Tom Wilhelmsen was demoted to Triple-A Tacoma on August 6 and registered a 10.50 ERA over 12 2/3 innings there, but the Mariners have decided to recall him anyway because Tacoma’s season is just about over and major league rosters have expanded to 40.
“Hopefully he can flip that switch again,” manager Eric Wedge told Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times on Sunday. “I do feel strongly that he’s going to be a part of this. In what role, I don’t know. He has too big an arm. He has too much experience. He’s had too much success up here in a vital role not to be.”
Wilhelmsen converted 29 saves alongside a 2,50 ERA and 9.9 K/9 in 2012 and got off to a fine start this season, but the wheels fell off for him around mid-June and he hasn’t been able to screw them back on.
Danny Farquhar has been serving as the Mariners’ primary closer since the beginning of August.
