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.
MLB's Greg Johns immediately wondered what we all were thinking: Is this the end of the Chone Figgins experiment?
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.
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