SEATTLE -- The banged-up Mariners made another injury-related roster move on Tuesday afternoon, but the right hip inflammation that utility man Dylan Moore has been dealing with, they hope, is far less severe than some of their other significant health-related issues.
• UTIL Dylan Moore placed on 10-day injured list (right hip inflammation, retroactive to April 26)
• INF/OF Samad Taylor selected from Triple-A Tacoma
• RHP Gregory Santos transferred from 15-day IL to 60-day IL
But the hits kept coming during early batting practice, when Luke Raley tweaked his back and side area on a swing and was scratched before Seattle's series opener vs. the Angels. Outfielder Rhylan Thomas was in the process of getting to T-Mobile Park from Triple-A Tacoma as a just-in-case option, though the Rainiers are currently in Las Vegas and the club has not yet made another roster move.
The club cleared a 40-man roster spot for Taylor by moving Santos to the longer-term shelf, on the same day that the reliever was scheduled to undergo surgery in Chicago on his right knee.
Additionally, George Kirby called the live batting practice he threw on Monday’s off-day “nasty” and that he “felt great.” Kirby was up to 95 mph when facing a pair of hitters from High-A Everett at T-Mobile Park, breaking multiple bats in the process, per pitching coach Pete Woodworth.
Mariners manager Dan Wilson suggested that Kirby could be ready for a Minor League rehab assignment, potentially as soon as this weekend.
“We’re putting together that schedule now and looking ahead,” Wilson said. “But all things considered, him coming out of that yesterday feeling good and the reports are good. Everything is lining up to be in a good spot.”
As for Moore -- who was the American League Player of the Week last week -- he suffered the injury during the first inning of last Thursday’s win at Fenway Park. He remained in that game but was pinch-hit for in the sixth inning, then he played all of Friday night’s loss back in Seattle but didn’t play on Saturday or Sunday.
Specifically, Moore said that it’s the adductor area that he was experiencing the most soreness. And after undergoing surgery on his core area in the 2022-23 offseason, he opted to undergo an MRI on Saturday out of extra precaution -- he then sent the results to the doctor that performed the surgery and learned that something was amiss.
“It’s not even like a Grade 1 strain,” said Moore, who also received a cortisone shot to expedite recovery.
Because the move is retroactive, Moore could only miss six additional games before being eligible to return on Tuesday vs. the A’s in Sacramento.
“It just seems like a smart idea to give it an extra week,” Moore said, adding that his unique role of playing essentially every position other than catcher can have an extra burden, given the differences from quick reactions and dives he makes as an infielder to more sprinting in the outfield.
“On Friday, when I was playing, I wasn't my full self,” Moore said. “I have a tough time going out there, not being 100 percent or close to it, as far as moving around, getting in my deep squat to field ground balls, etc. So that was another reason to make sure. I feel like in my role, me playing less than 100 percent of my role is not smart.”
The core injury that Moore initially dealt with first surfaced in August 2022, which he played through into the Mariners’ postseason run that year. Then after the surgery, he suffered Grade 1 oblique strain during Spring Training in ‘23, which led to multiple setbacks and delayed his start to that season until June -- one in which he played only 67 games.
Moore said he doesn’t think it’s a re-aggravation of those injuries, adding: “It feels similar, but it just feels like maybe the hips were super tight, a lot of running in that Boston series, playing right field. And just kind of an accumulation of things. We’ve got a good idea of it now.
“I'm definitely more well equipped, and also in that same sense, more wary of what it could lead to. That's why I think that contributed to this decision to play it safe.”
Moore has been off to a stellar start in ‘25, with six homers, one double, nine RBIs and five stolen bases, good for 164 wRC+ (league average is 100) and a slash line of .286/.346/.557 (.903 OPS). He’s been even better against lefties, with five of those six homers and a 1.447 OPS in 33 plate appearances.
Taylor is expected to fill Moore’s utility role off the bench. In 24 games at Tacoma, he’s slashed .321/.390/.560 (.949 OPS) with five homers, five doubles and 14 RBIs.