Mariners Reinstate RHP Justin Dunn, RHP Kendall Graveman

RHP Keynan Middleton optioned to Triple-A Tacoma, RHP Yacksel Rios designated for assignment

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

· Justin Dunn, RHP, reinstated from 10-day Injured List (right shoulder inflammation)

· Kendall Graveman, RHP, reinstated from Injured List

· Keynan Middleton, RHP, optioned to Triple-A Tacoma

· Yacksel Rios, RHP, designated for assignment

Seattle’s Major League, 40-man, roster remains at 40 players.

Dunn, 25, was placed on the 10-day Injured List on June 2 (retroactive June 1). He is 1–2 with a 3.18 ERA (16 ER, 45.1 IP) in 9 starts with the Mariners this season. He has allowed 2 runs or less in his last 5 consecutive starts and in 7 of 9 starts overall.

The right-hander has not allowed more than 3 runs in any start this season and has allowed 3 runs or fewer in 15 consecutive starts dating back to Aug. 23, 2020, the longest active streak in the Majors. Through his first 23 career starts in the Majors (2019-current), his .174 (60x334) opponent’s batting average is the 3rd-lowest through a pitcher’s first 23 career starts since earned runs became an official stat in 1912, trailing only Ryne Stanek-TB (.168/20x119) from May 26-Sept. 3, 2018 and Hideo Nomo-LAD (.173/99x571).

Dunn made his Major League debut with Seattle on Sept. 12, 2019. In parts of 3 season in the Majors, he is a combined 5–3 with a 3.69 ERA (40 ER, 97.2 IP). He was selected by the New York Mets with the 19th overall pick in the 2016 First Year Player Draft out of Boston College. Dunn was traded to Seattle as part of a seven-player deal on Dec. 3, 2018, along with Jarred Kelenic and four other players in exchange for Robinson Canó and Edwin Díaz.

Graveman, 30, was placed on the Injured List on May 23. He made 1 rehab appearance with Triple-A Tacoma on June 8. He has recorded 5 saves this season and has yet to allow a run in 16.2 innings pitched over 14 appearances, the most innings pitched without allowing a run in the Majors this season. Graveman has registered 3 walks compared to 17 strikeouts this season, posting a 0.540 WHIP and .111 (6x54) opponent’s batting average.

The right-hander is in his second season with the Mariners after resigning with the club on Oct. 29, 2020 following the 2020 season. In 2 seasons with Seattle, he is 2–3 with 5 saves and a 3.06 ERA (12 ER, 35.1 IP) with 11 walks and 32 strikeouts.

Graveman is a veteran of 7 Major League seasons with Toronto (2014), Oakland (2015–18) and Seattle (2020-c). He was originally selected by the Blue Jays in the 8th round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Mississippi State University. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound, right-hander made his Major League debut with Toronto on Sept. 5, 2014 vs. Boston. Overall, he is 25–32 with 5 saves and a 4.28 ERA (229 ER, 481.1 IP) with 141 walks and 318 strikeouts in 108 career games (80 starts).

Middleton, 27, has appeared in 19 games out of the Mariners bullpen this season, going 0–0 with 4 saves and a 4.42 ERA (9 ER, 18.1 IP) with 11 hits allowed, 9 walks and 14 strikeouts. He was reinstated on May 21 after a stint on the 10-day Injured List with a right biceps strain from May 5–20.

The 6-foot-3 right-hander is a life-long resident of the Pacific Northwest. He was born in Portland, OR and went on to play high school baseball at Milwaukie High School, just south of Portland. He played college baseball at Lane Community College in Eugene, OR, where he also played basketball, averaging 11 points and 4.6 rebounds per game as a shooting guard.

Middleton was originally selected by the Angels in the third round of the of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Lane Community College. He made his Major League debut with the Angels on May 5, 2017 vs. Houston. Overall, he has appeared in parts of 5 Major League seasons with the Angels (2017–20) and Mariners (2021), going 6–2 with 13 saves and a 3.63 ERA (46 ER, 114.0 IP) with 49 walks and 110 strikeouts.

Rios, 27, was acquired by Seattle on June 4 from Tampa Bay in exchange for cash considerations and selected by Seattle on June 5, making his Mariners debut that night at Los Angeles-AL. Yacksel (YAHK-sell) made 3 appearances out of the Mariners bullpen, going 0–0 with a 9.00 ERA (3 ER, 3.0 IP) with 5 hits allowed, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. The right-hander signed with Tampa Bay as a minor league free agent with an invitation to spring training on Feb. 1, 2021.

In 4 Major League seasons with Philadelphia (2017–19), Pittsburgh (2019–20) and Seattle (2021), Ríos is 5–2 with a 6.47 ERA (52 ER, 72.1 IP) with 82 hits allowed, 36 walks and 70 strikeouts in 69 relief appearances. The Puerto Rico native made his MLB debut on Aug. 22, 2017 vs. Miami, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings. Rios was originally selected by Philadelphia in the 12th round of the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft.