Mariners Reinstate RHP Erik Swanson From 10-Day Injured List

LHP Aaron Fletcher optioned to alternate training site; INF/OF Tim Lopes appointed as “29th man” for today’s doubleheader

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

· Erik Swanson, RHP, reinstated from 10-Day Injured List.

· Aaron Fletcher, LHP, optioned to alternate training site (postgame 9/13).

· Tim Lopes, INF/OF, appointed as “29th man” for today’s doubleheader.

Swanson (#50) and Lopes (#10) will be in uniform and available for today’s (2:10 pm PT) doubleheader against the Oakland A’s.

Swanson, 26, was placed on the 10-Day Injured List with a right forearm strain on Aug. 20 after being recalled on August 2. He has made 6 appearances in 2020, going 0–2 with a 15.19 ERA (5.1 IP, 9 ER), 1 walk, 7 strikeouts and 3 home runs allowed. The right-hander was optioned to the Alternate Training Site on July 23 as the Mariners set their Opening Night roster. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound right-hander made 4 relief appearances during Summer Camp at T-Mobile Park, allowing 5 earned runs over 4.1 innings pitched (10.38 ERA) while striking out 6 and walking 2. He posted a 3.00 ERA (1 ER, 3.0 IP) in 3 Cactus League relief appearances with the Mariners this spring. He struck out 6 and walked only 1 while limiting opponents to a .182 (2x11) average against.

Swanson made 27 appearances (8 starts) in his rookie season with the Mariners in 2019. He went 1–5 with 2 saves (in 2 opportunities) while posting a 5.74 ERA (37 ER, 58.0 IP) and recording 52 strikeouts and 12 walks. He worked primarily out of the bullpen following the All-Star Break, but made 2 starts as an “opener” during that span. In 18 relief appearances after the All-Star Break, Swanson was 2-for-2 in save opportunities while posting a 2.78 ERA (7 ER, 22.2 IP) with 23 strikeouts and 5 walks. He made his Major League debut on April 11, 2019 at Kansas City. He also made 10 appearances (6 starts) with Triple-A Tacoma last season.

Swanson was originally selected by Texas in the 8th round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of Iowa Western Community College. On Aug. 1, 2016, he was acquired by New York-AL from Texas, along with Dillon Tate (rhp) and Nick Green (rhp), in exchange for Carlos Beltrán (of). After two-and-a-half seasons in the Yankees organization, he was acquired by the Mariners, along with Justus Sheffield (lhp) and Dom Thompson-Williams (cf), in exchange for James Paxton (lhp) on Nov. 19, 2018. In 6 minor league seasons in the Rangers (2014–16), Yankees (2016–18) and Mariners organizations (2019-c), he has a career record of 23–13 with a 3.49 ERA (148 ER, 381.1 IP) with 382 strikeouts and 99 walks in 103 games (65 starts).

Fletcher, 24, has appeared in six games for the Mariners this year, posting a 12.46 ERA (6 ER, 4.1 IP) with 7 strikeouts. According to MLB.com, Fletcher is the №21 prospect in the Mariners organization and ranks as the 3rd-best left-hander in the Mariners farm system, trailing only Brandon Williamson (№11 overall) and Brayan Perez (17). In just two minor league seasons, Fletcher has posted a 2.33 ERA (27 ER, 104.1 IP) a 5.36 strikeout-to-walk ratio (118 K, 22 BB), while allowing just 1 home run.

Fletcher began his 2019 campaign in Single-A Hagerstown in the Nationals organization, eventually earning a promotion to High-A Potomac and later to Double-A Harrisburg. He was acquired via trade by the Mariners on July 31, 2019 along with LHP Taylor Guilbeau and minor league RHP Elvis Alvarado, in exchange for LHP Roenis Elías and RHP Hunter Strickland. Following his acquisition, Fletcher reported to Double-A Arkansas, where he pitched in 9 games, posting a 3.46 ERA (5 ER, 13.0 IP) with 15 strikeouts to just 3 walks. Overall in 2019, Fletcher went 5–4 with a 2.09 ERA (17 ER, 73.1 IP) with 84 strikeouts and 18 walks, while holding opponents to a .220 batting average. He also represented the Mariners in the Arizona Fall League in 2019, throwing 9.1 scoreless innings for Peoria, striking out 15 and walking only one batter.

Fletcher was originally drafted by Washington in the 14th round of the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Houston. He has appeared in parts of 2 minor league seasons in the Nationals organization (2018–19) and the Mariners organization (2019). Overall, he is 7–5 with 1 save and a 2.33 ERA (27 ER, 104.1 IP) with 22 walks and 118 strikeouts in 54 career minor league appearances.

Lopes, 26, was optioned on Sept. 3 after being named to his first Opening Day roster this season. In 32 games with the Mariners in 2020, he is hitting .240 (24x100) with 7 doubles, 1 home run, 10 RBI and has stolen 5 bases without being caught. He drove in the winning run on Aug. 30 at Los Angeles-AL and his 24 hits are 5th-most among AL Rookies. In parts of two (2019–2020) Major League seasons — both with Seattle — Lopes is a career .256 hitter (54x211) with 14 doubles and 2 home runs in 73 games.

Lopes was originally selected by the Mariners in the 6th round of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Edison High School in Huntington Beach, CA. The native of Los Angeles spent the first 5 seasons of his professional career in the Mariners organization. On Sept. 30, 2016, he was sent to Toronto as a Player to Be Named Later completing a trade made on Aug. 6, 2016 in which the Mariners acquired switch-handed pitcher Pat Venditte from the Blue Jays. Lopes spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons in the Blue Jays organization before signing with Seattle as a minor league free agent on Nov. 14, 2018. He has appeared in parts of 8 minor league seasons with Seattle (2012–16, 2019-c) and Toronto (2017–18).