4 Shed Long 2B

Long is one of the Mariners' many young players that should get an extensive evaluation during the 2020 season, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.

Long was projected as the everyday second baseman when spring training was suspended, and he'll therefore head into the team's summer camp with the same status. The 24-year-old had a rough time of it at the plate during Cactus League play, hitting just .129 (4-for-31) over 11 exhibitions. However, this coming season, albeit a much shorter one than normal, will still serve as a proving ground for multiple young prospects in the organization, and Long should get an extensive look after posting a solid .263/.333/.454 slash line over his first 168 big-league plate appearances in 2019.

Long has been able to consistently work out while spring training has been suspended, both in Arizona and more recently at home in Alabama, Rip Donovan of The Anniston Star reports.

Long recently returned to his parents' home in Talladega, Alabama, where he's been working out in their expansive backyard with his father, whom he credits extensively for keeping him on pace. Immediately following the suspension of spring training March 12, Long spent approximately three weeks with fellow big-leaguer Billy Hamilton, a friend since Long's days in the Reds organization, focusing on baseball-specific drills at a home they shared. The projected starting second baseman and leadoff hitter also continues to have regular contact with Mariners coaches and training staff about four times per week via text messages and calls as he attempts to remain prepared for his first season as a full-time big-league starter.

Long was hitting .129 (4-for-31) with two doubles, four RBI, three walks, two stolen bases and two runs over 11 Cactus League games before spring training was suspended.

As those numbers indicate, Long's spring was unfolding in less-than-ideal fashion from an offensive perspective, but the Mariners are committed to having the 24-year-old serve as the primary second baseman this coming season. Long earned the confidence of manager Scott Servais and his staff with a solid all-around showing in his first big-league stint in 2019, slashing .263/.333/.454 with 18 extra-base hits (12 doubles, one triple, five home runs) and 15 RBI across 168 plate appearances. Long will have to produce consistently over the course of a full season for the first time at the big-league level, however, as capable veteran Dee Gordon will be right behind him on the depth chart at the keystone.

Long could operate out of the leadoff spot in Saturday's Cactus League opener against the Padres, and he's likely to be tried there frequently this spring, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old was a success while working out of the top of the order during a trial run near the end of last season, slashing .296/.342/.521 with nine extra-base hits (five doubles, one triple, three home runs) and nine RBI across 71 at-bats. The Mariners are therefore interested in seeing if Long can extend that success this spring, and both his minor-league career .351 on-base percentage and .333 figure in 168 major-league plate appearances last season provide reason for optimism. "I thought the key to Shed's awesome September was his ability to control the strike zone," manager Scott Servais said. "His swing decisions were outstanding and when he does that, he has really good results. He can drive the ball and there's a good chance you'll see him up there [leading off] a bunch this spring."

General manager Jerry Dipoto confirmed Long will handle the majority of playing time at second base, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

It sounds like the Mariners are planning to deploy Dee Gordon in a utility role while giving Long the reins at second base. Long spent most of the 2019 season shuttling between Triple-A Tacoma and the Mariners, though he put together a .289/.337/.518 triple-slash over his final 23 games after earning a September promotion.

Long went 2-for-4 with an RBI single, a double, a walk and two runs in a win over the Athletics on Friday.

Long continued his season-ending hot streak at the plate and ultimately crossed the plate with the winning run on J.P. Crawford's double. Long is hitting .316 in September following what was his ninth multi-hit effort of the month, and his well-balanced contributions during that stretch partly consist of 10 extra-base hits (five doubles, one triple, four home runs) and 10 RBI.

Long went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run in a loss to the Orioles on Sunday.

Long's September tear continued in fine fashion, as the rookie pushed his average during the month to .422 (19-for-45), a figure partly comprised of eight extra-base hits. Long started at second base in place of Dee Gordon on Sunday, with the keystone projected as his long-term position despite the fact he's put in time in the outfield recently as well.

Long went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a walk, a double and a solo home run against the Orioles on Saturday.

Long has been productive of late, collecting multiple hits in seven of his last eight contests. In only 35 games played this season, he has managed five home runs, three stolen bases and 18 runs scored.

Long went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored Thursday against the Pirates.

