Mariners claim JB Bukauskas, pick Alberto Rodriguez

Mariners claim JB Bukauskas, pick Alberto Rodriguez

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Mariners announced they wanted right-handers JB Bukaukas Exemption from Diamondbacks.Outfielder with corresponding movement Albert Rodriguez assigned to the destination. Bukauskas was drafted last week when the D-backs re-signed. Zach Davis.

The 26-year-old Bukauskas was selected by the Astros in the first round of the 2017 draft and quickly climbed onto the top prospect list. However, many raters predicted that his inability to throw strikes consistently would lead to the bullpen moving down. Those predictions proved pretty sharp as Bukauskas moved up the minor league ladder and struggled on bases. In 2019 in Houston’s Double-A affiliate, he walked his 14.2% of batters faced and posted a 5.25 earned run average as he pitched 85 2/3 innings.

The Diamondbacks acquired Bukauska along with three other players at the time of the trade. Zach Greinke I moved to Houston and have spent most of my time as a reliever ever since. During that time, his control has certainly improved, but injuries have limited him to small workloads. I didn’t throw. Last year, a grade 2 strain in his shoulder teres major kept him on injured reserve from the beginning of the year until his July. The D-Backs kept him on the farm after he was healthy, and he did well there. He posted a 2.42 ERA in his 22 1/3 innings, stole his 25.3% of the batters he faced, and walked 4.6%. Most of his work was done on the Pacific Coast in his league as well.

M decides to attack Bukauskas to see if he can benefit from a breakout. The right-hander still has an optional year left, allowing him to stay in the minors until needed by a big league club. As long as you hold your position, you can keep it for the time being.

To take a chance on Bukauskas, M risks losing 22-year-old Rodriguez. Signed as an amateur with the Blue Jays, he was traded to the Mariners as part of a 2020 deal. Taijuan Walker to Jays. 289/.379/.470 between single-A and high-A, showing he was strong enough to be added to the 40-man roster before the Rule 5 draft. rice field. Last year he returned to high-A and still has quite a few hits. His .261/.336/.396 was good enough for him for a 106 wRC+, putting him 6% above the league average. However, he struck out in 26.2% of his at-bats and had only six stolen bases after his double-digit performance the previous season.

The Mariners have a week to trade Rodriguez or pass waivers. His 2022 season hasn’t been ideal, but he’s still a young and talented outfielder with two more option years left. By mid-2022, Baseball America still considered him one of the club’s top 30 prospects.

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