The Seattle Mariners will have to forego outfielder Ben Gamel at the start of the season. He sustained an injury to his abdominal muscles and was absent for weeks. This makes the team’s personnel situation in the outfielder even worse.
Gamel contracted the strain on the oblique abdominal muscle while swinging in the Batting Cage last Friday and will probably have to pause for four to six weeks. He will start the season on the Disabled List and miss the opening day.
Three of the team’s four outfielders are already suffering from injuries. Alongside Gamel, Right Fielder Mitch Haniger suffers from tendinitis in the hand and hasn’t swung the club for a few days. And Guillermo Heredia, who is supposed to be the fourth outfielder, is currently recovering from a shoulder operation in the off-season. It is unclear how fit he will be for the opening day.
Only Dee Gordon, who appears to be fit and converted to a center fielder, remains. In order to improve the personnel situation a little bit, team legend Ichiro Suzuki was called back – if he passes his medical check.
According to the Seattle Times, another way of managing the season’s start would be to appoint an all-rounder like Taylor Motter to the squad. It can be used both in the in- and outfield.
This article was published without prior view by the Major League Baseball.