SEATTLE -- After 15 days on the disabled list with mononucleosis, Mariners shortstop Ketel Marte began a Minor League rehab on Thursday night with Short-A Everett and manager Scott Servais hopes to have him back in Seattle early next week.
In his first action since July 17, Marte went 1-for-4 with a double while playing designated hitter in Everett's 9-4 loss to Hillsboro. He'll remain with the AquaSox on Friday and Saturday, then could join Triple-A Tacoma when the Rainiers return home for a Sunday game against Sacramento.
"We'll take it a day at a time with him," Servais said. "We do have to be cautious. It's mono. You don't want to get him out there and try to go too fast and then he has a step backward, so we'll try to build him slowly."
But Servais said the youngster has looked good in workouts with the team at Safeco Field the past few days and "wants to get going."
Utility man Shawn O'Malley has been filling in at shortstop and it sounds like he'll continue to see some action there even after Marte returns.
"When he does come back, he's not going to go out there and play 11 days in a row," Servais said. "It's going to be play a couple, get a day off and work his way back in there."
WORTH NOTING
• Taijuan Walker had no issues with the tendintis in his right arch when throwing in the bullpen on Wednesday and he'll be brought off the 15-day DL on Saturday to face the Angels after missing the past month.
"We're cautiously optimistic," said Servais. "It was one of his better bullpen sessions. Again, it's a bullpen. But Taijuan feels good, he's very anxious to get out there and compete and he's looking forward to it."
That sets up the Mariners rotation for the Angels series with Félix Hernández facing Tim Lincecum on Friday, Walker against Tyler Skaggs on Saturday and James Paxton vs. Matt Shoemaker on Sunday afternoon.
• Right-handed reliever Nick Vincent, on the DL since June 27 with a mid-back strain, will also make a one-inning rehab appearance on Friday with Everett. Servais said the 30-year-old will likely need one or two Minor League outings before rejoining the bullpen.