Aquasox: Today’s game

Opponent: Yakima Bears

When: 7:05 p.m.

Where: Everett Memorial Stadium

Radio: KSER (90.7 FM)

Probable starters: Everett right-hander Aaron Jensen (3-1, 2.92 earned run average) vs. right-hander Josh Perrault (0-1, 4.91 ERA)

Comeback trail

The Seattle Mariners’ future behind the plate began his quick detour through Everett on Tuesday night.

Miguel Olivo, Seattle’s apparent successor to Dan Wilson at catcher, began a two-game rehabilitation stint with the AquaSox, getting the start behind the plate and batting cleanup. Olivo is scheduled to play the same roles in today’s game.

It was not known whether Olivo would then rejoin the Mariners immediately afterward, though he is eligible to come off the disabled list after the All-Star break.

“I don’t know what (the Mariners’) plan is,” Everett manager Pedro Grifol said. “I know what our plan is for him here, what they’ve instructed me to do. He’s going to catch six innings (Tuesday), he’ll catch nine innings (today) and he’ll hit in the four hole for us.”

Olivo, a native of Villa Vasquez in the Dominican Republic who turns 26 on Thursday, has been on the disabled list since July 1 after undergoing surgery to remove kidney stones.

Olivo was acquired by the Mariners on June 27 in a trade that sent pitcher Freddy Garcia to the Chicago White Sox. He played one game for the Mariners before going on the disabled list. For Chicago and Seattle, Olivo has batted .264 with seven home runs and 26 RBI in 144 at bats.

For the AquaSox, it’s a chance to see a major-league player up close.

“I think it’s great for our pitching staff,” Grifol said. “They get to see a big-league guy behind the plate, they get to see how he moves. I think it’s great for our catchers to see how he conducts himself on and off the field, during batting practice and how he goes about his buisness. I think everything’s a positive.

“For him, I think it’s going to get him ready to go back up there and show the Mariners what he can do.”

Spectator: Olivo wasn’t the only major leaguer at Everett Memorial Stadium on Tuesday. Mariners pitcher Travis Blackley was also on hand, tossing a bullpen session before the game, then sticking around to watch his friend, Shawn Nottingham, pitch.

“I’ve got a couple of days off and I’m starting the second game (after the All-Star break), so I needed to get some work in,” Blackley explained. “I decided to come up here. My buddy’s pitching tonight, so I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone.”

Blackley, a 21-year-old left-hander from Australia, is considered one of the crown jewels among Seattle’s prospects. Blackley dominated at Class AAA Tacoma, going 7-2 with a 2.63 ERA before being promoted to the majors. In two starts with Seattle he’s 1-1 with a 7.59 ERA.

“Not too bad,” was Blackley’s evaluation of his performance with the Mariners so far. “I’m a lot better than I’m showing. I’ve had a few nervous outings and it just takes a little getting used to. Every level I’ve started I’ve had a few rough ones before I started to do well. In Tacoma this year my first two starts were pretty brutal, so I’m actually happy with how I’ve done for my first two starts. But I think it’ll only get better.”

Blackley began his professional career at Everett in 2001. He was 6-1 with a 3.32 ERA in 14 starts and he recalls his time in Everett fondly.

“(My favorite memory of Everett) was probably when (Jay) Buhner was here,” Blackley said. “Buhner came down for a couple of days and I got to pitch and I was just wet behind the ears. I threw a pretty good game and having him congratulate me on a good game was huge. It was just a huge confidence boost and the rest of the season was great.”

Short hops: Everett finished 2-3 in its recent five-game series at Tri-City. It was the first series the AquaSox lost this season. … Luis Soto has been sent back to Peoria of the Arizona Rookie League. Soto, who was making the conversion from catcher to first base, batted .259 with three RBI in nine games for the AquaSox. … Hardcore baseball travelers Jim and Andrea Siscel of Lynnwood threw out the ceremonial first pitches Tuesday. The Siscels just completed their 55,604-mile tour of all 172 major-league and minor-league parks in the United States and Canada. Their trip began June 23, 2002 in Everett.

Nick Patterson, Herald writer