The Seattle Mariners called up right-handed reliever Zach Pop from Triple-A Tacoma on Friday evening and, in a corresponding move, optioned rookie right-handed starter Logan Evans back to Tacoma.
Injury Updates on Logan Gilbert and Bryce Miller:
These roster moves suggest that Opening Day starter Logan Gilbert is likely to rejoin the Mariners’ rotation next week. Gilbert threw a bullpen session Friday afternoon at T-Mobile Park shortly before the transaction was announced.
General manager Justin Hollander had indicated earlier that if the session went well, Gilbert’s next outing would likely come at the major league level. Gilbert has been on the injured list since April 26 due to a flexor strain in his pitching elbow and made his third rehab start for Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday night.
Pop, 28, adds depth to Seattle’s bullpen for their weekend series against the Guardians. He signed a minor league deal with Seattle on April 16 after being released by the Blue Jays earlier that month. A veteran of four MLB seasons with Toronto and Miami, Pop has a career 4.45 ERA over 155 2/3 innings, with 123 strikeouts and 53 walks across 158 appearances.
After dealing with elbow discomfort during spring training, Pop has pitched in 11 minor league games for the Mariners, posting a 2.79 ERA with nine strikeouts and five walks in 9 2/3 innings.
Evans, 24, had been recalled on Tuesday and made a spot start that night against Arizona, allowing four runs on seven hits over five innings. In seven starts for Seattle this year, Evans holds a 3.38 ERA with 30 strikeouts and 12 walks across 40 innings.
