Seattle Mariners call the right-hander George Kirbyone of the best potential players in baseball, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Bassan on Saturday.
Sources have told ESPN that Kirby, who has been scratched since making his Double-A Arkansas debut on Saturday, will play his first major league game for the Mariners against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
The Mariners picked the right junior rookie on Thursday Matt Brash at Triple-A Tacoma, with a plan to move him into the Bullpen role for the remainder of the season.
Kirby, 24, who was Elon’s 20th pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, has a massive ceiling with great driving and above-average stuff, including Fastball, who averaged 97.3 mph during the 2021 season.
Some Brass Mariners have even called it a “robopitcher” due to its excellent grip.
Kirby has dominated in his five Double-A Texas League starts this season, going 2-0 with 1.82 ERA and 24 hitting in 24 2/3 innings for Arkansas. He could certainly lend his support to the Mariners, who have 3.68 ERA staff and are playing 16 games in 16 days.
Ranked as the 34th prospect to watch by ESPN as he enters the 2023 season.
Brach, who turns 24 next week, was between 1 and 3 with a 7.65 ERA in five starts.
In other moves on Saturday, Sailors put the catcher Tom Murphy On the list with a dislocated left shoulder and a recovered holder Cal rally From Triple-A Tacoma.
Murphy went down with the injury in Game 5 of Friday’s game, hitting a .303 home run and has scored nine games in 14 games this season.
ESPN’s Kelly McDaniel contributed to this report.
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