The Mariners are calling up right-hander Isaiah Campbell, per Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times, with left-hander Tommy Milone designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Campbell is already on the 40-man roster but will be making his major league debut as soon as he gets into a game.
Milone, 36, was selected to the club’s roster just yesterday and plugged in for a spot start to cover for the injured Bryce Miller. Milone was able to toss 4 1/3 solid innings, allowing four hits and four walks but just two runs, only one of which was earned.
Even before Milone took the hill, it seemed possible that this would be a one-and-done start. Miller’s injury doesn’t appear to be of the long-term variety, as it’s just a blister. With the All-Star break coming up, the club can survive with their four regular starters of Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert and Bryan Woo until then. After the break, that group should be rejoined by Miller, assuming that his blister is in better condition after two weeks of rest.
Milone was a regular starter earlier in his career, but this is the type of role he’s served in recent years. Since the end of 2019, he’s played for Baltimore, Atlanta, Toronto and Seattle, making fewer than 10 appearances and logging less than 40 innings in each season from 2020 to the present. This is the second time this year that the M’s have called on his services and promptly cut him from the roster immediately after. They will now have a week to trade him or pass him through waivers. He has more than enough service time to reject an outright assignment but is clearly comfortable with the organization and already chose to stay when he cleared waivers in April.
As for Campbell, 25, he has the rare distinction among major leaguers of being born in Portugal. According to Baseball Reference, the only other MLB player in that category was Frank Thompson, who played 12 big league games way back in 1875.
Campbell went to high school in Kansas and then attended the University of Arkansas. The Mariners selected him with the 76th overall pick in the 2019 draft. The minor league seasons were canceled by the pandemic in 2020, delaying his professional debut until 2021. He spent that year in High-A, tossing 19 1/3 innings with a 2.33 ERA. Last year, he split his time between High-A and Double-A, throwing 46 innings between those two levels with a tiny 1.57 ERA, striking out 33% of hitters while walking just 6.7%.
That performance was strong enough for the Mariners to add him to their 40-man roster in November, preventing him from being selected in last year’s Rule 5 draft. This year, he has a 2.63 ERA in 24 Double-A innings with a 28.4% strikeout rate and 7.4% walk rate. He was recently ranked the club’s #21 prospect at FanGraphs and #16 at MLB Pipeline.
That was quick
“One start Tommy”. Break glass when needed; when no longer needed simply DFA.
Mariners finally get All Star game and their only player on the team is X Cincinnati red Castillo! Lack of All Stars is a direct reflection of their won loss record! Considering Dipoto’s reputation his lack of trades to improve the club is surprising to say the least!
Well they will have 3 there with the addition of Julio and Kirby.
Julio’s numbers are average at best! Kirby would not be the next best pitcher not already on the team. These selections would be because the Mariners are the host city! Estevez 21 for 21 in save opportunities with a 1.69 ERA.
So U think Julio and Kirby should replace Trout and Ohtani on the all star team?
How many OF’s on pace for 4.5 WAR do you think there are? And Kirby has been damn good in 2023.
Kirby does lead the league in quality starts.
Kirby leads the league in quality starts, and his K to BB ratio is far and above all starters in MLB. Unfortunately, he plays for a team that can’t hit, otherwise he’d have a stellar win-loss record as well.
Except Tommy’s fastball couldn’t break glass
Since there is no glass between the mound and home plate, it doesn’t really matter. Velocity is overrated.
I know he no Edwin Jackson, but Milone has played in the majors for 9 different ballclubs.
And been released by 9 different ball clubs
Actually he has only been released by 5 different teams, including 1 he never played in the majors for. The others he left via trade or free agency.
I understand that this allows them to carry an extra reliever until Monday, but Miller won’t be back, so they’ll likely recall McCaughan, or go with a bullpen day…against the Astros.
Hancock could be a possibility as well, but I would hope that his baptism by fire isn’t against Houston. I’ve kind of assumed we will eventually see him replace Woo, who is on an innings limit.
Milone might not clear waivers this time. I kind of wish they hadn’t DFA’d him, though I anticipated it.
I think Tommy gets claimed by someone. He’s a low risk, cheap, serviceable option that’s seemingly always healthy, ready and willing. I wish him the best of luck.
Seems like a good stop gap option for the Rockies. They need healthy arms and his seems to be made of rubber.
Monday is All Star break. Don’t need a 5th starter before Miller is ready to come off IL. After Sunday, Mariners have 4 days off. Houston series will not need another starter.
Ah, right…the home run derby. I completely spaced it. Thanks.
Hopefully Miller won’t have any setbacks and will be able to come off in time to face Detroit.
DFA happened so quick his head is going to fall off.
The hit man – here for a quick job and gone the next day.
He took the loss, giving the other starters a day off.
And so it goes.
Nothing personal; just business.
I root for him. He is living his dream and at the highest level. Way to go Tommy. Don’t give up. Keep on.
I definitely think he could crack the Pirates rotation
The Juicy Fruit gum of mlb.
Flavor’s gone after 3 minutes. Spit him out.
Wong or Pollack are dead weight.
add: Ceasar and Deloch and Marlow.
I lived in NW Arkansas for a few years and had season tix for Razorback baseball. Was always impressed by Campbell. I think he’s going to be a stud for the M’s.
This is the end result of MLB’s salary,arbitration and roster rules that punish trying to field your most competitive team: you have a 36 year old who has never even been average starting games because everyone knows how replaceable he is, The risk of bringing up a more talented kid and having him occupy a 40-man spot or start accruing MLB service time is too great.
I dream of a future where all the best baseball players employed by MLB actually get to be in MLB.
Milone pitched well against Giants yesterday. I think another team will pick him up.