ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Outfielder Mitch Haniger returned Saturday to the Mariners just three weeks after getting hit in the face by a pitch from Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets.
The Mariners activated Haniger from the disabled list as part of a series of moves prior to their game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Fla.
Haniger, 26, started in right field and batted sixth in Saturday’s game. He hit a grand slam in the third inning, his eighth home run of the season
The Mariners activated Haniger after placing outfielder Jarrod Dyson on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 17, because of a strained right groin muscle.
The Mariners also swapped bullpen pitchers by recalling right-hander Casey Lawrence from Triple-A Tacoma and optioning right-hander Sam Gaviglio to the same club.
Technically, Lawrence replaces Dyson on the roster since he was optioned Aug. 15 to the Rainiers. An optioned player must remain in the minors for at least 10 days unless he replaces a player who is placed on the disabled list.
Haniger returns after going 4-for-21 with two home runs in six games on a rehab assignment at Tacoma. He batted .255 with seven homers and 24 RBIs in 58 games prior to suffering a severe facial laceration when hit by the pitch.
This was Haniger’s second stay on the disabled list. He previously missed 6 1/2 weeks because of a strained right oblique muscle suffered April 25 in Detroit.
Dyson, 33, battled a groin injury in recent days and his slow recovery prompted the move to put him on the disabled list. He is batting .255 with five homers and 30 RBIs in 109 games while also leading the American League with 28 stolen bases.
Lawrence, 29, is back for a fourth tour in his ongoing shuttle between the Mariners and Tacoma. He is 1-0 with a 5.64 ERA in 13 big-league games for the Mariners since his acquisition from Toronto in a May 11 waiver claim.
Gaviglio, 27, returns to the Rainiers after not pitching in three games since his Aug. 15 recall to replace Lawrence as a long reliever. That move was made to provide the bullpen with a fresh arm.
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