Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced today that the club has selected right-hander Steve Johnson from AAA Tacoma. Right-handed reliever Tony Zych has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 2, with rotator cuff tendinitis in his right shoulder.
 
Johnson, 28, began the season with AAA Tacoma going 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA (4 ER, 16.0 IP) in 7 relief appearances. The 6-for-1, 220-pound right-handed reliever has held opponents to a .185 (10x54) batting average against, while walking 2 and striking out 20.
 
Johnson signed with Seattle as a minor league free agent on March 16 after being released from his contract by the Texas Rangers on March 14.
 
Johnson appeared in parts of three seasons with Baltimore, including making 6 relief appearances with the Orioles in 2015. Overall he went 5-1 with a 4.25 ERA (28 ER, 59.1 IP) in 27 games, 5 starts with the Orioles during the 2012, 2013 and 2015 seasons. Johnson was originally selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 13th round of the 2005 June Draft out of St. Paul's (MD) High School. In parts of 12 minor league seasons with Los Angeles-NL, Baltimore and Seattle, he is 57-59 with 2 saves a 4.12 ERA (458 ER, 1001.1 IP) with 958 strikeouts in 234 games including 182 starts.
 
Zych, 25, was 1-0 with 3.00 ERA (4 ER, 12.0 IP) with 19 strikeouts in 10 relief appearances this season. He recorded his first career win in the Mariners 10-7 10.0-inning victory over the Indians on April 21, allowing 1 walk and striking out 1 in a scoreless 9th inning.
 
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound right-hander made his Major League debut with Seattle in 2015, appearing in 10 games in relief after being called up in September. Zych was acquired by Seattle in a minor league trade for cash considerations from Chicago-NL on April 2, 2015.