The Mariners Tuesday called up four players — two pitchers, an infielder and an outfielder — from AAA Tacoma as part of the annual Sept. 1 roster expansion. RHPs Jose Ramirez and Tony Zych, INF Shawn O’Malley and OF Stefen Romero were available Tuesday night when the Mariners played the second of three against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
Ramirez, 25, appeared in nine games with Tacoma, where he went 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA in nine relief appearances. This marks his second stint with the Mariners but he has yet to appear in a game for Seattle. Ramirez was acquired from Yankees at the trade deadline after he posted 3-0 record with 10 saves and a 2.90 ERA in 32 relief appearances with AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Ramirez saw action in three MLB games with the Yankees this season (0-0, 15.00 ERA) and made eight appearances in his debut season in 2014 (0-2, 5.40).
Zych, 25, split the season between AA Jackson and Tacoma, combining to go 1-2 with a 2.98 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 40 games. With Tacoma, he went 1-2 with a 3.41 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 25 relief appearances.
The Mariners acquired Zych from the Cubs April 2 in exchange for cash considerations. Zych spent his first four minor league seasons in the Cubs organization after being taken in the fourth round of the 2011 June draft.
O’Malley, 27, spent most of the season with Tacoma, hitting .297 with 50 runs, 11 doubles, five triples, five home runs, 39 RBIs and 20 steals in 89 games. He was signed as a minor league free agent Jan. 22 and was a non-roster invitee to spring training.
O’Malley has appeared in 11 MLB games, all with the Angels, in 2014. O’Malley has 10 years of minor league experience after being drafted by Tampa Bay in the fifth round in 2006 out of Southridge High School in Kennewick, WA.
Romero spent the season with the Rainiers, hitting .292 with 77 runs, 37, four triples, 17 home runs and 79 RBIs in 116 games. He also had a career-high 37 doubles while leading Tacoma in runs, hits, doubles and RBIs. In parts of five minor league seasons, he has hit .306 with 302 runs, 124 doubles, 21 triples, 79 home runs and 357 RBIs in 482 games after being selected by Seattle in the 12th round of the 2010 June draft.
The Mariners (61-71) sent LHP Roenis Elias (4-7, 4.20) to the mound to face the Astros Tuesday night. Hefaces RHP Scott Feldman (5-5, 3.75). Seattle enters 12 games behind the Astros in the AL West and eight games back of the second wild card.
The Mariners are 1-7 this season at Minute Maid Park, where they have been outscored 57-26.
