Fourteen months after walking off the mound one final time for the Seattle Mariners in 2010, right-handed reliever Shawn Kelley is ready to pitch again.
“I’m not 100 percent yet, my velocity is about 92 mph, but I can still get outs,” Kelley said. “I’m relieved to be healthy.”
Kelley was one of three players called up from Triple-A Tacoma as big-league rosters expanded, joining left-hander Cesar Jimenez and catcher Chris Gimenez.
Bringing up Jimenez had a price – to make room for him on the roster, the Mariners released Matt Tuiasosopo, a 25-year-old outfielder-infielder long on athletic promise who simply never blossomed in the Seattle system.
“I liked some things I saw in Tui this spring and had a nice talk with him before he went to Tacoma,” manager Eric Wedge said. “For whatever reason, he didn’t take advantage of the opportunity. He never got himself going.”
Kelley, 26, spent the season rehabbing after major elbow surgery. With Tacoma, he appeared in 12 games, going 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA.
Jimenez, 26, spent the season in Tacoma, and was 5-4 with one save and a 4.06 ERA in 43 relief appearances.
Gimenez, 28, was Seattle’s reserve catcher before an oblique strain landed him on the 60-day disabled list in July. With Tacoma, he batted .265 in 13 games.
Wedge promised to get work for both relievers, and said that having a third catcher behind Miguel Olivo and Josh Bard gives him flexibility late in games.
For Kelley, getting back to Seattle was a delight.
“If the season had ended today, I’d have been happy, but getting back here is icing on the cake fore me,” he said.
SEAGER BREAKS MOLD
Kyle Seager doesn’t fit the profile of the prototypical third baseman, and that doesn’t bother Wedge a bit.
“His defense at third has been real strong, and I’ve never believed in profiling every position,” Wedge said. “You need power, but if you don’t have it at one post, get it somewhere else.
“I define power differently. I like home runs as much as anyone, but to me, power is extra-base hits and the ability to drive in runs.”
Seager is batting .297 in 29 games this year, with seven doubles, two home runs and seven RBI in 101 at-bats.
SHORT HOPS
Justin Smoak played with the Rainiers again Thursday, and Wedge said Smoak’s rehab assignment was day-to-day, and that Smoak might rejoin the Mariners in Oakland this weekend. … Outfielder Casper Wells was mired in an 0-for-26 slump but in the starting lineup. “He’s struggled offensively but given us great defense,” Wedge said. “He’s not quite as aggressive at the plate as he was. He’s chasing the ball a bit.”
ON TAP
Seattle plays a 7:07 p.m. game today in Oakland on Root Sports. Probable starting pitchers: Jason Vargas (7-12, 4.52 ERA) vs. Guillermo Moscoso (6-8, 3.80).
larry.larue@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners
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