SEATTLE — Emerson Hancock, a starter earlier in the season for the Mariners, has returned as a relief pitcher.
Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Justin Hollander announced Tuesday that Hancock has been recalled from Triple-A Tacoma. Sauryn Lao was optioned back to Tacoma to open a roster spot.
Hancock, 26, made 15 starts with Seattle this season, going 3-5 with a 5.47 ERA (47 ER, 77.1 IP), 30 walks and 53 strikeouts. He went 1-2 with a 5.24 ERA, 15 walks and 56 strikeouts in 11 games (9 starts) with Triple-A Tacoma.
Hancock’s last two appearances (August 20 and 24 vs. Oklahoma City) have come pitching out of the Rainiers bullpen, the first two relief appearances of his professional career. He allowed one run over two innings with two strikeouts and no walks in relief His average fastball velocity (4-seam and sinker) was 97 mph while pitching out of the bullpen, with Hancock topping out at 99.1 mph.
The 6-foot-4 righty was selected by Seattle in the 1st round (6th overall) of the 2020 MLB draft out of the University of Georgia. The 6-foot-4 righty made his MLB debut on Aug. 9, 2023 vs. San Diego, tossing 5.0 innings of one-run ball. In 30 career Major League starts with Seattle (2023-c), Hancock is 7-9 with a 5.10 ERA (85 ER, 150.0 IP), 52 walks and 98 strikeouts.
Lao, 26, was selected on August 19 and made 1 appearance during his stint with the Mariners, tossing 1 2/3 innings on August 20 at Philadelphia.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
