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Even though he was able to spend some time in the big league camp this past spring training, the former Cavalier is going to get his first experience at the big league level during the regular season.
The Mariners announced on Friday that they will be sending former Florida catcher Mike Zunino to AAA Tacoma and will be replacing Zunino with Hicks.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mariners have send Zunino down and called up Hicks.</p>— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) <a href="https://twitter.com/shannondrayer/status/637312319156981761">August 28, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Even though "Jazz" has only batted .245 at Tacoma this season, he will come in to Friday riding a 6 game hitting streak that has seen him compile a .347 average over that stretch. Couple that with his 6 Home Runs and 35 RBI and the Mariners are hoping that he might be able to spark a team that is just 12-12 in August (a record the Nats would gladly take).
Zunino, on the other hand, has not become the catcher that the M's hoped he would turn into when they drafted him in the 1st round of the 2012 draft with the #3 overall pick. In his three seasons with the club, Zunino has hit just .193, including just .174 this season.
Hicks will be the 2nd UVa alum to play for the Mariners this season. Former SS Chris Taylor has logged 37 games with the M's this season and could see some more time in September after the rosters expand.