Injuries & Moves: Raley returns to lineup
LATEST NEWS
May 31: OF/1B Luke Raley (lat soreness) returns to lineup
Raley was back in left field for Seattle's series opener against the Angels, and batting eighth. He also jokingly reaffirmed that he didn't hurt himself when hoisting J.P. Crawford after the shortstop's walk-off sacrifice fly against the Astros on Wednesday night, saying that the issue actually surfaced on his first swing of that night against Justin Verlander.
May 27: 2B Jorge Polanco (hamstring) placed on 10-day IL; INF Ryan Bliss selected from Triple-A Tacoma; OF Sam Haggerty (torn right Achilles) placed on 60-day IL
Polanco had been dealing with hamstring issues for a couple weeks, but had avoided the IL despite missing nine days from May 13-22. The Mariners took him on their East Coast road trip to Baltimore, New York and Washington D.C., and he returned to action against the Yankees, but had to leave the Mariners’ series finale against the Nationals in the fifth inning, pulling up while running out a ground ball.
Monday, Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said that Polanco would undergo an MRI on Tuesday, but that he didn’t anticipate a lengthy break for the infielder.
“We feel like it’s fairly mild, but just give it the time to calm down and get him back out there when he’s 100% ready to go,” Hollander said.
Bliss, Seattle’s No. 11 prospect, made his big league debut Monday, starting at second base and batting eighth. After a slow start to the season in Triple-A, Bliss has heated up recently, slashing .289/.412/.482 in May with four home runs, 15 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.
Haggerty, who underwent season-ending surgery in Seattle this past week, moved to the 60-day IL to clear a spot for Bliss. The outfielder tore his right Achilles on May 18 running into the wall at Tacoma's Cheney Stadium. Hollander said the Mariners’ initial estimates had him targeting a return next May.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
2B Jorge Polanco (right hamstring strain)
Expected return: Early June
The Mariners placed Polanco, who had been dealing with hamstring troubles for much of May, on the IL on May 27, after he had to exit their series finale against the Nationals the day prior. He’s set to undergo an MRI on May 28 -- general manager Justin Hollander said they couldn’t schedule it on Memorial Day -- but that the team isn’t expecting Polanco to miss significant time. (Last updated: May 27)
SS Colt Emerson (foot fracture; No. 3 on Mariners Top 30 Prospect list)
Expected return: Early July
Emerson was placed on the 7-day Minor League injured list on May 21 after fouling a ball off his foot and fracturing it May 16 in a game with Single-A Modesto. The initial plan was for the Mariners' 2023 first-round Draft pick to be in a boot for two weeks, and on May 27, Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said Emerson was still on track. (Last updated: May 27)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
OF Sam Haggerty (torn right Achilles)
Expected return: May 2025
Haggerty tore his right Achilles on May 18, in his second game after getting optioned back to Triple-A Tacoma, and he underwent surgery with Dr. Albert O. Gee at the University of Washington in the following week. General manager Justin Hollander said on May 27 that the plan was for Haggerty to stay in Seattle for a couple of weeks before transitioning his recovery to Arizona. Hollander said the current timeline for Haggerty to return is around 12 months. (Last updated: May 27)
RHP Gregory Santos (right lat strain)
Expected return: July at the earliest
Santos has been rehabbing with the Major League club, including going on the Mariners' recent East Coast road trip. He wrapped up that trip by working from a slope for the first time, throwing five pitches during one of his workouts in Washington D.C after throwing at 105 feet. On May 27, general manager Justin Hollander said Santos would soon push out to 120 feet, before starting a mound progression. Santos initially experienced shoulder soreness at the start of Spring Training and was set back by a lat strain during a bullpen session while ramping back up. He experienced another setback in early May that prolonged his recovery into the July range. (Last updated: May 27)
RHP Matt Brash (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: June 2025
Brash underwent Tommy John surgery on May 8 that ended his 2024 season, three months after initially experiencing soreness during his second bullpen session in Spring Training. Brash had the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow repaired and a brace installed, which has typically allowed patients to begin physical therapy sooner. That's why the Mariners are hopeful Brash can return in 12 months, potentially as soon as June 2025. (Last updated: May 10)
RHP Jackson Kowar (right UCL surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Kowar was transferred to the 60-day IL shortly after receiving word that he'll need to undergo Tommy John surgery, which ended his season before it even began. The former first-round Draft pick was among the leading candidates to win a bullpen spot before suffering the injury in his second Cactus League outing. (Last updated: March 10)