday given the membership has tomorrow off.
Garver got here to the Mariners on a two-year, $26MM deal over the offseason. The longtime catcher had step by step seen an increasing number of of his time come at DH throughout his tenure with the Rangers and joined Seattle ticketed for an everyday position at DH whereas often spelling Raleigh behind the plate as properly. Issues haven’t precisely gone based on plan for Garver half a season into his Mariners tenure, nevertheless, as he’s slashed simply .172/.291/.353 in 71 video games this 12 months. Whereas he’s hit for first rate energy and walked at a wonderful 13.5% clip, the mix of an enormous 30.9% strikeout charge and his deflated .214 BABIP have left him beneath common total with a wRC+ of simply 90. That’s definitely satisfactory manufacturing from a catcher, however much more is to be anticipated from a participant who is basically being paid to be a full-time DH.
The potential harm comes as a very irritating time for the Mariners as Garver had begun to warmth up within the month of June. In 91 journeys to the plate this month coming into play tonight, Garver had slashed a way more palatable .187/.319/.453 with a 122 wRC+. That improved manufacturing is usually backed up by stable peripherals, as properly; Garver’s strikeout charge, whereas nonetheless elevated, has dipped to a extra manageable 28.6% this month, and he’s walked at an infinite 16.5% clip. A BABIP of simply .200 means that additional optimistic regression might be in retailer for Garver, although it now appears doable that must wait relying on how a lot his wrist heals within the coming days.
Even within the occasion that Garver requires only some days off, it’s doable the Mariners will look to make some form of short-term roster transfer. In spite of everything, he and Raleigh are the one two catchers on the membership’s lively roster, which means the membership might be pressured into a troublesome state of affairs if Raleigh had been to get damage whereas Garver is down. The Mariners have Seby Zavala and Michael Perez as depth catching choices at Triple-A, although neither is at the moment on the membership’s 40-man roster.
In additional optimistic Mariners information, a pair of key relievers look like making their approach in the direction of a return to motion. Adam Jude of The Seattle Instances relayed just lately that, based on GM Justin Hollander, right-hander Gregory Santos is scheduled to start a rehab task on Tuesday. In the meantime, MLB.com’s Harm Tracker notes that lefty Gabe Speier is ready to throw a bullpen session that very same day.
The approaching return of the 2 hurlers is good news for the Mariners. Santos, specifically, figured to deal with late-inning duties for the membership alongside nearer Andres Munoz and veteran set-up man Ryne Stanek after the membership swung a commerce with the White Sox to amass him simply earlier than the beginning of Spring Coaching. Sadly, that deal has but to bear fruit as Santos has been sidelined your entire season up to now after struggling a lat pressure in mid-March. He may show to be an impactful arm for the Mariners in leverage conditions as soon as wholesome sufficient to take the mound within the huge leagues, nevertheless, as proven by his 3.39 ERA and a pair of.65 FIP in 66 1/3 innings of labor with Chicago final 12 months.
As for Speier, the lefty has missed the previous month with rotator cuff points however was within the midst of a irritating 2024 season previous to his harm. In 22 appearances with Seattle this 12 months, the lefty has struggled to a 6.06 ERA regardless of peripheral numbers that stay principally stable. Speier has struck out a powerful 29.3% of batters confronted this 12 months however has handled some poor fortune on batted balls and sequencing, as demonstrated by an elevated .325 BABIP allowed and an unsustainable strand charge of simply 61.3%, far beneath the everyday 70-75% vary for the typical hurler.
Not all of Speier’s struggles have been self-inflicted, in fact; the lefty has allowed free passes at a worrying 13.3% clip this 12 months, an enormous change from the 5.1% stroll charge he posted with the Mariners final season when he posted a 3.79 ERA and three.35 FIP in 69 video games. The Mariners will certainly be hoping that’s the model of Speier they get again as soon as he’s wholesome sufficient to return, which MLB.com suggests is unlikely to be till after the All Star break.
