Mariners News: M’s Add Steven Lerud to Replace Injured Sucre

Seattle Mariners catcher Jesus Sucre suffered a sprained right ankle and broken fibula while sliding into second base during the post season in winter ball on January 17 and will be out at least six months. The Mariners have added Steven Lerud to replace Sucre on the roster.

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Sucre played in 52 games last season with the Seattle Mariners.  He batted .157 last season with the Mariners.  Sucre was having a terrific season with the Magallanes in the winter league playoffs in Venezuela according to Gabriel Rodriguez. He hit .350 in 14 regular season games and had a .345 batting average in the post season before the injury.

The 52 games is the most Sucre has caught in the Majors.  This injury guarantees that he will not be with the team through mid-season.  So the Mariners will be looking to add depth to the Major League roster at the catching position.  Currently the Mariners have Chris Iannetta slated to be the starting catcher, but then things get a little murky.

The Mariners have Mike Zunino, Steve Clevenger, Steve Baron and now have added Steven Lerud.  Of all the catchers the Mariners have on the roster only Clevenger and Lerud are left handed batters.

Mike Zunino, the Mariners catcher of the future was rushed to the Major Leagues and has struggled in his two seasons with the Mariners.  At the plate last season in 386 plate appearances he batted .174 and was sent down to Triple-A towards the end of the season will most likely start this season in Triple-A again.

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Steven Lerud  is a 31 year old left handed batting and right hand throwing catcher.  The 6-foot-1, 220 pound catcher has spent 12 years in the Minors.  He’s batted .224/.318/.349 in 12 Minor League seasons.  He has a 71.6% contact rate and bats from the left side.

Lerud will probably not make the Major League roster based on his past history.  In all likelihood the Mariners have signed him to add organizational depth at the catching position.  He has had 15 at bats at the Major League level and that’s it.  But as with every player with an invite to Spring Training there is always hope.  And adding a bat from the left side from the catching position gives the organization an option they might need.

The catching position has not been something that this organization has not paid much attention to in past years.  Yet the catcher is often called the general of the defense on a baseball team.  This front office staff might do well by the team to find a gem.  Truth be told if Clevenger or Lerud made the Major League roster out of Spring Training it would be a fascinating story to follow.