Opponent: Boise Hawks.
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Everett Memorial Stadium.
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM).
Probable starters: Everett right-hander Bryan Ball (0-1, 9.00 earned run average) vs. right-hander Jose Pina (1-1, 2.10).
Grifol returns
Pedro Grifol stood propped up against the batting cage, watching the Everett AquaSox take batting practice and chatting with the rest of the coaching staff in the process.
It felt just like old times.
Grifol, the former AquaSox manager, is in town during the Boise series under the guise of his new role in the Seattle Mariners organization, minor-league coordinator of instruction.
And Grifol was feeling right at home.
“I love it here,” Grifol said. “The fans are great here, the ambiance is great, the front-office people are tremendous, and this is a great situation for the Mariners and a good opportunity for our kids. So I really enjoy it here.”
Grifol managed Everett the previous three seasons, compiling a 115-113 record. Last season he guided the AquaSox into contention in the Northwest League’s West Division before finishing third at 42-34.
Grifol’s role as coordinator of instruction is in stark contrast to his previous role as a manger. Grifol has spent the spring and summer bouncing between all of Seattle’s farm teams, including teams in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. He spends the majority of his time observing and evaluating the approximately 160 players in the Seattle organization, rather than being a hands-on teacher like he was as a manager.
“It’s going good, I’m enjoying it,” Grifol said. “I’m seeing the whole organization from Venezuela and the Dominican all the way up to Tacoma. I get to see all the kids we have in our system and it looks good for the future.”
Grifol is currently in the midst of his second return to Everett this season. He also stopped by during the season-opening series against Tri-City.
“This is my second time in and the first time was really nice,” Grifol said. “It’s always nice, but I got the juices flowing the first time. This time it’s work. You have to come in here, watch the kids, evaluate them, help the staff and do what we’ve got to do.”
Grifol is scheduled to depart when the series ends Friday. He said he thinks he’ll be back one more time this season.
Bonilla back to health: Third baseman Leury Bonilla returned to the Everett lineup Tuesday after a seven-day layoff.
Bonilla suffered a groin injury during Everett’s 6-5 home victory over Eugene on July 10. The injury happened when Bonilla slid head first into second base on a double in the bottom of the ninth. He was removed for pinch runner Dean Zorn, who came around to score on Chris Minaker’s walk-off single.
Bonilla was batting .194 with one home run and six RBI in 17 games. He was also a defensive standout at third base.
Zorn absence: Zorn left the team Tuesday as he was temporarily promoted to Class AAA Tacoma.
The infielder is helping provide depth for a team that has three infielders on the disabled list and another, Greg Dobbs, who was recently promoted to the majors. In Monday’s 6-4 victory over Las Vegas the Rainiers were forced to put three catchers in the lineup.
Zorn is expected to return to Everett on Thursday. Zorn is batting .265 win no homers and four RBI in 19 games with Everett..
Nick Patterson, Herald writer
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