Haniger could be out until after ASG break

SEATTLE -- Mitch Haniger has missed two weeks with a ruptured testicle and the Mariners outfielder could remain sidelined until after the All-Star break next month.

The 28-year-old has started doing some light work in the weight room, but manager Scott Servais said Thursday that Haniger hasn’t yet been cleared to begin doing any running or baseball activities. And until that happens, the club will proceed cautiously.

“As soon as Haniger can run, he’ll have a bat in his hand and want to get some swings in,” Servais said. “But we just need to be patient on that one.”

With the All-Star break just two and a half weeks away, the Mariners could use that additional time to get Haniger fully back to speed.

“When it first happened, I was hoping we’d get him back before [the break],” Servais said. “But it was a little more serious than we’d originally anticipated. So it may be he’s going to need to play a few games, obviously, before we just fire him out there. Hopefully we get him back beforehand, but we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Haniger needed surgery after hitting himself with a foul ball in the Mariners loss to the Astros on June 6. That injury came two days after teammate Braden Bishop was hospitalized as well with a lacerated spleen.

Bishop’s return is further away than Haniger’s, as the 25-year-old won’t even be allowed to begin doing light physical work until next month

“Bishop is a ways away,” Servais said. “He needs to get doctor clearance before he does a whole lot. That’s not going to happen for at least another 10 days or so, if not longer.”

Bishop remains hopeful of returning for the final two months of the season, but that remains to be seen as well.

Fraley promoted to Triple-A

Jake Fraley, one of the bright lights in the Mariners’ Minor League system in the first two months of 2019, was promoted to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday after a strong showing in Double-A Arkansas.

The 24-year-old outfielder posted a .313/.386/.539 line with 11 home runs, 47 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in 61 games for Arkansas.

Fraley is the Mariners’ No. 14-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline and was initially regarded as a secondary piece in Seattle’s trade that brought center fielder Mallex Smith from the Rays in exchange for catcher Mike Zunino, outfielder Guillermo Heredia and Minor League pitcher Michael Plassmeyer.

But the youngster has impressed the Mariners with his five-tool ability, having greatly improved his power potential since his initial years in the Minors after being drafted out of Louisiana State with a Comp B pick (77th overall) in 2016.

Fraley totaled seven home runs in 151 games in his three seasons in the Rays’ system, including four last year when he posted a .347/.415/.547 line with 41 RBIs in 66 games for Class A Advanced Charlotte.