SEATTLE -- The Mariners are still awaiting MRI results on Victor Robles after he crashed into the net when making a remarkable catch on Sunday in San Francisco, but the spark-plug right fielder was nonetheless placed on the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday¡¯s game vs. the Astros.
In a corresponding roster move, outfielder Dominic Canzone was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma.
Robles¡¯ injury was classified as a left shoulder dislocation, and Mariners general manager Justin Hollander didn¡¯t want to speculate further on the severity of the issue when sharing a formal -- and wide-ranging -- injury update for many other players.
¡°I don't know what it is because I don't know what it is,¡± Hollander said. ¡°So my level of concern is he made one of the best, all-out, had-no-regard-for-his-body catches I¡¯ve ever seen. And I hope that it¡¯s not the worst-case scenario, and I hope it¡¯s on the shorter end than the longer end. But I honestly have no idea right now, and nobody does until we get a look at the images.¡±
Robles had his shoulder popped back into place by medical personnel at Oracle Park then flew home with the team and was at T-Mobile Park on Monday before leaving the ballpark for the imaging procedure. He was in good spirits, doling out high-fives, but also wearing a shoulder sling. He was not available for an interview.
¡°What he brings to our clubhouse is a lot of life, so it¡¯s really good seeing him in there today,¡± Mariners manager Wilson said.
As part of the roster shuffle, Julio Rodr¨ªguez was bumped up in the batting order to leadoff, and Luke Raley took over in right field -- and both spots could be adjusted moving forward.
¡°We'll see how it goes from day to day,¡± Dan Wilson said.
Polanco returns as DH
Jorge Polanco was back in the lineup after missing two games with what Hollander indicated was actually ¡°tenderness¡± in his side -- and not a reaggravation of his left knee, which Wilson indicated was the issue on Sunday. The new issue surfaced on a swing during Friday¡¯s loss, per Hollander.
¡°He was scheduled for a down day anyway [on Saturday] and felt some additional soreness in his upper body,¡± Hollander said. ¡°So rather than risk any upper body issues, Dan elected to give him an extra day [on Sunday].¡±
The Mariners are considering whether Polanco might be more well-suited at DH in the long term if he continues to experience soreness, in addition to the scheduled off-days for the slugger that they were intending to bake in for him at the season¡¯s outset.
The DH spot has mostly been occupied between Raley and Rowdy Tellez, who¡¯ve been splitting time at first base, and catchers Cal Raleigh and Mitch Garver when they¡¯re not behind the plate.
¡°It¡¯s something we talked about as making sure we were being responsible, and it wasn¡¯t going to be six straight or seven straight [games played] in a row,¡± Hollander said.
Kirby ¡®feels great¡¯ in Arizona
George Kirby (right shoulder inflammation) threw a bullpen session over the weekend at Seattle¡¯s Spring Training facility and ¡°feels great,¡± Hollander said. He¡¯ll throw two more ¡®pens this week then will ¡°begin more of a traditional Spring Training-type game progression.¡±
At the outset of his throwing program in late March, Kirby had expressed optimism about returning by late April, though it sounds like May is more likely at this point.
¡°Late April seems optimistic to me, just given where we are on the calendar, but that¡¯s George,¡± Hollander said. ¡°The benchmarks that we were looking for him to hit were to feel good after his throwing sessions and his ¡®pen sessions, and it feels great right now.
¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be like a full Spring Training ramp-up, because he was already kind of built to that point over the winter and in their early part of the spring. But he does need a real game progression. It¡¯s not going to be throw two innings then come to the big leagues.¡±
Brash to throw live BP; Taylor nearing return
Matt Brash (Tommy John surgery), who threw a bullpen on Sunday in San Francisco, will throw a live batting practice on Wednesday at T-Mobile Park, after which the Mariners ¡°will talk about a rehab assignment in Tacoma,¡± per Hollander.
Troy Taylor (right lat strain), who made two rehab appearances with the Rainiers last week, rejoined the Mariners on Monday and will continue his rehab in Tacoma this week -- after which he could be activated from the IL.