Kelenic soaring through rehab, eyes return 

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Jarred Kelenic is “progressing rapidly” from the Grade 2 adductor strain in his left knee that he sustained eight days ago. On Saturday, he began mapping out a more thorough rehab plan with Mariners athletic trainers to return to the field, manager Scott Servais said.

Kelenic played light catch on a backfield Saturday with Shed Long Jr., who is also sidelined while recovering from right shin surgery. Kelenic has been doing therapy work in a pool and has been among the first people -- players or staff -- showing up to the Peoria Sports Complex over the past few days as he attempts to accelerate his recovery.

Servais echoed what general manager Jerry Dipoto said on his weekly radio hit with ESPN 710 Seattle earlier this week -- that Kelenic is recovering quicker and more positively than the club had anticipated. The Mariners’ top prospect, and MLB Pipeline’s No. 4 overall, was off to a strong start in Spring Training before being sidelined while legging out an infield dribbler in a Cactus League game against the White Sox.

“He's chawing at the bit to try to get out on the field and get going,” Servais said. “We do want to be smart. We don't want to rush him back and do too much too soon. But he is looking very good.”

At this rate, Kelenic might be on a trajectory that has him back in the lineup before the Cactus League season ends two weeks from Tuesday. He has just eight at-bats this spring and the Mariners have said that they want the 21-year-old to accumulate more reps against opposing pitching before he joins the big league team during the regular season.

Paxton set for Cactus debut

Starting pitcher James Paxton will see his first action in an “A” game Monday against the D-backs in Peoria. The cause for Paxton’s delay until the third week of Cactus League action was logistics and scheduling that was not related to health.

The left-hander has been making his regular turns through the rotation in simulated games against live hitters on Peoria backfields. But Monday will represent his first competition against an opposing team since Aug. 20 of last year, before he suffered a season-ending left flexor strain while with the Yankees.

Paxton’s fastball has sat in the low-to-mid-90s, and he’s felt more confident about his direction down the mound, which was the focus of his work on the backfields.

Trammell makes another play

Another day, another athletic play by outfield prospect Taylor Trammell.

On Saturday, during Seattle's 2-1 loss to Colorado, Trammell legged out an infield dribbler by surging down the first-base line to beat Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland to the bag in the second.

Freeland, a ground ball specialist and one of the more athletic starters on Colorado’s roster, came up well short of Trammell, who went home-to-first in 4.35 seconds and geared up to a 28.9 feet-per-second sprint speed, according to Statcast (30.0 and higher is considered elite).

Trammell -- the Mariners’ No. 5 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 100 overall -- is now hitting .316/.381/.632 in Cactus action, and he continues to make plays regardless of his environment. All of these factors have catapulted him into consideration for the Opening Day roster.

• 3 key roster spots up for grabs in Seattle

Fraley dusts up with wall

Jake Fraley had an awkward collision with the left-field wall while trying to catch a fly ball off the bat of Chris Owings in the fourth, which ended his day early. Fraley remained in the game after being examined by trainers and Servais, and he went on to single in his second at-bat. But he left earlier than scheduled out of precaution.

“He hit the wall pretty good and I think it knocked the wind out of him,” Servais said. “He may be a little bit sore tomorrow, but I think he's going to be OK.”