Randy Arozarena to IL with strained hamstring

Randy Arozarena departed Friday’s game against the Nationals with a tweaked hamstring, sitting out the rest of the series. The hope was that with those days down, plus the off-day yesterday, the issue would resolve itself. But that wasn’t the case, as Arozarena’s hamstring was still bothering him on Tuesday and he was held out of the lineup and sent for more imaging.

That imaging revealed more inflammation than previously suspected, and so the team will place Arozarena on the 10-day IL, retroactive to June 13th.

Arozarena has been the team’s most productive hitter, leading the team in WAR as well as a host of other offensive categories. He’s also been a steadying force in the lineup while other players have slumped or been injured. In a season that’s been brutal for the Mariners with injuries, this hit lands the hardest – for the team and for Arozarena himself, who’s playing in a contract year.

The good news is Justin Hollander doesn’t think Arozarena will need more than the minimum stay on the IL, given that he was trending positively before the MRI.

In other good news, Curtis Washington Jr. is being summoned from Everett as an emergency call-up. CWJ has been in the organization since 2022, a 19th-round pick out of Purdue. The light-hitting speed-and-defense outfielder hasn’t been able to break out of the low minors, but has earned organizational acclaim for his positive outcome, contributions off the field, and overall good-guy-ness. Washington will likely only be here for the night, as Connor Joe was pulled from Tacoma’s lineup – the Rainiers are in Salt Lake tonight and he wouldn’t be able to get here in time for the game, hence Washington’s call from Everett – so we’re crossing our fingers he can maybe get in the game.

In a corresponding move to make room for Washington on the 40-man, Will Wilson, who is struggling with a fractured left thumb, has been moved to the 60-day IL.