Mariners pitcher Sauryn Lao, a former infield prospect, makes his MLB debut

TORONTO — At some point during the 2022 season while languishing in the minors as a position player without much upward trajectory, Sauryn Lao asked for a week to consider the pretty drastic idea he was presented with.

Give up the dream of making the majors as an infielder and see if there might be a path as a pitcher. After a week of thinking about it, Lao called back the coach in the Dodgers organization who suggested the change.

“If you believe I can play big leagues as a pitcher, I’m going to do my best every single day no matter what. And that’s what I do,” Lao recalled from that conversation on Sunday morning while sitting inside the dugout of the Rogers Centre after the Mariners selected his contract from Triple-A Tacoma.

The 25-year-old right-hander is the latest arm brought to the majors to provide a little bit of depth in the Mariners’ heavily used bullpen of late.

Lao made three appearances for Tacoma, all three coming as starts and all three lasting three innings each. He allowed just two earned runs and seven hits across those nine innings, with both runs and six of those hits coming in his last outing against Sacramento on April 13.

For now, he’s just an arm to provide options in the bullpen. His story of getting to the majors is unique.

“It feels really good. Just want to say, thank God for the opportunity to be here,” Lao said.

Signed as a 16-year-old out of the Dominican Republic as a shortstop, Lao came up through the Los Angeles Dodgers organization with the intention of being an infielder. Most of his time in the minors was spent playing the corner infield positions.

But his chances at progressing as a position player and hitter were beginning to plateau. And when presented with the idea of transitioning to being a pitcher, Lao was all-in on the idea.

Does he miss being a position player?

“Hell no,” Lao said with a laugh.

“You have to be good every day. You might get five hits one night, but you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow,” he said. “You had to be good every single day. As a pitcher, it’s not easy but if you’re a starter, you throw every five days, if you throw good and the team wins, you have four days to be happy.”

Lao’s path to the majors on the bump started during the 2023 season when he spent most of the season pitching for Rancho Cucamonga, the Low-A affiliate of the Dodgers in the Cal League. He reached Double-A Tulsa by the end of that season and last year split time between Tulsa and Oklahoma City in the PCL.

He had a 3.74 ERA and 1.377 WHIP in 40 appearances between the two teams. Not bad for someone in just their second full season pitching.

Lao landed in the Mariners’ lap as a minor-league free agent signing last December and was in major-league camp for a time in spring training. He’s developed a couple of fastballs, a slider and a changeup.

And despite an extensive journey through the minors to date, Lao still won’t be 26 until later this summer.

Boston calling

The Mariners will give right-hander Emerson Hancock another turn in the rotation as he’s been slated to start on Wednesday in Boston.

Thanks to Monday’s off day, the M’s had the chance to tweak the rotation yet again, but instead will keep everybody in order.

Bryce Miller is scheduled to start Tuesday’s opener, with Hancock going on Wednesday and Bryan Woo starting the series finale on Thursday expected to be opposed by Garrett Crochet.

Hancock didn’t make it out of the first inning in his first start of the season, but after a demotion to the minors rebounded with five strong innings allowing two runs this past Thursday against Cincinnati.  

Lawrence designated for assignment

Casey Lawrence was designated for assignment as he continued the yo-yo of being on and off the M’s roster. Lawrence arrived in Toronto on Friday when Troy Taylor was sent down to Tacoma and pitched in the first two games of the series with the Blue Jays.