SEATTLE (AP) - The Seattle Mariners have called up Andrew Moore, one of their top pitching prospects in the minors.
Seattle made the surprising move Wednesday, selecting the 23-year-old right-hander from Triple-A Tacoma. Moore is scheduled to start Thursday at home against Detroit, Mariners manager Scott Servais said.
“He’s been on our radar since day one, a high draft pick,” Servais said. “We really liked what we saw in spring training, so we’re going to give him a shot.”
Christian Bergman, who has started eight games for Seattle due to injuries in the rotation, was optioned to Tacoma while right-hander Tyler Cloyd was designated for assignment.
The Mariners also activated shortstop Jean Segura off the disabled list Wednesday and optioned infielder Tyler Smith to Tacoma. Segura was in the lineup for Wednesday night’s game against Detroit, batting first.
Moore began the year at Double-A Arkansas. He quickly earned a promotion to Triple-A, and was 3-1 with a 3.19 ERA and 44 strikeouts in eight starts at Tacoma.
“I’m not going to run up mid- to high-90s out there,” said Moore, a second-round pick by Seattle in 2015 out of Oregon State. “I can’t blow it by people, so just locating, keeping them off balance, and sticking with what’s gotten me here. That’s kind of the message I’ve gotten every level I’ve gone up and I’ve heard it probably a dozen times today already, so I think that’s kind of the main thing.”
Moore will slot into a Seattle rotation that is still in flux with Felix Hernandez returning Friday from the disabled list, Hisashi Iwakuma’s return from injury requiring at least one more rehab start and the continued struggles of veteran Yovani Gallardo.
Gallardo, 3-7 with a 6.30 ERA in 14 starts this season, will move to the bullpen. Gallardo, has started 281 of his 284 major league appearances and has not pitched in relief since his rookie season in Milwaukee in 2007.
“He’s a veteran,” Servais said. “He’s been through it, different things. He’s been in the league a long time. Certainly it’s going to take more than seven or eight pitches to get ready before he comes in the game. I’ve got to keep that in mind. But, pitching’s pitching. When you get on the mound, you’ve got figure out a way to get them out.”
Bergman was 4-4 with a 5.44 ERA in nine appearances for the Mariners.
Rookie right-hander Sam Gaviglio, 3-1 with a 3.43 ERA in eight games with Seattle, will remain in the rotation for the time being, starting Saturday against Houston.
Segura, sidelined since June 2 with a right high ankle sprain, is hitting .341 with four homers and 20 RBIs in 43 games. While on the disabled list, Segura agreed to a $70 million, five-year contract extension.
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