A few players from the 2023 draft have already made their MLB debuts, and Mariners prospect Logan Evans could potentially be coming soon due to his recent move to relief pitching. As Adam Jude of the Seattle Times writes, Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto recently called Evans with the idea of shifting from the Double-A rotation to the bullpen, since the M’s are currently in the enviable position of having a loaded rotation. Working as a reliever could put Evans on the fast track to the Show, and give the Mariners an extra hard-throwing arm in an injury-depleted pen.
A 12th-round pick out of Pitt, Evans has a sparkling 1.16 ERA over 54 1/3 innings for Double-A Arkansas this season, with a 23% strikeout rate, 7.4% walk rate, and a 53.6% grounder rate. MLB Pipeline’s scouting report also notes that the Mariners received trade interest in Evans as early as last offseason, after he posted an 0.60 ERA in his first 15 pro innings.
More from around the AL West…
- Corey Seager has now missed three straight games since leaving Wednesday’s contest with tightness in his left hamstring, though Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry (X link) and other reporters that Seager is “making progress” and that an IL trip isn’t yet being considered. Seager himself said he was feeling “fine” today but wasn’t sure if he would be back in the lineup Tuesday for Texas’ next game. Between the scheduled off-days both tomorrow and last Thursday, Seager might’ve caught a break in having some rest built into the schedule, giving some hope he’ll be ready for Tuesday.
- Astros star Kyle Tucker was placed on the 10-day IL earlier this week due to a shin contusion, and he expects to be fully off crutches within the next day or two, Tucker told The Athletic’s Chandler Rome (link to X) and other media. From there, Tucker expects to restart baseball activities soon after, so he could conceivably be a candidate to be activated next week. It seems as though Tucker and the Astros dodged a bullet in avoiding a more serious injury, which is a relief considering the MVP-caliber numbers Tucker has posted to date this season.
- The Athletics provided MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos (X link) and other reporters with updates on several injured players, including the news that Ross Stripling and Paul Blackburn are expected to begin throwing within the next week. Stripling has missed over two weeks due to a flexor strain his right elbow and Blackburn has missed over a month due to a stress reaction on his right foot, though Blackburn’s placement on the 60-day IL means he’ll be out until at least the All-Star break. Kyle Muller also already started throwing this past week as he continues his recovery from a bout of shoulder tendinitis. Among the injured position players, Esteury Ruiz (wrist sprain) and Darell Hernaiz (ankle sprain) will start strength programs this week.
Mariners are having DFA’d people in high leverage situations, we need Evans soon
The M’s ought to work a deal for Paul Sewald. The Diamondbacks are going no where. Sewald is a free agent at the end of the season. Seattle probably has a better shot at signing him long term.
Maybe ARI can also include Ketel Marte. Would look good in a SEA uni tbh.
Yessir bring ketel geno and Paul back here
Terrible decision bring up evans so soon
Even worse to put him in BP
Completely different mindset
Seattle is screwing up a very talented young pitcher
I’m skeptical that you know more about developing pitchers than the Mariners. I’m not sure if you heard, but they’ve been doing a pretty good job of it lately. Why are you so certain that having him pitch out of the pen would “screw him up?” Did it screw up Corbin Burnes? Chris Sale? Ranger Suarez? Garrett Crochet? Or any of the many other successful MLB starters who broke in as relievers?
I think the track record for the Mariners pitching development speaks for itself. Further, they already said they were going to limit his total innings this year and this is a way they can do that. If the guy can still pitch, develop, and help the ML team out of the bullpen, I’m all for it.
Alot of teams are calling up their top pitching prospects like white sox with thorpe, braves with schwellenbach & waldrep and seattle with evans. none of these guys have pitched beyond AA. Schwellenbach threw 13 innings past A ball. evans pitched 12 innings in low A, went straight to AA, threw 50 innings and is now being called up.
btw those other guys, schwellenbach in atlanta, his era so far is 8.55, and waldrep’s era is 17.18. you dont take a turkey out of the oven when its half baked and expect it to taste good.
good luck to M’s. they have such a long track record of success and making smart decisions. i’m sure they know EXACTLY what they’re doing.
The Mariners track record just isn’t long enough to be more credible than jonny utah’s turkey metaphor huh? Ok buddy. Have you ever even seen Evans pitch?
Let’s just say that if our entire bullpen wasn’t injured then Evans would still be cooking in Arkansas
M’s called up Woo and Miller without pitching in AAA. They also called up Gilbert after 1 start and 5 IP in AAA.
Now as far as this notion that early callups can ruin a player. I think it is definitely possible. I believe there is another possibility rarely mentioned, some of these young players could also use the ego check.
Many of these players have been the most talented at every level they ve ever played at and continue to hear the adulation coming up through MLB farm systems. I’d guess just as many could use the ego check from a cup of coffee as those who might get their confidence crushed.
I also doubt that very many have their confidence permanently destroyed. These young men have played the sport their entire lives. I’m sure most have been rocked at every level while on the mound or have endured slumps at the plate even if ever so brief.
Heck I’d say an argument could be made that an earlier appearance at MLB level is a benefit to progression. Players can learn what does or doesn’t work and go back down to hone their craft. Whereas players who have to wait til having spent a yr or 2 at AAA are often left at MLB level to struggle for much longer.
What are you talking about? He’s IS still in Arkansas.
Trout should be back before July. A twitter account says so.
So much for the pitching that’s in a constant flux. Where they have fallen behind is in the hitting, and now find themselves trying to catchup.
In this trade deadline something gets done even if it’s unspectacular.
What about this crazy series with KC? Servais has to be chewing is lip off.