Notes: Long returns; Graveman to Tacoma
DETROIT -- Shed Long Jr.¡¯s long road to recovery from a stress fracture in his right shin has finally culminated with a return to the big leagues. Seattle¡¯s second baseman was reinstated from the 60-day injured list on Monday and was in the Mariners¡¯ lineup for the series opener against the Tigers on Tuesday, batting sixth. This was his first big league action since undergoing surgery last September.
¡°It's just a blessing to be back, man,¡± Long said. ¡°It was a long journey. There definitely were some challenging times in this time of recovery.¡±
Long hit .323/.417/.516 over a seven-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma and said he hasn¡¯t experienced any pain in the area since the early leg of Minors spring training in mid-April. In big league camp, he was limited to just on-field batting practice and almost no field work due to his limitations making quick-cut plays, particularly stopping while carrying momentum.
He rejoins the club at a time where everyday second baseman Dylan Moore is on the 10-day IL with a calf injury, though Moore began his rehab assignment with Tacoma on Monday and could be close to returning.
? Mariners¡¯ Injury Updates and Roster Moves
That leaves the spot to Long for now, who the club committed the gig to ahead of the 2020 season, which proved to be a disappointing season beyond the injury; he hit .171/.242/.291 with a 50 OPS+.
¡°I think I experienced a few setbacks,¡± Long said. ¡°I definitely expected to be back quicker than this. But I don't think we've done anything wrong. ¡ It was a bone issue. And the thing about the bone is, you can't speed it up.¡±
Graveman set to join Tacoma
Closer Kendall Graveman will join Tacoma in the coming days as part of a tuneup assignment to face opposing hitters, given that he hasn¡¯t done so since May 16.
The right-hander will likely only need to make one such outing, Mariners manager Scott Servais said, which means there¡¯s an outside shot that he could rejoin the club on its road trip that lasts through Sunday. Graveman remains on the COVID IL, but he¡¯s cleared all protocols and has been allowed to use the team¡¯s facilities in Seattle.
Through the first six weeks of the season, he¡¯d blossomed into one of the top relievers in the American League, ranking sixth with 0.7 wins above replacement. He also has yet to allow a run in 16 2/3 innings this season.
Thomas¡¯ 10-year path to The Show
Dillon Thomas has spent a decade in professional baseball, mostly in the lower Minors. He even played in the Independent Texas League in 2018. That¡¯s what made his recent phone call with Mariners director of player development Andy McKay so emotional.
Seattle selected Thomas¡¯ contract from Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday, marking the first time that the 28-year-old has been on a Major League roster.
The first people he called were his parents, then after, he shared an emotional moment with his family.
¡°We both kind of started crying, then our daughter came over and was like, ¡®Daddy, what¡¯s wrong?¡¯¡± Thomas said. ¡°I was like, ¡®Daddy's going to the big leagues,¡¯ and she got excited and said, ¡®Daddy is a big leaguer!¡¯ And so I think that's what kind of made the moment for me.¡±
Thomas has been tearing it up at Tacoma, hitting .338/.459/.625 with six homers and 19 RBIs in 25 games. He¡¯ll provide some much-needed outfield depth with Kyle Lewis out indefinitely with a knee injury and Jarred Kelenic sent down to Tacoma on Monday.
In a corresponding move, catcher/first baseman Jacob Nottingham was designated for assignment.