The experience in the Seattle Mariners’ bullpen spread between rookies Josh Lueke, Dan Cortes and Tom Wilhelmsen could be counted in days, yet they suddenly looked like veterans Wednesday.
That’s because 22-year-old Chance Ruffin, pitching in his first professional season, was tossed into the relief corps mix in place of left-hander Aaron Laffey, who was designated for assignment.
Ruffin is a right-handed pitcher who was the player-to-be-named in the Seattle-Detroit trade that sent Doug Fister and David Pauley to the Tigers.
“Those young guys are going to get opportunities to pitch,” manager Eric Wedge said. “Ruffin asked what part of the game he might be used in, and we told him, ‘Be ready.’ With kids, there are no roles yet, we just want to see them.”
Mariners fans will – the only veterans in the bullpen now are closer Brandon League, Jamey Wright and Jeff Gray.
“When I saw that there was a player to be named later, I knew that it could be anybody,” Ruffin said. “This is pretty cool – a new team and a call-up, all at once.”
Ruffin is the son of former major league pitcher Bruce Ruffin, who had a 12-year big-league career, a 60-82 record and 63 saves. Ruffin pitched until 1997 and, interestingly, was teammates with both Wedge and Wright in Colorado (Wedge in 1993, Wright in 1996-97).
Drafted last year in the supplemental first round (48th overall) by Detroit, the younger Ruffin went 24-6 with 19 saves and a 2.39 earned-run average in 85 games over three seasons at the University of Texas. Months into his pro career, Baseball America ranked his slider as the best in the Detroit organization. In 13 appearances with Triple-A Toledo, Ruffin converted nine of 10 save opportunities with a 1.84 ERA. In two games with Detroit, he had no record and a 4.91 ERA.
Laffey, 26, appeared in 36 games for Seattle. The team has 10 days to trade, release or outright Laffey to the minor leagues.
SOME HERO WORSHIP
The top two Mariners picks in the 2011 draft shared one common interest in Seattle as kids – they both loved Ken Griffey Jr.
“My hero growing up was Cal Ripken, but I loved Ken Griffey Jr., too, and I played center field because of him,” pitcher Danny Hultzen said
“I was looking through all my Little League jerseys and because I’m from Florida I was always on the Mariners,” shortstop Brad Miller said. “All my numbers were 24 because of Ken Griffey Jr., so it’s exciting to be part of the same organization.”
Miller will be assigned to Single-A Clinton this week and finish the season there. Hultzen, a left-hander Seattle made the No. 2 pick in the nation, won’t pitch until instructional league next month and will follow up with the Arizona Fall League in October.
ON TAP
The Mariners have the day off today before beginning a three-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla., against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.
larry.larue@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners
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