Mariners first baseman Evan White dealing with minor groin injury
Seattle Mariners first baseman Evan White will be held out of spring training games for a few more days while he recovers from a minor groin injury.
The 23-year-old rookie was absent from the lineup for the third consecutive day Saturday after leaving Wednesday’s win over the Reds earlier than planned.
White said he felt tightness in his groin muscles that morning when he woke up, and played just two innings against Cincinnati, doubling in his first of two at-bats. He was removed in the third after speaking with a trainer and Mariners manager Scott Servais in the dugout.
“More precautionary with where we’re at at this point in the spring,” Servais said. “No reason to push it. He needs his at-bats. Really important for him. It’s a really big spring for him. He was swinging the bat really well. Just a couple days down and we’ll get him back in there.”
Servais said White should return to the lineup Monday. White said he feels game ready, and will participate in usual morning infield work Saturday as well as some light running. He expects to ramp back up to full running activities by Sunday.
White was 3-for-8 with a pair of doubles and a pair of strikeouts in his first three Cactus League games, and flashed his impressive defensive skills in Seattle’s spring training opener last Sunday.
“You want to get out there as soon as possible and play as much as you possibly can, and be comfortable and get the (at-bats) in,” White said. “From that side it’s frustrating, obviously, but this is the time to be cautious.”
White is expected to take over the role as Seattle’s everyday first baseman after signing a six-year extension with the club in November. If everything progresses as planned this spring, Opening Day will also be his major league debut.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHow will we cover spring training in 2020?
The Seattle Mariners are ready to report to spring training and so is The News Tribune. Beat reporter Lauren Smith will be on the ground in Peoria, Ariz., from the first full squad practice. And our coverage will continue through the final roster decisions at the end of March, bringing fans the latest on the second year of Seattle’s rebuild. Click on the arrow in the top right for more.
Looking to the future
While the Mariners aren’t exactly expected to contend for a playoff spot in 2020, these six weeks of preseason workouts and games will give us a closer look at some of the top prospects — like outfielders Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez, and former first-round draft pick Logan Gilbert — expected to be key pieces of the club’s future, and some of the young players battling for Opening Day roster spots. We’ll also be able to catch up with the more experienced players — like veteran third-baseman Kyle Seager and ace pitcher Marco Gonzales — already in Seattle’s clubhouse.
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This story was originally published February 29, 2020 at 7:43 AM.
