Seattle designates RHP Casey Legumina for assignment, calls up RHP Alex Hoppe

TL;DR

The Seattle Mariners have designated RHP Casey Legumina for assignment and called up rookie RHP Alex Hoppe for bullpen depth. Hoppe has been effective in Triple-A, boasting eight scoreless outings this season.

Key points

Seattle Mariners designate RHP Casey Legumina for assignment
Rookie RHP Alex Hoppe called up for bullpen depth
Legumina had a 5.43 ERA over the past two seasons
Hoppe recorded eight scoreless outings in Triple-A
Hoppe will be the first Mariners player to debut in 2026

Seattle MarinersCasey LeguminaAlex HoppeBoston Red Sox

PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 24: Alex Hoppe #48 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the fifth inning of a spring training game against the Chicago White Sox at Peoria Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Seattle Mariners announced Tuesday afternoon that they have designated RHP Casey Legumina for assignment, recalling rookie RHP Alex Hoppe for additional bullpen depth. The move comes on the heels of a difficult outing for Legumina, but the righty had been reasonably effective in the early stages of the season prior to being tasked with the heart of the lefty-heavy Athletics order in the 8th inning of Monday night’s knotted affair. Asked predominantly for mop-up and low-leverage work, the Gonzaga product amassed a 5.43/4.15 ERA/FIP in 61.1 innings over the past two seasons with Seattle, a total of -0.9/0.0 bWAR/fWAR. At times, Legumina became the de facto long reliever for the M’s, pitching at least parts of multiple innings in half his appearances in 2026 and more than a handful a season ago. Though the Bean Man could be claimed to fill out another club’s bullpen, it’s plausible he passes through waivers and returns to Triple-A Tacoma for Seattle to call upon again. His departure gives the Mariners a nearly fully rested bullpen headed into the final two tilts of a 13-game set without off days. The 27 year old Hoppe has yet to make his major league debut, having spent the first few weeks of 2026 with the Rainiers in Tacoma. Even without Legumina’s tough outing a night ago, Hoppe was pushing the M’s to make a move, with eight scoreless outings (well, one unearned run) as Tacoma’s de facto closer, punching out 12 and walking just three while yielding only four hits in 8.0 innings. Nick Vitalis wrote Hoppe’s 40 in 40, which you can and a spectacular celebrity comp, and Kate should have some more details on Hoppe this afternoon to boot. The short of it is… Hoppe has had command issues, having been a 6th round pick out of UNC Greensboro by the in 2022 as a cost-saving senior sign whose expectation was to climb the ranks swiftly. Instead, it’s been a trickier traversal, with three rounds at Double-A Portland from 2023-2025 before cracking Triple-A Worcester last year. As you can see from , Hoppe eschews some recent trends in pitch design and development. He’s “just” 6’1, but creates a steeper angle with a rather over-the-top delivery that makes his heater and breaking ball appear to tunnel well. These pitches also make it difficult for hitters to elevate, as Hoppe has run high groundball rates for much of his career and has continued to do so in his short time this season. If and when he pitches for Seattle, he’ll be the first Mariners player to make their MLB debut in 2026.

Q&A

Why did the Seattle Mariners designate Casey Legumina for assignment?

The Mariners designated Casey Legumina for assignment following a difficult outing, despite his reasonable effectiveness earlier in the season.

What are Alex Hoppe's statistics in Triple-A before his call-up?

Before his call-up, Alex Hoppe had eight scoreless outings in Triple-A, allowing only one unearned run, with 12 strikeouts and just three walks in 8.0 innings.

What impact does Legumina's departure have on the Mariners' bullpen?

Legumina's departure gives the Mariners a nearly fully rested bullpen as they head into the final games of a 13-game stretch without off days.

When is Alex Hoppe expected to make his MLB debut with the Mariners?

Alex Hoppe is expected to make his MLB debut soon, potentially becoming the first Mariners player to do so in 2026.