The Mariners have promoted right-handed pitcher Emerson Hancock from Triple-A, the workforce introduced this afternoon. To make room on the lively roster, Seattle designated catcher Seby Zavala for project.
Hancock will take the ball this night in opposition to the Rangers, filling in for an injured Luis Castillo. Castillo landed on the 15-day IL with a Grade 2 left hamstring pressure following his begin final Sunday. After formally inserting Castillo on the IL on Tuesday, the Mariners didn’t want so as to add one other beginning pitcher to the lively roster till right now, so they chose Zavala’s contract as an alternative. He didn’t seem in a recreation. Presuming Zavala passes by way of waivers, he’ll almost certainly settle for an outright project to Triple-A Tacoma, contemplating the Mariners have already outrighted him twice this season. Certainly, that is the second time Seattle has DFA’d Zavala to make room for Hancock on the foremost league roster.
The 25-year-old Hancock is again for his fourth stint with the massive league membership this season. Over 9 begins, he has pitched to a disappointing 4.76 ERA and 5.14 SIERA in 45 1/3 innings pitched. Sadly, the younger right-hander hasn’t seemed significantly better at Triple-A. He has a 4.66 ERA and 5.78 FIP in 10 begins (56 IP) since his most up-to-date demotion. As was his largest downside final yr, he has had super problem incomes strikeouts in opposition to Triple-A and MLB competitors, and he isn’t limiting walks or exhausting contact as a lot as must if he’s going to outlive with such a low strikeout charge.
Hancock nonetheless has all of the potential that made him one of many Mariners’ high pitching prospects from the second he was chosen with the sixth total choose in 2020 to his commencement from prospect standing this season. Nevertheless, he has but to show that potential into outcomes. Presumably, he’ll get a pair extra probabilities to show himself within the majors this season whereas Castillo is on the IL.
Zavala, 31, got here to the Mariners final November as a part of the commerce that despatched Eugenio Suárez to the Diamondbacks. He’s a robust defensive catcher due to above-average framing and blocking abilities, however his profession .205/.271/.342 slash line is exactly why he has been unable to carry down a job within the majors this season. It hasn’t helped that he’s 19-for-101 (.188) with a 79 wRC+ at Triple-A this yr. Presumably, he’ll end the season at Triple-A Tacoma, sticking round as extra catching depth in case one among Cal Raleigh or Mitch Garver suffers a late-season damage.
