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Gregorius

Gregorius has opted out of his minor league pact with the Mariners after spending 25 games at Triple-A Tacoma.

Gregorius was tearing the cover off the ball in the independent Mexican League this season and provides Seattle with some extra organizational infield depth at Triple-A Tacoma. The 33-year-old veteran shortstop struggled to a lackluster .567 OPS in 63 games last year for the Phillies before being released in early August. He’s a decent depth pickup for the Mariners.

Gregorius played for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic earlier this year and will head to the Mexican League for the 2023 season. He was released by the Phillies last August after struggling to a .567 OPS across 63 games.

Gregorius tied the game at 1-1 in the third. The Netherlands took command in the sixth when Josh Palacios singled in Gregorius and Chadwick Tromp delivered a two-run double. The Netherlands and Cuba are the favorites to advance to the quarterfinals from Pool A, which also features Chinese Taipei, Panama and Italy. As for Gregorius, very little has been heard about him since he was released by the Phillies last August. A nice showing here might spark some interest from a major league team.

This is essentially the corresponding 40-man roster move for Jean Segura’s activation from the 60-day injured list. Gregorius, in the final year of a two-year, $28 million contract, had posted just a .210/.263/.304 batting line across 232 plate appearances while also struggling defensively. Bryson Stott is expected to serve as the Phillies’ primary shortstop the rest of the way as they look to claim a Wild Card spot.

Gregorius’ 95.3-mph single in the top of the sixth scored two runs. Later on in the top of the eighth, he hit a 103.4-mph two-run home run over the right-field wall. This was his first home run since September 24th, 2021.

Gregorius, who missed some time last week with a sore knee, is 2-for-21 to begin July. The 32-year-old has hit as many as 27 homers in a season and he finished with 13 in 103 games last year, but he’s still without a long ball in 174 plate appearances this year.

Gregorius appears poised to miss his third consecutive contest after getting an injection last week to help alleviate ongoing discomfort in his left knee. The 32-year-old veteran shortstop missed a month earlier this season with a left knee sprain and has struggled to overcome the persistent issue. It sounds like he’s going to avoid a trip to the injured list and is considered day-to-day moving forward.

Gregorius received an injection on Friday to help ease the soreness in his aching left knee. He’ll be re-evaluated on Tuesday. The 32-year-old believes that the knee issue has sapped his power this season, as he has yet to slug a home run in 155 plate appearances on the year.

Despite usually hitting fifth and sixth, Gregoirus has gone 13 straight games without an RBI. He still hasn’t homered, and he has just 12 RBI in 155 plate appearances for the season. But at least he’s making up for it by playing well below average defense.