HOUSTON — Utilityman Shawn O’Malley is still sporting a sore right foot as the result of a foul ball in Saturday’s game, but he remains available, which allows the Mariners to avoid a series of roster moves.
It is O’Malley’s versatility that permits the Mariners to carry 13 pitchers on their 25-man roster. They added the extra reliever on June 24 and are likely to keep playing with a short bench at least through next week’s All-Star break.
“We could not do it without Shawn O’Malley,” manager Scott Servais said. “Without the value he brings to our team with the platoons and matchup (situations), you would need to carry two guys.”
No player starts out as a utilityman. O’Malley spent his first four pro seasons as a shortstop in the Tampa Bay system following his selection in the fifth round of the 2006 draft. He added second base to his resume in the 2009 Arizona Fall League and played left field for the first time in 2012. But it wasn’t until 2014, while in spring training with the Angels, that he began to embrace the role.
It was the late innings of a game against Cleveland in Goodyear, Arizona, when the Angels, short on players, began canvassing the players who remained available on their bench.
“They were running up and down, asking, ‘Does anybody play outfield here?’” O’Malley recalled. “We were down to the last two or three guys on the bench. I was like, ‘Yeah, I can play it. Yeah, sure, I’ve done it.’
“I had to borrow somebody’s outfield glove, and then I ran out to the outfield. I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to get in a game. Who knows what would have happened if I hadn’t spoke up and said something? It worked out in my favor.”
The Mariners already have used O’Malley at second, short, third and all three outfield positions. He was warming up June 2 at San Diego to pitch before the Mariners rallied from a 10-run deficit for a 16-13 victory. O’Malley is also the club’s emergency backup catcher. That possibility surfaced June 29 when Steve Clevenger suffered a broken hand, which left the Mariners with just Chris Iannetta for the remainder of the game.
Whatever it takes, O’Malley plans to be ready.
“They do a good job of giving me a little heads-up that I could possibly play (a specific position) in the next day or two,” he said. “That way, I make sure get some extra work at whatever that position may be.
“I’m fortunate that they think of me as that guy (who can play anywhere). It’s cool that they count on me to be that guy. I think they know I’ll definitely put the work in to be prepared and be ready.”
Hernandez update
Injured ace right-hander Felix Hernandez is scheduled to throw three 15-pitch simulated innings Wednesday as the next step in his recovery from a strained muscle in his right calf.
In simulated games, a pitcher faces hitters, who take swings, but the innings are limited to a specific number of pitches. The pitcher then rests for a few minutes, to simulate the break when his club is batting, before returning to the mound.
Hernandez was 4-4 with a 2.86 ERA in 10 starts before suffering the injury after a May 27 start against Minnesota.
Barring a setback in the simulated game, Hernandez is scheduled to make two rehab starts in the minor leagues before rejoining the big-league rotation.
Tentative plans call for rehab starts July 10 at Short-A Everett and July 15 at Triple-A Tacoma.
Powering up
The Mariners will reach the All-Star break for the first time in their 40-year history with at least seven players having at least 10 homers. One more homer this week by Franklin Gutierrez will make it eight.
Entering Monday, with seven games remaining prior to the break, Nelson Cruz had club-leading 21 homers, followed by Robinson Cano (19), Kyle Seager (16), Adam Lind (12), Leonys Martin (11), Dae-Ho Lee (11) and Seth Smith (10).
The previous club record was six players in double digits on five occasions, all of which occurred when the Mariners played their home games at the more-homer-friendly Kingdome.
Short hops
Seth Smith entered Monday’s game with a chance to join Jay Buhner as the only player in Mariners history to drive in at least four runs in three straight games. Buhner did it from Sept. 11-13, 1995 in a three-game series against Minnesota at the Kingdome. He had five in the first game and four apiece in the next two games. Smith went 0-for-4 and must settle for being one of 10 Mariners to have four or more RBI in back-to-back games. … the All-Star rosters will be announced at 4 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN. Second baseman Robinson Cano and designated hitter Nelson Cruz are viewed as strong candidates for selection as reserves on the American League club. The All-Star Game is July 12 at Petco Park in San Diego.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
