Mariners select OF Franklin Gutierrez from AAA Tacoma
SEATTLE, Wash. - Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced the following roster moves prior to tonight's game vs. the Kansas City Royals:
- Franklin Gutierrez, OF, selected from AAA Tacoma
- James Jones, OF, optioned to AAA Tacoma
Gutierrez, 32, will wear #30 and is in tonight's starting lineup vs. the Royals batting 2nd and playing left field. Tonight will be the first MLB game for Gutierrez since Sept. 27, 2013 with the Mariners (did not play last season).
Gutierrez was batting .317 (57x180) with 34 runs scored, 12 doubles, 7 home runs, 31 RBI and a .902 OPS in 48 games with the Tacoma Rainiers. He has played primarily in left field for Tacoma (29 games) and also seen time as the designated hitter (18 G). Over his last 24 games (May 22-June 23), Gutierrez hit .333 (33x99) with 7 doubles, 3 home runs and 16 RBI. He had a 20-game hitting streak May 22-June 17, batting .370 (30x81).
Gutierrez has appeared in 762 Major League games with the Indians (2005-2008) and Mariners (2009-2013). In 5 seasons with the Mariners combined to bat .255 (446x1750) with 45 home runs and 194 RBI. He was the 2010 American League Gold Glove winner for center fielders in 2010 and set an American League record with 846 consecutive errorless chances from Aug. 21, 2009-Sept. 11, 2012. After playing in 305 games combined in 2009-2010, Gutierrez missed significant time on the disabled list from 2011-2013, appearing in 173 games.
Jones, 26, appeared in 7 games with the Mariners after being recalled from AAA Tacoma on June 15. He was 0-for-8 with a stolen base. In 48 games with Tacoma he was batting .264 (46x174) with 29 runs, 6 doubles, 4 triples, 1 home run, 13 RBI and 15 stolen bases.