RHP Parker Markel claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh

SEATTLE, Wash. -- Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced today that right-handed pitcher Parker Markel has been claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Markel, 28, was designated for assignment by the Mariners on July 23. He appeared in 2 stints with the Mariners this season: May 12-20 and July 6-14. In 5 relief appearances with the Mariners this season, he allowed 9 runs (8 earned) over 4.2 innings pitched (15.43 ERA) while walking 4 and striking out 3. He made his Major League debut on May 12 at Boston. Markel was 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA (8 ER, 34.2 IP) with 23 walks and 62 strikeouts in the minors this season, spending time with Double-A Arkansas (5 games) and Triple-A Tacoma (22 games).

Markel was selected by Detroit in the 32nd round of the 2009 MLB Draft but did not sign. The native of Newport Beach, CA, was selected and signed by Tampa Bay in the 39th round of the 2010 Draft out of Yavapai College (Prescott, AZ). He has appeared in parts of 8 minor league seasons with the Rays (2010-16) and Mariners (2019). He spent the 2017 season with the Lotte Giants of the Korean Baseball Organization. In 2018, Markel made 37 relief appearances with the Sioux City Explorers of the independent American Association.