It is safe to say the 2023 campaign hasn’t started the way most of us hoped. Poor relief pitching, critical errors, and slow starts from the three free agent bats (Hernandez, Pollock, Wong) has this team sitting at near the bottom of the division standings (4-8). The good news is three-fold: It’s still early, Jerry Dipoto is known to tweak the roster (think Carlos Santana trade last year), and reinforcements for an anemic bottom of the lineup are on the way.
Dylan Moore (oblique) and Taylor Trammell (hamate surgery) will start playing in extended spring training games on Monday. Servais hopes Moore can be activated from the IL at some point on the next homestand.
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) April 7, 2023
The team is backing off Dylan Moore’s rehab, as reports surfaced today that he wasn’t ready. Manager Scott Servais said he will need more than a handful of games in Tacoma before he is activated. Moore is slated to platoon with the lefty-swinging Kolten Wong, as well as give Eugenio Suarez and J.P. Crawford days off in the field. Moore could potentially return during the club’s April 14-23 homestand.
As for Taylor Trammell, who put in major work this offseason at Driveline, he is already resuming baseball activities and should be either in Everett or Tacoma for the rehab assignment. With a nine game homestand coming up, keeping the 26-year-old outfielder close to T-Mobile as he further behind Moore due to the extent of his injury (Hamate Bone).
Training Bat to Ball skills and Bat Speed are not mutually exclusive @DrivelineBB!@Taytram24 is a perfect example of this. When a hitter comes in focused everyday you can have specific intentions on different days of the week & make great progress in multiple areas. pic.twitter.com/HrvURbzozu
— Andrew Aydt (@AndrewAydt) November 18, 2022
Adding Trammell to the bottom of the lineup either as a designated hitter or outfielder who can spell Teoscar Hernandez could be just what the doctor ordered. He offers much more upside than Tommy La Stella and Cooper Hummel. Especially, if he takes a step forward like Jarred Kelenic.