Mariners dealing with more issues as Victor Robles heads to the IL

The Mariners announced a trio of roster moves on Wednesday, including calling up infielder/outfielder Connor Joe from Triple-A Tacoma.

It’s already been an eventful start to the season on the injury front for the Mariners, with them currently awaiting the return of the likes of Bryce Miller and Miles Mastrobuoni. Well, on Wednesday Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Justin Hollander announced another injury, this time to Victor Robles.

Robles has been placed on the 10-day Injured List with a right pectoral strain, retroactive to April 7. As a result the Mariners selected Connor Joe from Triple-A Tacoma, while Hollander also confirmed Carlos Vargas has been transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL with his right lat strain.

As per Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, Mariners manager Dan Wilson advised Robles suffered his injury while throwing to the bases in outfield drills ahead of Tuesday evening’s 3-2 loss to the Rangers. The outfielder had appeared in five games so far this season, going 3-for-13 with one RBI and a stolen base.

Injuries are always frustrating for players, but it’s a tough situation for Robles, who was limited to 32 games last season mostly due to a dislocated left shoulder. He was tremendous when he first arrived in Seattle during June 2024 as he batted .328 with a .860 OPS and 153 OPS+, with this latest injury a setback to his plans to show he can still produce at a similar level.

Victor Robles’ absence gives Connor Joe his opportunity with the M’s

Meanwhile, Joe will hope to make a positive impact in his first opportunity with the Mariners, with Wilson commending him for his leadership skills. He made a good impression during spring training in Peoria, batting .340 with a .971 OPS as he made the most of the additional opportunities provided by other players being away for the World Baseball Classic.

The 33-year-old entered the Majors with plenty of hope after being selected in the first round of the 2014 draft by the Pirates, but has since gone on to become somewhat of a journeyman, with the Mariners being his seventh professional organization. He mainly plays at first base (where he started Wednesday’s series finale in Texas) and the corner outfield positions, and as a right-handed batter has traditionally had more success against southpaw pitchers at the Major League level.

As for Vargas, his designation to the 60-day IL means the injury is more serious than first anticipated and there is no timeline for his return at this stage. He suffered the lat strain while catching in the lead-up to Opening Day, with him hoping to take the next step in his development as a reliable reliever after making 70 appearances out of the bullpen last year.

Photos court​‌esy of Tim Rogers Photography & Mariners Comms

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