Mariners injury update: Randy Arozarena to IL; Luke Raley, Josh Naylor out of lineup

Justin Hollander looked down at the injury report provided by the team's high-performance staff for about the fifth time in five minutes.

He'd been talking nonstop providing updates on myriad players dealing with injuries and their potential recoveries. The Mariners general manager could only shake his head.

I've really never seen anything quite like this on the position-player side," he said. "I've been part of something this in like the 2018-19 window and even 2017 with our pitchers, but this is unique with this many position players. Every day feels like a little bit of a juggling act. We're doing our best to weather the storm, and hopefully as we get toward the end of the week we're close to full speed."

And this was on a day when All-Star catcher Cal Raleigh (oblique strain) and veteran infielder J.P. Crawford (hand contusion) were both reinstated from the injured list and back in the starting lineup.

But it only got weirder for Hollander, who walked into the press box about 45 minutes before first pitch to alert the media that Randy Arozarena was going on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. The move is retroactive to June 13th.

Arozarena underwent a precautionary MRI on his sore left hamstring Tuesday morning. The results revealed more inflammation than was initially expected. Hollander had hoped that Arozarena might be available to come off the bench Tuesday night and be back in the starting lineup on Wednesday, but that changed with the MRI.

"Every opinion from our medical people on how Randy was testing out indicated to us that he was very likely trending in the right direction and was a real possibility to be available tomorrow," Hollander said. "Obviously, the MRI cast doubt on that. We don't anticipate him to stay on the IL longer than the minimum, but we can't play with three people short for any range of time."

Three people?

Indeed, Josh Naylor was out of the starting lineup due to right wrist discomfort and Luke Raley was scratched from the starting lineup just before batting practice due to lower back tightness.

With Triple-A Tacoma playing in Salt Lake City and the lateness of the diagnosis, the Mariners couldn't call up a player from the Rainiers to fill Arozarena's roster spot. But since High-A Everett was in town, Seattle selected the minor-league contract of outfielder Curtis Washington Jr. and added him to its active roster. They will likely option Washington back to Everett after the game and bring back Connor Joe, who was pulled from the Rainiers lineup.

"He is one of the best people that we have in the (organization), someone who does it the right way, and he has since the day he stepped in the door," Hollander said of Washington. "So really cool for him. I hope he gets in there tonight for the right reasons."

To make room for Washington on the 40-man roster, infielder Will Wilson, who is recovering from thumb surgery, was moved to the 60-day injured list. Wilson was having an issue with his finger and was going to a specialist to see if season-ending surgery was needed.

Another injured Mariner, infielder Brendan Donovan (groin strain), took early ground balls with the infielders as he works his way back to being game ready.

"He'll start his running progression this week," Hollander said. "He'll also be on the field, taking ground balls, hitting and doing things like that."

Donovan, who has been rehabbing and working out at the team's spring training complex in Arizona, returned with a short haircut and some optimism of better days ahead.

"I feel really good," he said.

With core muscle injuries and Donovan still feeling some lingering effects of offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia, running, specifically sprinting, is the last box that needs to be checked before returning to game action.

"The most important thing for him is the running progression," Hollander said. "We have low concern that he's not going to come through the hitting and ground balls and throwing across the diamond part of it. It's more the running progression, so that'll start this week with just straight-line running, and then move into baserunning, and things next week."

The typical running progression, without setbacks, usually takes 7-10 days. If Donovan can get through it, he would move into a rehab assignment. The Mariners would likely try to ease him into games and have a slow buildup over an extended period. He was been on the injured list since May 15. He has played in just 25 games this season. A return before the All-Star break might be overly optimistic.

When Donovan does start his rehab assignment, he will play multiple positions, returning to the role he held with the Cardinals.

Hollander also had updates on three right-handed relievers on the injured list - Matt Brash, Cooper Criswell and Carlos Vargas.

Brash was diagnosed with a Grade 1 lat strain, Criswell was diagnosed with a Grade 1 right pectoral strain and Vargas, who suffered a lat strain a day before the season started, was cleared to resume a throwing program after multiple setbacks.

Brash has already reported to the team's complex in Arizona. He will have another MRI in 3-4 weeks to see if the inflammation has been removed. He will need another 3-4 weeks for a throwing program and rehab assignment before returning.

"I think it's reasonable to think of Matt as like a trade-deadline-type addition based on where we are today," Hollander said.

While Brash had an earlier stint on the injured list this season with a lat strain, Hollander was clear that this wasn't the same injury.

"The first IL stint was sort of lower on his right side and more muscle related," Hollander said. "This one's a little higher up and is a different type of strain. More showed up on the MRI this time, which is why the longer downtime.

Criswell is also on a similar timeline to return. He will follow the same recovery outline as Brash.

Vargas is also on a similar timeline to build back up. The Mariners want to be cautious with him since he has had past setbacks in his recovery.

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