Long delivered a bases-loaded single in the second inning to record his third multi-RBI performance in his last six starts. He's also in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak, six of which have been multi-hit efforts. The 24-year-old is making a nice impression through 33 games in the big-leagues, hitting .282 while also smacking four home runs and swiping three bases.

Long went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and RBI single in a 6-0 victory against the Pirates on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old is on a five-game hitting streak, and in all five contests, he has two hits. In two of the last three games, he has a home run, and he's recorded five RBI in the past four contests. It's a small sample, but he's one of the hottest hitters going. Long is batting .266 with 12 extra-base hits, including four homers, 11 RBI, 14 runs and three stolen bases in 109 at-bats this season.

Long went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in an extra-inning win over the White Sox on Saturday.

Long started in left field and operated out of the leadoff spot, lending some key run support to a sharp Felix Hernandez with a fifth-inning solo shot that snapped a scoreless tie. The rookie has churned out three consecutive two-hit efforts and started four straight games overall.

Long went 2-for-4 with a two-RBI single in Friday's 9-7 loss to the White Sox.

Long plated both Omar Narvaez and Mallex Smith with the fourth-inning single. Long was later lifted for a pinch hitter in the eighth. The 24-year-old is up to 10 RBI and a .247/.327/.398 slash line in 97 at-bats this year, having hit safely in five of his last six starts.

Long went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a loss to the Astros on Sunday.

The 21-1 walloping the Mariners endured Sunday represented the largest margin of defeat in franchise history. Therefore, Long's fourth-inning round tripper, while irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, at least prevented the ignominy of a shutout. It was the rookie's second homer at the big-league level overall, and he's now hit safely in each of the three starts he's logged since his return to the Mariners earlier in the month.

Long, who's been limited to pinch hitting since being called up from Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday, will get into the starting lineup soon and could see time in left field, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Long's primary position is second base, but veteran Dee Gordon continues to hold down the fort at the keystone and the Mariners also have multiple options to give him an occasional breather. Therefore, the outfield would represent an alternate path into the starting nine if manager Scott Servais wants to get the rookie some valuable game reps. Despite the fact he's only made a pair of pinch-hit appearances thus far, Long is still keeping busy, as he's been engaged in extensive pregame work -- he was able to play in only four games at Triple-A Tacoma following a finger injury, prior to getting the call back to the big leagues.

Long was called up by the Mariners on Tuesday.

Long appeared in the first 19 games of his big-league career earlier in the season, posting a modest .232/.329/.377 slash line. He could earn a fair number of starts down the stretch as the Mariners look to audition their young players for next season.

Long, who's gone 2-for-13 with a solo home run in his three games since returning to action at Triple-A Tacoma following a finger injury, is not guaranteed to be called up once the Rainiers' season ends, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Long already has a 19-game major-league tour of duty under his belt this season, a stint during which he slashed .232/.329/.377 with seven doubles, one home run, five RBI, 10 walks, three stolen bases and nine runs. The 24-year-old has been limited to 56 minor-league games overall in 2019 due to injuries, and the Mariners may opt to let him rest up in anticipation of competing for a roster spot in spring training.

Long (finger) was activated from the minor-league injured list at Triple-A Tacoma on Friday.

Long spent some time with the Mariners earlier in the season, hitting .232/.329/.377 in 19 games. He's been out with a broken finger since mid-July but is a candidate for a September callup now that he's healthy.

Long (finger) has moved his rehab to Triple-A Tacoma, Tacoma Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto reports.

Long had been rehabbing in Arizona from a broken finger, and while he's not active just yet, this is a step forward for the 24-year-old. He's aiming for a weekend return from the injured list if everything goes according to plan.

Long (finger) continues to rehab at Arizona and remains without a timetable for his return, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Long is still on the mend from a fractured finger, and the issue has limited his baseball activities while in Arizona. He's been out since June 12 and remains without a clear timetable for his return to Triple-A.

Long is still recovering from a fractured finger on his right hand and is expected to miss a few more weeks of action at Triple-A Tacoma, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

The Mariners demoted Long to Triple-A in mid-June, but he would likely have been summoned back to the big leagues already if not for missing time at Tacoma due to a shoulder injury in addition to the fractured finger. Long, who suffered the latter injury back on July 11, looks like he'll remain sidelined until around mid-August while recovering from the injury. Assuming Long incurs no setbacks along the way, he should get the call back to the Mariners when rosters expand in September, if not sooner.