Mariners option Jarred Kelenic to AAA, reinstate Shed Long from 60-day IL

The Mariners announced that they have reinstated infielder Shed Long from the 60-day injured list, optioned outfielder Jarred Kelenic to Triple-A Tacoma and transferred infielder/outfielder Sam Haggerty to the 60-day IL with right shoulder inflammation.

Seattle has gone the entire season without Long, who has spent months working back from the surgery he underwent on his right tibia last September. Now 25 years old, Long impressed in his first major-league action in 2019, when he batted .263/.333/.454 with five home runs and three stolen bases in 168 plate appearances, but he was unable to build on that in 2020. Long took 128 PA then and hit a disastrous .171/.242/.291 with three HRs and four steals.

Kelenic, one of the game’s most hyped prospects, reached the majors for the first time in the middle of May. Unfortunately, the 21-year-old could only produce an .096/.185/.193 line over his first 92 PA in the bigs, leading the Mariners to demote him. Kelenic has been dominant in the minors, however, and if he rebounds there, he should return to Seattle sometime soon.