SEATTLE — Shortstop Chris Taylor is with Triple-A Tacoma as the Rainiers prepare to open their season Thursday at El Paso and could test his recovery from a broken right wrist within the next week.
Trainer Rick Griffin said Taylor has “no restrictions” as he takes part in batting and fielding drills.
Once the Mariners deem Taylor as being ready for game action, he will likely be sent formally to the Rainiers on a rehab assignment. Rehab assignments can last up to 20 days for non-pitchers.
The Mariners can also choose to activate Taylor from the disabled list prior to the end of that 20-day period and place him on the 25-man active roster or option him to the Rainiers.
Franchise four
If there were a Mount Rushmore of Mariners baseball, what four players would be carved into the mountain? That’s what Major League Baseball wants to know in its “Franchise Four” campaign.
Each franchise selected eight nominees for the honor. The winning four for each team will be revealed in July at the All-Star Game in Cincinnati.
The Mariners’ nominees (in alphabetical order) are Jay Buhner, Alvin Davis, Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Jamie Moyer and Ichiro Suzuki.
Yes … no Alex Rodriguez.
Fans can vote to determined the four winners through May 8 at www.mlb.com/franchisefour.
40-year anniversary
It was 40 years ago Wednesday that Frank Robinson became the first black manager in major-league history, and he marked the occasion by hitting a home run in Cleveland’s 5-3 victory over the New York Yankees.
“I was thinking about that today,” said McClendon, who is the only current black manager. “When he became the first African-American manager in baseball, at the age of 16, I really didn’t appreciate the significance of it.
“Sitting here today, I realize how important it really was. Along with Frank, guys like Jackie Robinson opened up doors that probably wouldn’t have been available to guys like me if they hadn’t done it first.
“I’m very appreciative of that fact.”
Robinson’s managerial debut coincided with Randy Adamack’s first game as the director of that club’s public-relations department. Adamack now serves as the Mariners’ senior vice president for communications.
Draft money
The Mariners will have just $4,186,900 to spend this year on players selected in the first 10 rounds of the draft. Only the Washington, San Diego and the New York Mets have a lower bonus pool.
Some perspective: The Mariners’ total bonus pool is less than they spent a year ago on outfielder Alex Jackson, who received $4.2 million as the No. 6 overall pick.
Major League Baseball assigns a slot value on all picks through the first 10 rounds. Clubs that exceed their total pool allotment for those picks are subject to penalties.
The Mariners’ pool is so low this year largely because they forfeited their first-round pick by signing free-agent outfielder/designated hitter Nelson Cruz. The club’s first pick is No. 60 overall.
Minor details
The organization’s four full-season affiliates open their seasons on Thursday.
• Triple-A Tacoma at El Paso (Padres). Right-hander Jordan Pries, 25, will start for the Rainiers. He was 9-8 with 4.06 ERA in 25 games last season for Tacoma.
• Double-A Jackson at Jacksonville (Marlins). Right-hander Stephen Landazuri, 23, will start for the Generals. He was 6-5 with a 4.33 ERA in 19 starts last season for Jackson.
• Hi-A Bakersfield vs. Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers). Right-hander Edwin Diaz, 21, will start for the Blaze. He was 6-8 with a 3.33 ERA in 24 starts last season at Clinton.
• Lo-A Clinton vs. Beloit (Athletics). Right-hander Daniel Missaki, who turns 19 on Thursday, will start for the LumberKings. He was 6-3 with a 2.76 ERA in 11 starts last season for short-season Pulaski.
Looking back
It was 25 years ago Thursday — April 9, 1990 — that Ken Griffey Jr. went 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBI as the Mariners opened the season with a 7-4 victory at California.
Griffey, then 20, went on to become the American League player of the month for April 1990 — the first time he won that award in his career.
He finished the season with 22 homers, 80 RBI and a .300 average. He was picked to the All-Star team for the first of 13 times in his career and won the first of his 10 Gold Gloves for defensive excellence.
Short hops
Right-hander Felix Hernandez turned 29 on Wednesday. His 1,961 strikeouts are fourth-highest total since 1900 for a pitcher prior to his 29th birthday. Sam McDowell had 2,156; Walter Johnson had 2,117 and Bert Blyleven had 2,082…The Mariners, through two games, are already 10,324 fans ahead of last year’s attendance pace.
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