Mariners Sign Right-Hander Adonis Medina to Minor League Deal

The Seattle Mariners have added depth to their pitching staff by signing right-handed pitcher Adonis Medina to a minor league contract, as reported by Matt Eddy of Baseball America. The deal is expected to come with an invitation to big league Spring Training next year.

Adonis Medina's Career Journey
Medina, who will turn 28 next month, began his professional career with the Philadelphia Phillies after signing out of the Dominican Republic. He made his pro debut in 2014 and quickly climbed the minor league ranks. By 2017, he was a consensus top-100 prospect in baseball following a strong performance at Single-A.
However, Medina's progress stalled over the next two years. He struggled at the Double-A level in 2019, posting a 4.94 ERA while striking out 17.5% of opponents. Despite these struggles, the Phillies called him up for his major league debut during the shortened 2020 season. In a spot start against the Blue Jays, Medina surrendered two runs over four innings, striking out four but also walking three.

Medina split the 2021 season between the big leagues and Triple-A, showing promise with a 3.52 ERA in four major league appearances but struggling with a 5.05 ERA at Triple-A. His inconsistent performance led the Phillies to place him on waivers, after which he was claimed by the Pirates and subsequently traded to the Mets.

Transition to Relief Pitching
With the Mets, Medina transitioned to a full-time reliever. While he posted a 4.65 ERA at Triple-A, his major league performance continued to be shaky, resulting in a 6.08 ERA over 23 2/3 innings. The Mets designated him for assignment in September, prompting Medina to explore opportunities overseas.

Stint in South Korea and Return to the U.S.
Medina signed with the KBO's KIA Tigers in South Korea, where he attempted to return to starting pitching. Unfortunately, this experiment did not yield positive results, as he posted a 6.05 ERA in 58 innings over 12 starts. Medina was released in July and remained unsigned until the Washington Nationals brought him back on a minor league deal in February.

With the Nationals, Medina showed improvement, recording a 3.76 ERA over 64 2/3 innings in 49 relief appearances at Triple-A. He struck out 21.9% of batters faced while walking 9.5%, marking his best ratio since his days as a top prospect.

Opportunity with the Mariners
​Now with the Mariners, Medina has the chance to compete for a spot in the bullpen during Spring Training. If he does not make the Opening Day roster, he will provide valuable non-roster depth in the minors. The Mariners hope Medina can build on his recent success and become a key contributor to their pitching staff.