Mariners Make 4 Roster Moves

INF Evan White activated, LHP Aaron Fletcher recalled, RHP Wyatt Mills optioned, RHP Domingo Tapia optioned

SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto announced today the following roster moves:

• Evan White, INF, reinstated from Bereavement List.
• Aaron Fletcher, LHP, recalled from Alternate Training Site.
• Wyatt Mills, RHP, optioned to Alternate Training Site (post-game, May 3).
• Domingo Tapia, RHP, optioned to Alternate Training Site (post-game, May 3).

White (#12) and Fletcher (#41) will be in uniform and available for tonight’s game (7:10 pm PT) against the Orioles.

White, 25, was placed on the Bereavement List on April 30. He has appeared in 22 games with the Mariners this season, batting .155 (11x71) with 6 runs scored, 2 doubles, 1 home run, 6 RBI and 5 walks.

White appeared in 54 games with the Mariners during his rookie season in 2020. He led all American League first baseman with 7 Defensive Runs Saved and 7 Scoops on his way to becoming the first ever rookie first baseman to win a Gold Glove Award since the award was created in 1957. He was the second Mariners first baseman to win a Gold Glove, joining John Olerud (2000, 2002 & 2003).

White was originally selected by the Mariners in the 1st round of the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft (17th overall) out of the University of Kentucky. He made his Major League debut with the Mariners on July 24, 2020 at Houston, and has appeared in parts of 2 Major League seasons with the Mariners (2020-c). Overall, is batting .170 (43x253) with 25 runs, 9 doubles, 9 home runs, 32 RBI, 23 walks and 1 stolen base in 76 career games.

Fletcher, 25, began the 2021 season at the club’s Alternate Training Site. He is rated as the №18 prospect in the Mariners organization according to MLB Pipeline. The 6-foot, 220-pound, left-hander appeared in 7 Cactus League games this spring, going 0–0 with a 1.35 ERA (1 ER, 6.2 IP) with 2 walks and 12 strikeouts.

Fletcher was acquired by the Mariners from the Washington Nationals along with Elvis Alvarado (RHP) and Taylor Guilbeau (LHP) in exchange for Roenis Elías (LHP) and Hunter Strickland (RHP) on July 31, 2019. He was originally selected by the Nationals in the 14th round of the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Houston. He made his Major League debut with the Mariners on Aug. 22, 2020 vs. TEX, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning with 1 strikeout. Overall, he appeared in 6 games during the 2020 season, going 0–0 with a 12.46 ERA (6 ER, 4.1 IP) with 7 walks and 7 strikeouts.

Mills, 26, made his Major League debut on May 1 vs. Los Angeles-AL, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning. He began the season at the Mariners Alternate Training Site and was recalled on May 1. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound, right-hander has appeared in 2 games with the Mariners this season, going 0–0 with a 6.75 ERA (2 ER, 2.2 IP) with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts.

The Spokane, Washington native attended Gonzaga University and was drafted by Seattle in the 3rd round of the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft. In 3 minor league seasons (2017–19), Mills is 10–6 with 25 saves and a 3.57 ERA (50 ER, 126.0 IP), walking 39 and striking out 154. He was added to the 40-man roster on Nov. 20, 2020.

Tapia, 29, has appeared in 2 games with the Mariners this season, tossing 4.0 scoreless innings with 1 walk and 1 strikeout. He made his Mariners debut on May 1 after being recalled from the Alternate Training Site on April 29.

Tapia appeared in 5 Major League games with Boston in 2020, going 0–0 with a 2.08 ERA (4.1 IP, 1 ER) with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. The Dominican Republic native made his MLB debut with the Red Sox on Sept. 11, 2020 at Tampa Bay. He was claimed off waivers by Seattle from Boston on Oct. 23, 2020.

Tapia originally signed with the New York Mets as an amateur free agent on Dec. 16, 2009. Overall, he has appeared in parts of 2 Major League seasons with Boston (2020) and Seattle (2021), going 0–0 with a 1.42 ERA (1 ER, 6.1 IP) with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts in 7 career games.