The Seattle Mariners made a roster adjustment prior to Tuesday’s matchup against the Oakland Athletics, promoting rookie right-handed reliever Alex Hoppe from Triple-A Tacoma while designating fellow right-hander Casey Legumina for assignment.
Hoppe, 27, has been dominant during his time with the Tacoma Rainiers this season. Over eight appearances, he has yet to allow a run across eight innings of work, collecting four saves along the way. His command and effectiveness have stood out, as he has given up just four hits and three walks while striking out 12 batters. Opposing hitters have struggled significantly against him, managing only a .148 batting average.
Acquired in November 2025 in a trade with the Boston Red Sox in exchange for minor league catcher Luke Heyman, Hoppe is still awaiting his Major League debut. The former sixth-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of UNC Greensboro brings an impressive arsenal to the mound. His four-seam fastball typically sits in the 97–98 mph range, complemented by a slider, changeup, and cutter, giving him a versatile four-pitch mix that has translated well at the Triple-A level.
To make room on the roster, the Mariners parted ways with Legumina, a 28-year-old pitcher who has had mixed results this season. In eight appearances, he posted a 4.63 ERA, allowing six earned runs over 11 2/3 innings. During that stretch, he surrendered 15 hits and issued three walks while recording nine strikeouts. His most recent outing came Monday against Oakland, where he struggled significantly, giving up three runs in just one inning and being charged with the loss in a 6-3 defeat.
Legumina’s performance in 2026 followed a challenging 2025 campaign in which he appeared in 48 games for Seattle. Last season, he registered a 5.62 ERA across 49 2/3 innings, indicating ongoing inconsistency at the big league level. Despite showing flashes of potential, he was unable to secure a steady role in the Mariners’ bullpen.
Following these moves, Seattle’s 40-man roster now stands at 39 players, leaving some flexibility for future transactions as the season progresses.
In a related development, the Mariners also announced that right-hander Blas Castaño has been claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies. Castaño, 27, had been designated for assignment on April 14. He made his Major League debut with Seattle last season, appearing in one game where he allowed three runs over three innings. Although his time with the Mariners was brief, he will now get an opportunity to continue his career with Colorado.
Overall, the Mariners’ latest roster shuffle reflects an effort to strengthen their bullpen by rewarding strong minor league performance while moving on from players who have struggled to produce consistent results at the Major League level.
Leave a Reply