The Mariners announced a short while ago that they have placed Franklin Gutierrez on the 7-day disabled list with a concussion. Steve Delabar, a right-handed reliever, was called up from Triple-A Tacoma to replace him on the active roster.
Gutierrez was diagnosed with a mild concussion after he was hit in the side of the face by a wild pickoff throw from Red Sox left-hander Franklin Morales last night. He was on the ground for a few tense minutes before slowly getting to his feet and walking off the field flanked by team trainers.
Gutierrez’s breakthrough 2009 season earned him a four-year, $20.25 million contract extension from the Mariners, but a wide variety of health issues have kept him off the field over the past two seasons. The 29-year-old center fielder was limited to just 92 games last season due to a stomach ailment and a strained left oblique. He didn’t make his debut this season until June 14 due to a torn pectoral muscle and plantar fasciitis in his heel. Hopefully some better luck is in his future.
