Tacoma added a major league veteran to the catching mix yesterday, shortly before first pitch of the Rainiers 5-4 win over Las Vegas.
Pedro Severino, a 29-year-old native of the Dominican Republic, has joined the team and he may be in the lineup tonight. Severino began the season with El Paso, hitting .286 with three home run in 18 games, but he opted out of his contract on May 15 to try to find a better opportunity to return to the big leagues. The Mariners convinced him to sign here.
A veteran of parts of eight major league seasons, Severino’s transactions page makes him seem like the Kevin Bacon of former Tacoma Rainiers catchers. He hit his first major league home run shortly after getting called up by the Washington Nationals due to an injury to Jose Lobaton. The Baltimore Orioles once claimed him off waivers because of an injury to Jesus Sucre. While with the Orioles, Severino caught John Means no-hitter against the Mariners in 2021.
The Rainiers have had difficulty controlling the opposing running game this year, which is in large part due to the new rules limiting pickoff attempts. This is happening across the sport, but it’s been particularly bad for the Rainiers, who have thrown out just 11.5% (8-for-69) of opposing base stealers – and that includes pitcher pickoffs.
Maybe Severino can help here. He’s always been known for his strong arm, and has thrown out 38% of the attempted base stealers in major league games – although we should note he was at 15% (3-for-20) with El Paso this year, playing under the new rules.
Severino served an 80-game suspension while in the big leagues with the Brewers last season for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He apologized to his teammates and lost half his salary – and if you take the time to read his explanation, the story sounds believable.
The signing of Severino gives Tacoma four catchers, as he joins Brian O’Keefe, Jacob Nottingham, and Cooper Hummel in the mix behind the plate. Can’t imagine Tacoma will go very long with four catchers on the roster… well, maybe we will. Remember when we went a big chunk of the 2009 season with six first basemen?
RAINIERS DAILY
YESTERDAY: Tacoma won the homestand opener against Las Vegas, 5-4, as Zach DeLoach connected for a two-run triple in the fifth inning to give the Rainiers the lead. Tacoma’s bullpen was stellar, as six relievers combined to pitch 5.2 innings and allow just one run. The Rainiers have won three straight games, with Matt Festa getting the save in each of them.
TODAY: Las Vegas Aviators (21-25) at Tacoma Rainiers (22-24), 6:05.
OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Oakland A’s.
OPPOSING MANAGER: Fran Riordan.
SEASON SERIES: Las Vegas leads, 4-3.
PITCHERS: RHP Paul Blackburn (0-0, 9.53) at RHP Darren McCaughan (2-2, 8.91)
Blackburn is an Oakland A’s starter on a rehabilitation assignment – he’s had a tough time pitching effectively with a “right middle fingernail avulsion,” which sounds kind of awful. McCaughan starts today after his Sunday start in Albuquerque was washed out by the middle of the first inning 90-minute rain delay.
ROSTER MOVES: There was an additional roster move right before first pitch yesterday: the Mariners announced the signing of veteran catcher Pedro Severino and added him to the Rainiers roster, and infielder Pat Valaika was placed on the Development List.
HOT HITTERS: Zach DeLoach has a ten-game hitting streak, going 17-for-37 during the stretch… Cooper Hummel has a seven-game hitting streak… Mike Ford ranks second in the PCL with 47 RBI… Mason McCoy homered twice during the Albuquerque series.
OPPONENT NEWS: Las Vegas is on a 12-game road trip; they just lost four of six at Salt Lake… the Aviators had a 22-run uprising in game two of the Salt Lake series… the Aviators have some hot hitters: Trenton Brooks has reached base in 19 straight games, and he had an 11-game hitting streak end Saturday… Jonah Bride is batting .373 in May… the only former Rainiers player on the Las Vegas roster is pitcher Joe Wieland, who went 14-6 as a starter for Tacoma in 2016.
BROADCAST: All games will be broadcast free on a live audio stream which is available right here.
Unfortunately, there is no traditional terrestrial radio station carrying the games at this time.
PCL SCOREBOARD: Follow all league games in real-time with links to broadcasts and Gameday screens right here.
Links:
- The Mariners picked up a 3-2 win over Oakland last night, and reached .500 for the season.
- Larry Stone wonders what happens if Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez are both great.
- Early work is paying off for Kelenic.
- Another big step was taken as the Oakland A’s pursue a move to Las Vegas.
June 1, 2023