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 advised reporters after the sport that x-rays on Garver’s wrist got here again destructive, 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 regularly seen an increasing number of of his time come at DH throughout his tenure with the Rangers and joined Seattle ticketed for a daily position at DH whereas sometimes spelling Raleigh behind the plate as nicely. Issues haven’t precisely gone in response to plan for Garver half a season into his Mariners tenure, nonetheless, as he’s slashed simply .172/.291/.353 in 71 video games this 12 months. Whereas he’s hit for respectable energy and walked at a superb 13.5% clip, the mix of a large 30.9% strikeout charge and his deflated .214 BABIP have left him beneath common general 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 actually 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 mostly backed up by stable peripherals, as nicely; 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 constructive regression could possibly be in retailer for Garver, although it now appears potential 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 potential the Mariners will look to make some type of short-term roster transfer. In any case, he and Raleigh are the one two catchers on the membership’s energetic roster, that means the membership could possibly be pressured into a troublesome scenario if Raleigh had been to get harm whereas Garver is down. The Mariners have Seby Zavala and Michael Perez as depth catching choices at Triple-A, although neither is at present on the membership’s 40-man roster.
In additional constructive Mariners information, a pair of key relievers look like making their means in direction of a return to motion. Adam Jude of The Seattle Occasions relayed lately that, in response to GM Justin Hollander, right-hander Gregory Santos is scheduled to start a rehab project on Tuesday. In the meantime, MLB.com’s Damage 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, particularly, 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 accumulate him simply earlier than the beginning of Spring Coaching. Sadly, that deal has but to bear fruit as Santos has been sidelined your complete season so far after struggling a lat pressure in mid-March. He might show to be an impactful arm for the Mariners in leverage conditions as soon as wholesome sufficient to take the mound within the massive leagues, nonetheless, 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 despite peripheral numbers that stay largely 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 standard 70-75% vary for the common hurler.
Not all of Speier’s struggles have been self-inflicted, after all; the lefty has allowed free passes at a worrying 13.3% clip this 12 months, a large 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.
