The dreaded strained oblique. That trendy injury has put C Mike Zunino on the 10-day disabled list. The Mariners announced Friday night that David Freitas, 29, has been called up from AAA Tacoma and will back up rookie Mike Marjama, who had a key role in the Mariners’ 2-1 win Thursday night against Cleveland in the season opener at Safeco.
Zunino was hurt in the last couple of swings of batting practice Wednesday. The Mariners said three hours before Thursday’s game that his right side was stiff, but thought he would be ready for the series’ second game Saturday after an off-day Friday. Oblique strains often take weeks to heal.
In the Cactus League, Zunino was raking. He he hit .395 with eight runs, two doubles, five home runs, 12 RBI and four walks. In 2017, he hit .251 with 25 doubles, 25 home runs, 64 RBI, 39 walks, a .331 on-base percentage and a .509 slugging mark in 124 games.
Freitas, an Elk Grove, CA., was a 15th-round draft choice in 2010 by the Nationals out of University of Hawaii-Manoa. The Mariners claimed him off waivers from Atlanta in October. He hit .238 in 11 spring training games.
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…and in one swing, it was back to Tacoma.