AquaSox notes: Greer returns to outfield after long layoff

Published 7:00 pm Saturday, August 6, 2016

EVERETT — Saturday marked the end of a long layoff for the Everett AquaSox’s David Greer, who started in right field.

“It was a long time coming, it seems like,” said Greer, who last played on June 29 at Spokane. “About a month, a month and a few days.”

The season was barely two weeks old when Greer, the Seattle Mariners’ 10th-round pick out of Arizona State, took a ground ball to his left eye at first base during pre-game warm-ups at Spokane.

Greer suffered a fractured orbital wall, a concussion and a small seizure on the fluke play.

“It was a frightening experience,” said Greer, who remained with the ball club while recuperating. “Protocol says until the fracture fully heals there’s no playing. So that’s how we played it.”

Greer batted second in the order and played the first three innings in right as per the pre-game plan.

“Just like anybody coming back from an injury, you never want to run him out there for nine innings right away,” Everett manager Rob Mummau said. “We’ll treat it like a spring training game.”

Greer was hitting .250/.323/.321 with two doubles and five runs scored in seven games prior to the injury. The Mariners selected him as an infielder, but he said he’s comfortable playing both corner outfield spots as well.

“I’m a utility player,” he said. “I’ll play wherever they put me. It’s one of those things. I think I had a start in right early in the season. It won’t be a problem.”

Marte gone after two games

The original plan was for Seattle Mariners shortstop Ketel Marte to spend three games with Everett in his rehab stint.

Evidently his performance in the first two games, during which he went 2-for-6 with a home run and a double, showed enough positive signs to render a third game at Everett unnecessary.

“Not that I make the decisions, but he looked healthy and up to full strength,” Mummau said. “He looked good to me. The bat speed looked like it was there, so I don’t think it will be long.”

Griffey inspired Everett hitting coach Hunter

Much of the Pacific Northwest was focused on the Ken Griffey Jr. number retirement festivities at Safeco Field Saturday night.

AquaSox hitting coach Brian Hunter has fond memories of the 1999 season when he played alongside Griffey in Seattle.

“I’m excited for him,” Hunter said. “It’s pretty cool to play with somebody who is being presented with such a prestigious award.”

Griffey sometimes helped Hunter remember that they were playing a game and it was supposed to be fun.

“Every single day he made sure he had the most fun,” Hunter said. “I used to have some managers and coaches tell me, ‘You gotta smile out there, Brian. You gotta make sure you’re having fun.’ And I see the reason they say that, because usually we’re playing better when we are having a good time. Junior, of course, had a lot more reasons to be smiling and having a good time than most of us.”

Notes

Eric Filia continues to rank among the league leaders in several hitting categories. Entering Saturday, Filia’s .319 average was tied for second and his on-base percentage of .418 was also second. He was third in the league in walks with 25 and was leading the league in RBI with 32. Filia has reached base in 22 straight games. Nick Zammarelli was tied for fifth in hitting (.314), first in hits (50) and third in total bases (71). Bryson Brigman led the league with 34 runs scored.

For the latest AquaSox news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.