Mariners' Mitch Haniger: May not return until July
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Haniger (ankle) expects to miss 10-to-12 weeks due to the Grade 2 right ankle sprain he sustained April 29, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. "From there, honestly, it's like a wait-and-see kind of thing," Haniger said, regarding his timeline for a return once he's able to shed a walking boot. "As far as getting back in games, I think like a rough estimate would be from date of injury is 10-to-12 weeks, but at the same time, I've heard it can go on the earlier end and I've also heard on the longer end."
A 10-week recovery would put Haniger on track to return around the second week of July, so the Mariners could look to transfer him to the 60-day injured list at some point to create some more roster flexibility. In the meantime, Haniger's absence will give the struggling Jarred Kelenic a longer leash as a starting outfielder, though the impending return for Kyle Lewis (knee) from the 10-day IL will put some pressure on Kelenic. Haniger, who also missed 11 games earlier in the season while on the COVID-19 IL, has logged just 36 plate appearances on the campaign.
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Mariners' Mitch Haniger: Dealing with Grade 2 sprain
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Manager Scott Servais said following Saturday's game that Haniger is dealing with a Grade 2 high-ankle sprain, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Haniger landed on the injured list earlier in the day, and Servais revealed that he is dealing with the middle of the three grades of high-ankle sprains. A target date for Haniger's return has not yet been revealed, but he is facing an extended absence, and it's possible his return could be measured in months rather than weeks.
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Mariners' Mitch Haniger: Not in Saturday's lineup
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Haniger (ankle) isn't starting Saturday against Miami.
Haniger sustained a high-ankle sprain in Friday's matchup against the Marlins and is expected to require a trip to the injured list, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports. Dylan Moore is starting in right field and batting ninth Saturday, and he should see additional playing time in Haniger's absence.
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Mariners' Mitch Haniger: Placed on 10-day injured list
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Haniger (ankle) was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday.
An IL stint appeared likely after the 31-year-old sustained a high-ankle sprain during Friday's loss to the Marlins, and he'll officially be shelved, while Stuart Fairchild was called up to provide additional outfield depth. Haniger's appearance Friday marked his return from an 11-game absence while on the COVID-19 injured list, and it's not yet clear how much time he'll be forced to miss due to his ankle issue. Jesse Winker and Dylan Moore should see additional playing time in the outfield while Haniger is sidelined.
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Mariners' Mitch Haniger: In walking boot, MRI on tap
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Haniger (high ankle sprain) will get an MRI and a trip to the injured list seems inevitable, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
He apparently got his cleat caught when he swung and hit a single in the second inning Friday. Haniger is in a walking boot and X-rays were negative. Per Divish, Steven Souza and Stuart Fairchild are the two most logical options to take Haniger's spot on the roster. Even so, the Mariners have enough depth that Abraham Toro will probably continue to get starts in the infield and at designated hitter with Jesse Winker starting in the outfield on a semi-regular basis.
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Mariners' Mitch Haniger: Suffers high ankle sprain
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Haniger left Friday's game against the Marlins with a right high ankle sprain.
The team did not release a timetable for his return, but it's possible he will head to the injured list. Abraham Toro saw an uptick in playing time while Haniger was out with COVID-19, and that should be the case again while he recovers from this latest injury.
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Mariners' Mitch Haniger: Exits with apparent injury
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Haniger left Friday's game against the Marlins with an apparent ankle injury, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.
He hit a leadoff single in the second inning and apparently suffered the injury running to first base, getting replaced by a pinch runner. This comes in the first game Haniger was back from the COVID-19 injured list.
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Mariners' Mitch Haniger: Reinstated from COVID-19 IL
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Haniger (illness) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday.
Haniger tested positive for COVID-19 on April 16 and spent a week and a half away from the team. Although he rejoined the Mariners on Tuesday, he required several days of workouts to return to 100 percent. However, the 31-year-old should be back in action for Friday's series opener in Miami, and he'll reclaim his role as the everyday right fielder. Prior to his absence, Haniger hit .176 with three homers, seven RBI and three runs over eight appearances.
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Mariners' Mitch Haniger: Not back to 100 percent
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Haniger (illness) took part in a pregame workout Thursday but has yet to be officially activated from the COVID-19 injured list, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Haniger cleared all COVID-19-related protocols and rejoined the Mariners in Tampa Bay for their three-game series with the Rays, but he won't end up being activated after he noted Wednesday that he's still not 100 percent following his bout with the virus. The fact that Haniger was able to work out in some capacity Thursday is a positive sign, but he's not a safe bet to be ready to go for the Mariners' series opener in Miami on Friday.
Mariners' Mitch Haniger: With team, but not activated
Rotowire
Haniger (illness) arrived in Tampa Bay for the team's three-game set with the Rays, but he won't be activated from the COVID-19 injured list ahead of Tuesday's series opener, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Haniger's ability to rejoin the team suggests he's no longer experiencing symptoms of the virus, but acting manager Kristopher Negron said the outfielder will just be "going through the motions" Tuesday while he works to regain conditioning after a week-and-a-half-long layoff. Negron left the door open for Haniger to play Wednesday, depending on how he feels physically one day after resuming baseball activity.
Haniger isn't starting Saturday's game against the Astros.
Haniger will sit for the first time after starting in each of the first eight games of the season. He's hitting .176 with three homers, a double, three runs and seven RBI to begin the year. Jarred Kelenic will shift to right field while Jesse Winker starts in left.
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Mariners' Mitch Haniger: Tests positive for COVID-19
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Haniger was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Saturday after he tested positive for the virus, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Manager Scott Servais indicated Saturday that Haniger will likely be forced to spend a minimum of five days away from the team before he's cleared to return. Jesse Winker and Dylan Moore should see additional playing time in the outfield while Haniger is sidelined, while Donovan Walton was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma to provide additional depth.
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Mariners' Mitch Haniger: Rips third homer of season
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Haniger went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk during Thursday's 5-1 win over the White Sox.
Haniger extended Seattle's lead to 5-1 with a two-run blast in the eighth inning off Mariners reliever Jose Ruiz. Through the first stretch of the season, Haniger is just 4-for-29, but three of those hits have been long balls.
Haniger went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Sunday's loss to the Twins.
Haniger has three hits this season and two of those have left the stadium, but he also has struck out in every game so far. Through three games this season, Haniger has gone 3-for-12 with two homers, a double, five RBI, two runs scored and three strikeouts. The 31-year-old outfielder is coming off a career year where he knocked 39 homers with 110 runs scored and an .804 OPS.
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Mariners' Mitch Haniger: Knocks two-run shot
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Haniger went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Friday's 2-1 win over the Twins.
Haniger took Joe Ryan deep in the first inning and it would be the only offense Seattle needed to start the year 1-0. The 31-year-old outfielder is coming off a career year where he knocked 39 homers with 110 runs scored and an .804 OPS. Even with Seattle's core of young outfield talent, Haniger is locked into a major role in the middle of the Mariners' lineup this season.
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Mariners' Mitch Haniger: Reaches deal with M's
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Haniger and the Mariners agreed Sunday on a one-year, $7.75 million contract to avoid arbitration, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Haniger said Sunday that he nearly finalized a deal with the Mariners prior to the deadline in March for arbitration-eligible players to secure contracts for 2022, only to run out of time. The two sides were ultimately able to work out an agreement without having to go to court, locking Haniger into the roster as Opening Day approaches. After missing significant time with injuries in 2019 and 2020, Haniger showed durability in 2021, appearing in 157 games while slashing .253/.318/.485 and establishing new career highs in home runs (39), runs (110) and RBI (100).
