Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipotoannounced today that the club has returned right-handed pitcher Tony Zych from his rehab assignment at AAA Tacoma and activated him from the 10-day disabled list. To make room on the Mariners Major League, 25-man roster, left-handed pitcher Dillon Overton has been optioned to AAA Tacoma.
Zych will be in uniform (#55) and available for tonight's 7:10 p.m. game vs. the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field.
Zych, 26, made one official rehab appearance with AAA Tacoma, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits, including a home run, while striking out 2 in 1.0 inning on April 9 at Sacramento. He also appeared in a suspended game (to be completed July 8) on April 7 at Sacramento, allowing 2 hits and striking out 1 in 0.1 innings pitched. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-hander underwent right shoulder biceps tendon transfer surgery on Oct. 11, 2016. The surgery, which did notinvolve the rotator cuff or capsule in the shoulder, was performed by Dr. Stephen O'Brien in New York, NY.
Zych went 1-0 with a 3.29 ERA (5 ER, 13.2 IP) with 21 strikeouts in 12 outings with the Mariners last season. He earned his first Major League win on April 21 at Cleveland, tossing a scoreless 9th inning in a 10-7, 10-inning victory. The native of Hazel Crest, IL, was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 3 (retroactive to May 2) last year before being transferred to the 60-day DL on June 24. He made 4 rehab appearances, including 2 starts, with the AZL Mariners, AA Jackson and AAA Tacoma before being activated from the DL on Aug. 23. Zych made two appearances with the Mariners before being optioned to AAA Tacoma on Aug. 24. He made 1 appearance with the Rainiers and was placed on the 7-day DL with a right shoulder strain. Zych, who has appeared in parts of 2 Major League seasons with the Mariners, was acquired by Seattle from Chicago-NL in a minor league trade for cash considerations on April 2, 2015.
Overton, 25, made two relief appearances with the Mariners, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 2 in 1.1 inning pitched. The 6-foot-2, 172-pound left-hander was named to the Mariners Opening Day roster on April 2. He was placed on the paternity list the following day (April 3) and re-joined the Mariners on April 6. Overton was 1-1 with a 2.75 ERA (6 ER, 19.2 IP) with 16 strikeouts in 7 games (2 starts) with the Mariners this spring. He appeared in 7 games (5 starts) with Oakland in 2016, posting a record of 1-3, with an 11.47 ERA (31 ER, 24.1 IP). Seattle acquired him from the Athletics on Jan. 26, 2017 in exchange for catcher Jason Goldstein.