The Seattle Mariners needed to find a replacement for outfielder Randy Arozarena when he went down with a left hamstring strain.
Taking Arozarena’s place is a fairly unknown name to the casual baseball fan. On Tuesday, the American League West club promoted outfielder Curtis Washington Jr. directly from High-A Everett.
The 26-year-old has played just two games above High-A, leapfrogging Double-A in 2024 to spend a brief stint with Seattle’s Triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers.
Washington is a former 19th-round draft selection of the Mariners from Purdue University in 2022. If and when he gets into a game, it’ll be his Major League debut.
In 44 games this season, he hit .190/.280/.394 with seven home runs, 22 RBIs, and an unspectacular .674 OPS. Washington brings good speed to Seattle’s bench, swiping 82 bags in 100 attempts in his five seasons across four minor league levels.
It’s quite odd to see a player with little to no experience in the upper minors promoted straight to the Majors. How will Washington fare against big league arms? In all likelihood, the organization views him as a short-term option as a late-game defensive replacement and pinch runner.
In a game at Single-A Mondesto last May, Washington hit for the cycle by going 5-for-6 with two doubles, a triple, and a home run. He has spent most of his time in left field in 2026, but can shift over to center or right if called upon.
The Mariners are showing confidence in the youngster to fill Arozarena’s roster spot while he’s sidelined. Washington is five years older than Lazaro Montes and Michael Arroyo, both top prospects in Seattle’s system who could’ve received the call instead.
This is a temporary solution to what could be a short-lived stint on the injured list for Arozarena. Any production the Mariners get from Washington should be considered a perk of the roster move.
Photo Courtesy of Seattle Mariners on X
