A Mariners team that has already used 10 rookies this year added another to the mix on Saturday, as outfielder Boog Powell was called up from Triple-A Tacoma for the first time to join the club in Cleveland.
Powell takes the roster spot of right-handed reliever Evan Scribner, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a flexor bundle strain in his right arm.
"[Scribner] has been kind of dealing with a little elbow issue in the muscle there, probably for about 10 days," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "He was trying to work through it and its really not getting a whole lot better. So the medical guys thought it would be best to give him a blow."
Servais sent up Powell for his first Major League at-bat in Saturday's 4-3 loss to Cleveland, but once Indians manager Terry Francona brought on left-handed reliever Andrew Miller, Servais decided to pinch-hit for the outfielder.
Seattle had been down an outfielder since Leonys Martin was designated for assignment last Sunday, and Mitch Haniger went on the disabled list on Wednesday. The club had previously added Ben Gamel, who has been starting in right field, and utility man Taylor Motter and designated hitter Nelson Cruz can also play in the outfield.
"With [Cruz's hamstring tightness], I just thought a couple days here, knowing where we are at position player-wise coming out of Detroit, we'd get Boog over here. Good for him. You know, it gives him a chance to get to the big leagues for the first time."
But with Cruz slowed by a sore hamstring, Powell adds some depth behind starters Guillermo Heredia, Jarrod Dyson and Gamel.
"He got out to a little bit of slow start in Tacoma, but from what I understand he has been picking it up as of late," Servais said. "He can pinch run, it's another left-handed bat, or in the outfield if we need help there. So we will see how he fits."
Powell, 24, was hitting .261 with a .424 on-base percentage in 14 games with Tacoma. He has scored 13 runs with three doubles, four RBIs and five stolen bases. The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder missed the first five games of the season while completing an 80-game suspension.
Powell, Seattle's No. 24 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, appeared in 64 games with Tacoma last season, batting .270 with three home runs, 27 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.
"He's got the ability to drive the ball into the gaps, I wouldn't necessarily call him a home run threat, but he's got enough pop to keep you honest," Servais said.
Scribner has struggled this season with an 0-2 record and a 11.05 ERA in 7 1/3 innings over eight appearances. He didn't allow a run in 14 innings last season, with 15 strikeouts in 12 appearances with Seattle as a late-season addition after missing most of the year with a strain right latissimus dorsi muscle.
The Mariners had been going with eight relievers for much of the first month, so they still have a traditional seven-man bullpen without Scribner.
"He will get checked out by our guys when he gets back home," Servais said. "I feel pretty confident that he is not going to be down too long, but he is tender in the elbow so we want to make sure to get him right."