Mariners patient as Healy nears return

First baseman slated to play 2 Minor League games at Double-A

April 23rd, 2018

CHICAGO -- Mariners first baseman has moved closer to a return from the disabled list, but manager Scott Servais said Healy won't rejoin the Mariners before he's ready.
Healy, who has been out since April 9 with an ankle injury, was scheduled to play for Double-A Arkansas on Monday night. Servais said before Monday's game against the White Sox that Healy will likely play for the Travelers against Tulsa on Tuesday.
Healy is hitting 3-for-7 with a home run, four RBIs, two walks and three runs scored. But after starting the regular season with the Mariners in a 1-for-21 slump, Healy was showing signs of turning things around before spraining his ankle in a postgame workout April 7.
"I think Ryon wants to get back and get it going," Servais said. "His season got off to a slow start and he wants to turn it around so when he's ready and when I get the word he's ready, he'll be back."

Seeing live pitching at the Minor League level is a "night and day difference" from the Majors, Servais acknowledged. But given the time Healy has missed, getting some swings in during a game environment will be key, Servais said, to Healy being able to impact the Mariners once he returns.
"Triple-A is as close as you get to the big leagues so some guys benefit from it more than others," Servais said. "I think where Ryon is at right now, you want to get his timing down before he comes back."
Honoring Farquhar
The Mariners hung the jersey of White Sox relief pitcher Danny Farquhar in their dugout on Monday, three days after Farquhar suffered a brain hemorrhage in the dugout.
Farquar, who was with the Mariners between 2013-15, remains hospitalized and is still in critical condition although doctors are encouraged by the progress he has made. Farquhar suffered the hemorrhage when a ruptured aneurysm caused a brain bleed during the sixth inning of the White Sox loss to the Houston Astros.

He underwent surgery on Saturday and according to his medical team, has use of his extremities and is speaking with doctors and family members.
Servais said the idea to display a Mariners jersey with Farquhar's name and number was the idea of several of his former teammates.
"I certainly agree with it," Servais said. "Anytime anybody goes down in the baseball family and certainly a guy that has played within your organization, it's the right thing to do."