The Mariners Sunday activated OF Mitch Haniger from the disabled list (strained right oblique) and, to make room on the 25-man major league roster, optioned OF Boog Powell to AAA Tacoma. Haniger, who had been on a rehab assignment with the Rainiers, started in right field Sunday afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays at Safeco Field.
Haniger, 26, hit .333 with a home run and two RBIs in five games with Tacoma during his rehab assignment. Prior to his injury, Haniger hit .338 with 20 runs, seven doubles, four home runs, 16 RBIs and a .442 on-base percentage in 21 games. He went on the DL April 26.
At the time of his injury, Haniger ranked among the American League leaders in several offensive categories: 1st in runs (20), 2nd in on-base percentage (.442), T3 in hits (27) and doubles (7), 4th in extra-base hits (12), T5 in RBI (16) and 7th in batting average. Haniger had a 13-game hitting streak from April 6-19.
The Mariners acquired Haniger along with INF Jean Segura and LHP Zac Curtis from the Diamondbacks Nov. 23 in exchange for RHP Taijuan Walker and INF Ketel Marte.
Powell, 24, hit .179 in 20 games, including five starts in two stints with Seattle this season.
LHP James Paxton (5-0, 1.69) started Sunday against ex-Mariner J.A. Happ (0-4, 5.33).