The Seattle Mariners placed All-Star left-hander Yusei Kikuchi on the injured list Sunday.
No reason was given, but the Seattle Times reported that Kikuchi is on the COVID-related IL after experiencing a symptom. Per the report, he is vaccinated and has already passed a negative test. If he passes another test Sunday, he would be cleared for Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Denver.
Kikuchi, 30, is 6-4 with a 3.48 ERA in 16 starts this season. He has 98 strikeouts in 98 1/3 innings.
The Mariners also selected the contract of switch-hitting catcher Cal Raleigh from Triple-A Tacoma, recalled infielder Donovan Walton from Tacoma and optioned outfielder Taylor Trammell to Tacoma.
Raleigh, 24, will make his major league debut Sunday against the visiting Los Angeles Angels. He was scheduled to start behind the plate and bat sixth.
Raleigh is rated as the No. 6 prospect in the Seattle organization by MLB Pipeline and is ranked No. 8 by Baseball America.
It’s Raleigh time. #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/uYRzAhs24A
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 11, 2021
A third-round pick in 2018 out of Florida State, Raleigh is batting .324 with 21 doubles, nine homers and 36 RBIs in 44 games this season at Tacoma. He had a 23-game hitting streak from May 15-June 17.
Walton, 27, joins the Mariners for the fourth time this season. He is hitting .206 with two homers and seven RBIs in 21 games for Seattle.
Trammell, 23, made his MLB debut on Opening Day this season and is batting .160 with eight homers, 18 RBIs and 75 strikeouts in 51 games.
–Field Level Media