PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — Cuban rookie Roenis Elias has earned a spot in the Seattle Mariners’ starting rotation.
The 25-year-old left-hander has never pitched above Double-A after a fine spring in which he had a 2.04 ERA in five games — two starts. He walked eight and struck out eight.
Lefty reliever Joe Beimel also made the club, with the Mariners optioning pitchers Blake Beavan and Brandon Maurer to Triple-A Tacoma along with reliever Lucas Luetge.
Elias and Beimel were added to the 40-man roster.
Elias and recently signed right-hander Chris Young will take the spots of injured starters Hisashi Iwakuma and Taijuan Walker, who are expected to begin the season on the disabled list. Seattle opens Monday in Anaheim, Calif., against the Angels.
