O’Malley finally off DL, sent to Triple-A

Published 1:30 am Friday, August 4, 2017

By Bob Dutton

The News Tribune

Utilityman Shawn O’Malley is finally, and officially, healthy after spending four-plus months on the disabled list.

The Mariners activated O’Malley, 29, from the 60-day disabled list Friday and optioned him to Triple-A Tacoma, where he shifted Thursday for the final game of his rehab assignment.

To clear space for O’Malley on the 40-man roster, the Mariners executed another paper transaction by sending right-handed pitcher Christian Bergman to the Rainiers on an outright assignment after he cleared waivers.

Bergman, 29, had been pitching for Tacoma on an optional assignment after making eight big-league starts earlier in the season.

He is 8-3 with a 5.10 ERA in 13 starts for the Rainiers.

O’Malley, a Richland native and former Southridge High School standout, underwent an emergency appendectomy in March and opened the season on the 10-day disabled list.

During the early stages of his recovery, he was diagnosed with tendinitis in his right shoulder.

That prompted a May 2 move to shift O’Malley to the 60-day disabled list.

He began his rehab assignment July 7 in the Arizona Rookie League, where he spent five games before shifting July 24 to Double-A Arkansas for eight games.

O’Malley went 14 for 45 with 13 walks in his 14 rehab games for a .311 average and a .475 on-base percentage.

He batted .229 last season in 89 big-league games with two homers and 17 RBIs, playing a valuable utility role for the Mariners.