PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- With Kevin Kiermaier scratched with tightness in his neck, Mallex Smith made his Grapefruit League debut on Friday against the Tigers. Smith was in center field and batted seventh.
Smith had been sidelined with a tight left oblique, which he sustained playing winter ball. He has been anxious for his first game with his new team.
"Extremely," he said. "I've been waiting on this, I've been waiting to play. So I'm excited. You just got to go out there and play my game, be smart about everything."
Smith, 23, was acquired in the January trade that sent Drew Smyly to the Mariners, shortly after Smith had been dealt by Atlanta to Seattle.