The Seattle Mariners announced on Mar. 27 that pitcher Carlos Vargas has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right lat strain. In response, the team recalled right-hander Cole Wilcox from Triple-A Tacoma ahead of Friday’s game against the Guardians.
This move comes just one day into the regular season and affects bullpen depth for the Mariners. Vargas, known for his high-velocity pitching, first experienced discomfort during catch play on Thursday and did not appear in Seattle’s opening loss. The injury is retroactive to Tuesday, but no specific timeline has been set for his return.
Manager Dan Wilson said that early-season bullpen management will be handled carefully: “Some of that’s assessed on how they feel [each day], but those things obviously ebb and flow throughout the season, too. And early in the year, sometimes guys feel strong, but you still want to be careful in some ways.”
Wilcox was called up after a strong Spring Training performance where he averaged 97.3 mph with his sinker over eight Cactus League outings and experimented with a new changeup grip. “A lot more depth, it’s definitely a four[-seam] grip,” Wilcox said about his pitch development. “But the more you throw it, like anything, it gets a little more comfortable.”
Wilcox joined Seattle via trade from Tampa Bay last November after spending five seasons in the minors and making his MLB debut last September. His flexibility as a reliever with minor league options contributed to him starting this season at Triple-A before being recalled following Vargas’s injury.
The Mariners are expected to monitor their relievers’ workloads closely as several pitchers are returning from injuries or high-stress postseasons.
