Segura (ankle) on brink of return to Mariners

June 21st, 2017

SEATTLE -- Shortstop , working his way back from a sprained right ankle, is expected to rejoin the Mariners and be back in the lineup by Thursday after playing his second rehab game with Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday night.
The 27-year-old leadoff hitter has been out since June 1 in his second 10-day disabled list stint of the season, but manager Scott Servais said Segura didn't have any issues in Monday's first rehab outing, and he went 1-for-5 with a run scored while playing all nine innings at shortstop in Tacoma's 7-6 win over Salt Lake on Tuesday night.
"I'd love to see him in our lineup on Thursday, if possible," Servais said. "Understanding he's not going to be at 100 percent. But Jean Segura at 90 percent is a pretty good player, so hopefully we get him back on Thursday."
Segura has posted a .341/.391/.462 line with four homers, 20 RBIs and seven stolen bases in his first season with Seattle, though he's played only 43 of the team's first 73 games due to a strained hamstring and now the ankle issue.

Keep that bat in the lineup
Given that Mike Zunino headed into Tuesday's game leading the Majors in RBIs (26) and tied for second in home runs (8) for the month of June, as well as having the highest slugging percentage this month of any player with at least 50 at-bats (.885), it's going to be tough for Servais to give his red-hot catcher any time off.

Tuesday night was Zunino's eighth start in the past 10 days and that pace won't likely let up anytime soon.
"We talked about it before Sunday's game, that he was swinging the bat good and had the long home run Saturday, but you have to be smart and give him a day here or there," Servais said. "I think it helped. He played really well [Monday] night. I'm trying to keep him fresh.
"And Chooch [Carlos Ruiz] has done a much better job in the last month or so, he's been competitive with the bat, he's into the game, he's a very competitive guy and he adds a lot there. The big thing is keeping Mike fresh. That being said, night games, it's not too hot in Seattle, we could run him out there for six or seven days in a row."
Money matters with Draft picks
While the Mariners have already announced they've signed 11 of their top 12 selection in last week's Draft, the contract figures continue coming in.
None of these numbers are confirmed by the Mariners, but here's what MLB.com sources have reported to date:
• First round: First baseman Evan White from Kentucky, $3.125 million bonus (17th pick with assigned slot of $3.333 million).
• Third round: Right-hander Wyatt Mills from Gonzaga, $125,000 bonus (93rd pick, $579,800 slot).
• Fourth round: Right-hander Seth Elledge of Dallas Baptist, $400,000 bonus (123rd pick, $428,900 slot).
• Fifth round: Catcher David Banuelos of Long Beach State, $300,000 bonus (153rd pick, $320,300 slot).
• Sixth round: Left-hander Oliver Jaskie from Michigan, $245,600 bonus (183rd pick, $245,600 slot).
• Eighth round: Center fielder Billy Cooke from Coastal Carolina, $150,000 bonus (243rd pick, $156,500 slot).
• Ninth round: Left-hander Jorge Benitez, Puerto Rico high school, $150,000 bonus (273rd pick, $140,900 slot).