Segura Put On Disabled List

The Seattle Mariners new shortstop Jean Segura was put on the disabled list for ten days when he got injured in the home opener at Safeco Field on Monday April 10 when he was put out trying to get back to first base. According to Manager Servais after the game he injured his hamstring earlier however was aggravated at the time.

The first seven games on the road before the Mariners came home to play the Astros on Monday Segura looked like the best player on the roster for those who play in the field. He was playing solid defense well as hitting the baseball with an average around .333. The Mariners will miss him for those ten games at the very least. Before going on the disabled list Servais didn’t think the injury was bad as it turns out to be. The positive side it is earlier in the season however injuries like a hamstring can go on for a while. We all hope that it is not the case for Segura.

Taylor Motter who started the season as the Mariners utility player primarily playing some first base after pinch running for Valencia late in game will take over playing shortstop. Motter started his career as a shortstop and the Mariner coaching staff thought he was the best player to backup Segura well as playing all the other infield positions and the outfield as well.

The Mariners brought up Mike Freeman to take the spot of Segura. He will be the utility player now until Segura returns.  Shawn O’Malley would have been a good choice to replace Segura however he is still on the disabled list. When he is ready to go likely he will do some playing at Tacoma to get back into shape.

Depending on the pitching in the bullpen when Segura returns he could take the roster spot in place of one of the relief pitchers. The Mariners though have three relief pitchers on the disabled list as well. The first one returning to the roster could be Tony Zych who right now is pitching for the Rainiers.

It is hard to tell whether the Mariners would have Zych replace one of the short relievers or the long reliever. The Mariners are going with three lefties in the bullpen. Dillon Overton is the long reliever while James Pazos and Marc Rzepczynski are the short lefty specialists. If and when Zych comes up hard to know at this point who he would replace; it would likely be either Overton or Pazos since Rzepczynski has a spot insured pretty much unless he pitched awful. The Mariners signed him to a guaranteed two-year contract.

News just came in that the Mariners brought up right handed reliever Evan Marshall who they recently picked up off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks and sent down right hander Casey Fien to Tacoma. Not a big surprise that Fien was sent down. Depending on how he does this could open the spot for another reliever or when Segura is reactivated.

With Segura on the disabled list now left fielder Jarrod Dyson is taking the role of the leadoff batter and Motter will be at the bottom of the order. Motter looks like he is hitting well so he could move up in the order if he continues doing so.

The Mariners end the three game series on Wednesday against the Houston Astros. Right now the series is tied at 1-1. Gallardo will be starting the final game of the series. The Mariners have Thursday off before taking on the Texas Ranger for a three game series in Seattle. Felix Hernandez is expected to start the game on Friday for the Mariners. We hope that he is more recovered from his groin injury that he had in the season opener in Houston. The importance not only that the Mariners take the last game of the series against the Astros that they can take at least two games against the Rangers; the Rangers have been struggling starting the season in the same way the Mariners have. The Mariners will finish the home stand off next Monday through Wednesday against the Miami Marlins. It will be nice to see the return of Ichiro next week. Go M’s.