Kyle Seager Promoted To Seattle Mariners, Jose Yepez Designated For Assignment
The Seattle Mariners called up Kyle Seager from Tacoma on Wednesday, designating Jose Yepez for assignment. Seager has been tearing up the minor leagues and may take Chone Figgins' spot at third base.
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As expected, Kyle Seager will get the start on Thursday as the Seattle Mariners face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Seager will take the field at third, joining a young infield that includes UNC teammate Dustin Ackley and Justin Smoak. Like Ackley, Seager will make his debut at the No. 7 spot in the lineup.
Ooh I'm gonna win the race: Ichiro, Ryan, Kennedy 1B, Smoak DH, Ackley, Olivo, Seager, Guti, Peguero, Fister P
There's no easing Seager into the big leagues and he'll make his debut on the road against Jared Weaver in a critical series for the Mariners. The hope is that Seager will provide the mariners with a quick bit of instant offense -- before the call-up, he was hitting .455 for the Tacoma Rainiers in AAA.
710 ESPN's Shannon Drayer added an interesting tidbit about Seager and the first time he got a taste of big-league ball. Two years ago, shortly after he was drafted, Seager visited with Mike Sweeney, who told a group of Mariners prospects they'd be up sooner rather than later.
Seager remembers being here in 09 in a ball. Pineda Peguero also on team. M Sweeney told them they would be up before they knew it. He was right. Mike Sweeney here now for a visit. Looks great.
Kyle Seager isn't joining the Seattle Mariners to sit on the bench and occasionally pinch hit, according to general manager Jack Zduriencik. Shortly after the Mariners announced Seager was promoted from Triple-A Tacoma, Zduriencik spoke with the media, noting the team needs instant offense and Seager will be thrown right into the fire. Like his North Carolina teammate and fellow 2009 MLB Draft pick Dustin Ackley, Seager will play right away, and will likely play every day, either at third base or as a designated hitter.
Geoff Baker, of the Seattle Times, tweeted the news shortly after the personnel moves were announced on Wednesday.
Jack Zduriencik says Kyle Seager will be at 3B tomorrow and foe foreseeable future. Zduriencik on Seager: "He's earned the shot right now and we need the offense." Zduriencik says Adam Kennedy can play multiple positions and will see action. "It'll all work itself out." Sounds like possible trade.
Reading between the lines, this likely means Chone Figgins time is nearing an end. With Seager getting his feet wet at third base, Figgins seems to be destined for the bench, perhaps in a utility role. The Mariners will be breaking in both Seager and Ackley in the infield, and would like to keep some kind of continuity in place so the two can get acclimated to life in the major leagues -- though Ackley has done well for himself thus far.
The Seattle Mariners were carrying a third catcher for no apparent reason and decided to rectify the situation on Wednesday with a move that should have fans excited. While he's not Dustin Ackley, Kyle Seager has been on-fire in AAA, tearing up pitching for the Tacoma Rainiers. While Seager has been somewhat of a super-utility player, he may just end up taking the place of Chone Figgins at third.
The move was made after the Mariners fell to the Oakland A's on Wednesday, 2-0. To call the offense anemic at this point would be an understatement, and third base has been a significant part of the problem. With Figgins' batting average hovering well below the Mendoza line and the Mariners offense slumping, something had to give. That something is Seager, and he'll take the place of third-string emergency catcher Jose Yepez, who was designated for assignment.
Seager's arrival would seem to mean the end of playing time for Chone Figgins, who fell to .183 today.
Seager is the second 2009 MLB Draft pick to reach the majors after working his way through the Mariners system, following UNC teammate Dustin Ackley. Get to know Seager in the handy interview conducted by Conor Dowley at Mariners Farm Review. Seager spent 12 games in Tacoma, hitting .455 while working in a variety of roles.
For more on the Mariners, head over to SB Nation's Lookout Landing.
