LOS ANGELES -- Rob Refsnyder is optimistic that the mechanical changes he’s installed over the past month will lead to less pain in his knees and more production at the plate.
Because there’s a growing possibility that his leash with the Mariners might be short -- with Monday’s Trade Deadline looming and the club actively seeking a right-handed bat, as well as the impending return of Brendan Donovan.
Refsnyder was activated from the 10-day injured list before the opener of Seattle’s three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, where he was the designated hitter and batted in the No. 7 spot.
And he went on to pummel a two-run homer in the fourth inning of a 7-6 win as part of the Mariners’ season-high five, followed by a 112.3 mph double in the ninth that was easily his hardest-hit ball of the year.
Separately, shortstop Colt Emerson was scratched just before first pitch for undisclosed reasons -- bringing J.P. Crawford off the bench, as Weston Wilson had started at third base. Emerson said in passing postgame that he was doing OK.
With the defending champs starting left-handers Justin Wrobleski and Eric Lauer to begin this series, along with Refsnyder recovering enough from the chronic pain in his knees, this was the window that made the most sense to activate him.
In a corresponding move, infielder Buddy Kennedy was designated for assignment.
“Obviously, having another right-handed bat is helpful, and so getting Ref back at the time that we are is opportune,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “And he's ready to go. I think that's the main thing, is he's put the work in and he's ready to go.”
Elsewhere on the injury front, Donovan played in his ninth rehab game on Tuesday, this one at Triple-A Tacoma, where he went 2-for-5 with a single and solo homer. Up to that point, he’d been just 2-for-31, as he works back from a left groin strain.
Wilson said over the weekend that it was possible Donovan would rejoin the Mariners in Los Angeles, but it remains unclear if he will. Donovan is also expecting the birth of his second child any day now, which could impact his timeline.
As for Refsnyder, he played in seven games on rehab with Tacoma, going 6-for-29 (.207) with one homer, three RBIs, eight strikeouts and three walks. He was placed on the IL on June 29, though he said the issue dated as far back as April.
But the bigger development was the mechanical adjustments he made. And he worked extensively with hitting coordinator Ed Paparella, who was just promoted to the big league coaching staff on Thursday, during the stage of his rehab in Arizona.
“Definitely finding something new,” Refsnyder said. “I think that we all can attest that the older you get, some things, you have to make some adjustments and find a new normal. And that's kind of where we're trying to get at. We'll see, right? It's like Triple-A competition, Arizona at-bats, Trajekt -- it's all a lot different than facing one of the best pitchers in our game right now.”
Specifically, Refsnyder is turning his back (right) foot more to alleviate stress on that knee.
“My swing got super steep, kind of down and across, some other things,” Refsnyder said. “I could go on and on. A really bad swing. We felt like the approach was there. I was recognizing pitches. I just wasn't able to put a good swing on it. That's all on me though. So, hopefully -- you don't want to press results -- but I feel like we're in a better spot.”
Refsnyder signed a one-year, $6.25 million deal in December for his track record against left-handed pitching.
But before hitting the IL, he struggled against southpaws more than any hitter in their lineup -- with team lows in batting average (.140) and OPS (.458) against them (min. 50 plate appearances vs. lefties).
To be sure, the rest of the lineup has also been handcuffed mightily against lefties, which is why the Mariners are looking to add a righty bat before Monday.
Yet, if Refsnyder can find any semblance of his old self -- he hit .312 with a .923 OPS vs. lefties from 2022-25 -- he’d represent a productive reinforcement. And he showed as much in his first game back.