SEATTLE, Wash. - Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced today the following roster moves:
Matt Festa, RHP, recalled from AA Arkansas.
Christian Bergman, RHP, optioned to AAA Tacoma.
Festa (#67) will be in uniform and available for tonight's (7:10 pm PT) game vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers at Safeco Field.
Festa, 25, is appearing in his 2nd stint with the Mariners this season (also: 7/14-15). He made his Major League debut with Seattle on July 14 at Colorado, tossing 0.2 scoreless innings in relief. He was selected from AA Arkansas prior to the game on July 14 before being optioned back to Arkansas following the game on July 15. In 39 relief appearances with the Travelers this season, he has successfully converted 18-of-18 save opportunities this season, while posting a record of 4-2 with a 2.70 ERA (13 ER, 43.1 IP). The 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-hander has struck out 58 while walking only 10 (5.80 K/BB ratio). Festa's 18 saves currently lead the Texas League.
The native of Brooklyn, NY, attended Dominican (NY) College in 2012 before transferring to East Stroudsburg University, where he became the highest draft pick in program history after the Mariners selected him in the 7th round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
Bergman, 30, was recalled from AAA Tacoma on Wednesday (8/15) for his 3rd stint with the Mariners this season (also: 5/16-17 and 7/13). He allowed 4 runs on 4 hits (2 home runs) while walking 1 and striking out 2 in 2.2 innings in relief last night vs. the Dodgers. In 3 games (2 starts) with the Mariners this season, Bergman is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA (9 ER, 14.0 IP) with 7 strikeouts and 3 walks. On May 16 vs. Texas, he tossed 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits while striking out 5. In 23 games (22 starts) with AAA Tacoma this season, he is 7-9 with a 5.44 ERA (75 ER, 124.0 IP) with 100 strikeouts and 33 walks.
Bergman has appeared in parts of 5 Major League seasons with Colorado (2014-16) and Seattle (2017-c), compiling a record of 11-15 with a 5.59 ERA (134 ER, 215.2 IP) with 130 strikeouts and 49 walks in 71 games (25 starts). The native of Glendale, CA, was originally selected by Colorado in the 24th round of the 2010 MLB Draft out of UC Irvine. He made his Major League debut with the Rockies on June 9, 2014 vs. Atlanta.