Sources: Cano to play for AquaSox in Everett on Thursday
Published 1:30 am Monday, August 6, 2018
By Ryan Divish / The Seattle Times
The process for Robinson Cano to return to the Mariners from his 80-game suspension will take him to Tacoma’s Cheney Stadium on Monday night.
The team announced on Monday afternoon that Cano will be in uniform for Class AAA Tacoma later that evening to begin his allowed “rehab” stint in preparation for his return, which is scheduled for Aug. 14 in Oakland.
Cano was in the Rainiers’ lineup starting at first base and batting third. The position switch shouldn’t come as a surprise given that the Mariners have asked him to learn the position and been very open about it. The plan is for Cano see time at first base, third base, second base and designated hitter.
“Robbie will move around,” manager Scott Servais said. “He’s done a lot of work at the other positions, but it’s still hard. There’s a lot of little nuances at first base and third base. I don’t think there is much he doesn’t grasp at second base.”
Cano singled on a 1-2 count in his first at-bat for the Rainiers against Colorado Springs starter Zach Davies, who was also on a rehab assignment after pitching for Milwaukee earlier this year.
He grounded out to shortstop in his second at-bat in the third inning, and then did so again off reliever Mike Zagurski to end the fifth.
Cano did some work at first base and third base with infield coach Manny Acta the past few days. Acta gave positive reviews to Servais. But the need for Cano to see game action at those positions is critical.
“It’s one thing hitting a guy ground balls and it’s another thing seeing it live off the bat in a game situation and reacting to things,” Servais said. “At first base, it’s getting over to the bag, it’s picking the throws in the dirt, it’s handling the bunt plays, it’s being in the right spot on cutoff throws. There’s more to it than, ‘let’s just put the guy over there who rakes.’ There’s a lot.”
After spending the last few weeks in the Dominican Republic working out at his family’s private baseball academy, Cano returned to Seattle a few days ago so he could being preparing for his rehab assignment. Per Major League Baseball and MLB Players Association agreement, a player that’s suspended for violating the joint drug agreement has a 14-day period to play in minor league games to prepare for reinstatement.
How many rehab games does Cano need to be ready?
“No set number,” Dipoto said via text message. “However many reps he needs to find his rhythm.”
Said Servais: “You guys have seen him in spring training. Robbie can go out the first day and hit two balls off the wall and hit one over the fence, right out of the chute. I think the fact that he’s going to get some games down there obviously helps. It’s been a long time since he’s been out there. But there is a reason he’s put up the numbers he put up. He’s a very gifted player.”
The Rainiers have home games on Monday and Tuesday against Colorado Springs, followed by an off day and a trip to Salt Lake City. Dipoto said that Cano won’t fly with the Rainiers. Sources said he’ll instead play with short-season Everett, which opens a five-game series with Eugene on Thursday at Everett Memorial Stadium. But how many of those games and which ones have yet to be determined. They are going to base it on how Cano feels after the first two games.
