July 17, 2008
The Mariners will start the second half of their season with another new face joining the squad. Bryan LaHair will join the team for tomorrow nights game against the Cleveland Indians at Safeco. To make room for LaHair, the M’s optioned infielder Tug Hulett back down to Triple-A Tacoma.
On July 12, Hulett made his Major League debut for the Mariners, recording his first hit going 1-for-3 batting as the team’s DH. Unfortunately for Tug, it was the only action he got to see.
LaHair is a left-handed batter who has put up good power numbers in Triple-A. Manager Jim Riggleman plans on using the 25 year old first baseman mostly against right-handed pitching, but didn’t rule out using him this weekend against the Indians’ three left-handed arms.
In some other team news, Closer J.J. Putz is scheduled to throw a relief rehab inning for Tacoma on Friday. He has been on the DL since June 13th with a sore elbow. Putz pitched in Double-A earlier in the week and got through with no soreness. If all goes well, he could be back within a week.
The team also announced the signings of two young 16-year-old players. Outfielder Julio Morban from the Dominican Republic and pitcher Francisco Valdivia from Nicaragua.
