Mariners activate former top outfield prospect

The Mariners announced today that they have activated outfielder Taylor Trammell from the injured list, with right-hander Easton McGee headed for the 15-day IL with a right forearm strain in a corresponding move. Trammell had surgery to repair a fractured hamate bone in his right hand back in February.

A former top prospect, the 25-year-old Trammell has struggled to this point in his big league career. During his first stint in the majors in 2021, Trammell slashed just .160/.256/.359 in 178 plate appearances, with a ghastly 42.1% strikeout rate. Both Trammell’s slash line and strikeout rate improved in 2022, however, has pulled his wRC+ to nearly league average (97) in 117 plate appearances last season while striking out a more palatable 28.2% of the time. Unfortunately, Trammell’s 2022 campaign was cut short by a hamstring strain, leaving him with just 65 games played last year between the majors and Triple-A.

Despite his uneven MLB career to this point, Trammell has continued to demolish Triple-A pitching, with a phenomenal .285/.377/.495 slash line and a 20.6% strikeout rate in 101 games at the level. Now back with the big league club, Trammell figures to factor into the club’s outfield and DH mix, though with Jarred Kelenic off to a torrid start and Julio Rodriguez and Teoscar Hernandez both entrenched in the outfield on an everyday basis, Trammell may be left to compete with Sam Haggerty and AJ Pollock for DH at-bats.

Making room for Trammell on the active roster is McGee, who heads to the injured list with a forearm strain. The 25-year-old McGee made his big league debut with the Rays last season, posting three scoreless innings, but was designated for assignment by the club last offseason. He was then claimed on waivers by the Red Sox before being shipped to Seattle in exchange for Cash ahead of the 2023 campaign. McGee made his first appearance with the Mariners in a start against the Blue Jays yesterday, where he delivered 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just a hit and a walk while striking out two.