One of the most injury-cursed players in club history will get another shot Monday at sticking for awhile with the Mariners.
Center fielder Franklin Gutierrez has joined the Mariners in Minneapolis for Monday’s 5:10 p.m. game with the Twins, the first of four. Gutierrez returns after two months on the disabled following the most random of his health setbacks — he was a runner at first base hit in the head on a pickoff attempt from Boston pitcher Franklin Morales June 28.
Troubled by concussion-related setbacks, Gutierrez finally seems recovered, judging by his seven-game rehab numbers in AAA Tacoma — .333 (8×24) with two doubles, two home runs and 7 RBI.
To make room, slumping Casper Wells was optioned to Tacoma for the rest of the Rainiers season, and likely will return Sept. 3 after rosters are expanded.
Gutierrez, 29, has played only 13 games, missing the first two months with a pectoral muscle torn in spring training. He batted .267 (12×45) with five runs, two doubles, two home runs and nine RBI. Over his last seven games (six starts) from June 20-28 he combined to bat .360 (9×25) with two home runs and six RBI.
In 74 games, Wells, 27, started 51 games in left, nine games in right and eight in center. He batted .226 (52×230) with eight home runs, including one Sunday, and 29 RBI.
