SEATTLE — Utility infielder Luis Sardinas, as expected, rejoined the Mariners prior to Wednesday’s series finale against Oakland when recalled to the big leagues after a 10-day remedial stay at Triple-A Tacoma.
“I got more at-bats,” said Sardinas, who batted .406 (13-for-22) in eight games for the Rainiers. “I got to play every day, and I got more comfortable at the plate. I got used to the speed of the game again.”
Sardinas, 23, is expected to replace injured Ketel Marte as the club’s primary shortstop. Marte suffered a sprained left thumb while sliding into second base in last Saturday’s victory in Cincinnati.
Marte’s injury is not believed to be severe, and club officials expect him to be ready to resume his duties June 6, when he is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list.
“Full range of motion is back in the thumb,” manager Scott Servais reported. “The swelling is out. We’re hoping that, maybe, by sometime this weekend to get a bat in his hand (and have him hit) off the tee.”
The Mariners cleared space for Sardinas by optioning shortstop Chris Taylor back to Tacoma after just three games. Taylor went 1-for-3 in his only appearance — Monday against the Athletics — but committed two errors in the 5-0 loss.
“I hate to pull the plug on a guy for one game,” Servais said, “but we’ve got to do what’s best for our team. … Where we’re at right now, we’re in first place, we just thought it was best to go with Luis.”
Sardinas opened the season as the Mariners’ utility infielder after beating out Taylor in spring training. Sardinas was optioned May 14 to Tacoma to receive regular playing time after getting just 26 at-bats in the club’s first 36 games.
The Mariners replaced Sardinas by recalling utilityman Shawn O’Malley from Tacoma. O’Malley started at shortstop in two of three previous games since Marte’s injury but is not viewed as a viable replacement for an extended period.
Players optioned to the minors can’t return for 10 days unless they replace a player on the disabled list. When the Mariners chose late Saturday to summon Taylor as a precaution, they did not know the severity of Marte’s injury.
At that point, they hadn’t yet determined whether Marte required time on the disabled list. They could have kept him on the active roster and added Taylor, a natural shortstop, by optioning another player, presumably O’Malley, to Tacoma.
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