By Bob Dutton
The News Tribune
Since Caminero isn’t scheduled to report until Monday, the Mariners’ move to designate Parker for assignment also cleared space on the 25-man active roster for right-hander Taijuan Walker, who was activated from the disabled list.
The Mariners previously announced Walker would start Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels at Safeco Field. Walker was placed in the disabled list after being diagnosed with tendinitis in his right foot after a July 5 start at Houston.
Walker said he experienced no discomfort Monday while pitching 4 1/3 innings for Tacoma in a rehab start. He was 4-7 with a 3.66 ERA in 16 starts prior to going on the disabled list.
REHAB UPDATES
Shortstop Ketel Marte is heading to Tacoma to continue his rehab assignment, and he’s likely to be joined by right-handed reliever Nick Vincent.
Both players began their rehab tours at Short-A Everett because Tacoma was playing at El Paso, but the Rainiers open a four-game homestand Sunday against Sacramento (Giants).
Vincent pitched one scoreless inning Friday when starting for Everett in its 7-5 loss to Hillsboro (Diamondbacks). He gave up one hit but otherwise struck out the side. He threw 11 of 15 pitches for strikes.
It was Vincent’s first game action since being diagnosed with a strained back muscle after a June 26 appearance against St. Louis.
“It brought back some memories,” said Vincent, who pitched eight years ago in Everett while playing for Eugene in the San Diego system. “I just went out there and threw the pitches with conviction. It felt good.”
Marte played shortstop after beginning his rehab assignment Thursday as the designated hitter. He was diagnosed with mononucleosis after a 17 game against Houston. He was 2-for-6 with a double and a homer in the two games.
“He’s not going to play (Saturday),” manager Scott Servais said, “and he’ll probably be in Tacoma (on Sunday). We trying to slow-play this thing. Get his feet under him again…and see where we are at the end of the homestand.”
MINOR DETAILS
Center fielder Brayan Hernandez is batting .319 with a .347 on-base percentage in 17 games at Peoria in the Arizona Rookie League since his July 16 promotion from the Dominican Summer League.
Hernandez, 18, is one of the Mariners’ top international signings in recent years. A Venezuelan native, he received a $1.85 million bonus as a 16-year-old in 2014.
He batted .278 with five homers, 15 RBIs and 12 steals in 31 games in the Dominican Summer League prior to his promotion.
LOOKING BACK
It was seven years ago Sunday — Aug. 7, 2009 — that Ken Griffey Jr. hit the 623rd homer of his career in a 7-6 victory over Tampa Bay at Safeco Field.
What made it notable is that it came on the night of a Griffey bobblehead giveaway, which helped draw a crowd of 44,378.
Griffey finished his 22-year career with 630 homers, which is the sixth-highest total in MLB history.
SHORT HOPS
The Ken Griffey Jr. celebration weekend concludes Sunday when the first 20,000 fans through the gates get a replica of his 1989 jersey…manager Scott Servais confirmed lefty Wade LeBlanc is likely to start Tuesday against Detroit, depending on bullpen needs between now and then…entering Saturday, Mariners starters had pitched at least six innings in 13 of the last 16 games…Robinson Cano needs one more homer to become only the fourth second baseman in history to hit 25 or more homers in six seasons.
ON TAP
The Mariners and Angels conclude their three-game series at 1:10 p.m. Sunday at Safeco Field when left-hander James Paxton (3-5 with a 3.93 ERA) faced Los Angeles right-hander Matt Shoemaker (6-11, 4.08).
The game can be seen on Root Sports Northwest and heard on 710 ESPN.
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