After 4-year absence, Hahn back in big leagues with Mariners

SAN FRANCISCO -- Needing a fresh arm for a taxed bullpen that has pitched more innings than all but five teams, the Mariners made a few roster moves before their game at Oracle Park on Saturday, an eventual 4-1 loss:

? RHP Jesse Hahn selected from Triple-A Tacoma
? LHP Tayler Saucedo optioned to Tacoma
? RHP Cody Bolton designated for assignment

Hahn, 35, made his first MLB appearance since April 11, 2021 -- a span of 1,455 days -- having joined the organization and getting sent to Tacoma last September, then returning on a Minors contract with an invite to Spring Training in November.

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And the veteran gave manager Dan Wilson two scoreless innings against the Giants, though the Mariners were unable to maintain their offensive momentum from a season-best showing the day prior.

Over 30 pitches, Hahn surrendered two hits and one walk with one strikeout, his fastball averaging 94.8 mph and topping out at 96.5 mph -- including an impressive swinging K vs. leadoff man LaMonte Wade Jr., his first batter of the night.

“I thought he threw the ball very well, but we just weren't able to get the runs across tonight,” Wilson said.

Hahn was called upon in the seventh with the Mariners trailing, after Bryce Miller surrendered four earned runs on seven hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings -- not exactly the length the Mariners were hoping for given the state of their bullpen.

“I just beat myself today,” said Miller, who threw first-pitch strikes to only 13 of the 24 batters he faced. “I didn't get ahead and didn't put batters away. So moving forward, I know what I need to focus on -- kind of get the heater back and get ahead and attack.”

As for Hahn, the Mariners got their first extended look at him in Spring Training, where he pitched in nine Cactus League games, surrendering 10 earned runs on 14 hits with nine strikeouts and one walk. After being sent back to Triple-A to begin the year, he made one appearance at Tacoma, pitching a scoreless eighth inning last Sunday.

But given how many arms the Mariners have needed through their first eight games, including using all eight relievers in Friday’s walk-off loss in the 11th inning, it was clear that Hahn would be used immediately.

“We're going to monitor it as we go,” Wilson said. “And that's the trick when you have to rely on them a lot here in this first week or so.”

Beyond his role, Hahn has an inspiring story in his return to the Majors.

He was out of the game altogether from 2022-23, then joined the Dodgers last season at their Triple-A affiliate but was released on Aug. 29, after which he signed with Seattle.

“I just kind of fell in love with their pitching philosophy right away,” Hahn said. “They kind of just clicked with me. Certain things clicked with me. And obviously, having my health back helps tremendously. But just being in camp healthy again, around the guys -- my second year with them -- I was just excited to move forward with those guys.”

The injury he referenced was a right shoulder impingement syndrome that ended his season with the Royals in 2021 before it really even started, and he experienced endless setbacks in his rehab.

Hahn was lights-out for the Royals in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, with a 0.52 ERA in 18 outings. Since he’s been away, Hahn has started a family; he and his wife now have three boys, all 5 years old or younger.

“I just know never to take this game for granted,” Hahn said. “I was on the outside looking in. I didn't like that feeling. So now I love to show up to the park with a smile on my face no matter what happens.”

There’s limited data on his stuff, since he’s been out so long, but when Hahn last pitched in the Majors, he primarily used a sinker-curveball combination, with the heater averaging close to 95 mph and the breaking ball in the high-70s.

“I'm pretty aggressive with my fastball, sinkers,” Hahn said. “For me, I'm just trying to get the two strikes and put guys away with my spin. That's really it. Nothing much has really changed besides me thinking, 'Hey, let's make this stuff in the zone more.'”

The Mariners have shown that they’ll present opportunities for a hot-handed reliever at any given time, and Hahn certainly made a strong first impression.