Mariners add Skyview High grad Hamilton to 40-man roster

SEATTLE — Skyview High grad Ian Hamilton was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners on Friday after being designated for assignment a week earlier by the Chicago White Sox.

The 25-year-old right-handed pitcher was assigned to Triple-A Tacoma, meaning he’s on Seattle’s 40-man roster but won’t join the club for the final weekend of play in Oakland. The Mariners’ alternate training site wrapped up on Monday.

Hamilton led Skyview to the Washington 4A state championship in 2013 and played three seasons at Washington State before being drafted in the 11th round by the White Sox in 2016.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder pitched in four games for the White Sox this year, posting a 4.50 ERA with four strikeouts in four innings. He spent most of the season at the White Sox alternate training site after dealing with a shoulder issue.

Hamilton also pitched for the White Sox in 2018, going 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in eight innings over 10 appearances.

Hamilton told The Columbian back in April that he was looking forward to getting back to the success he had in the majors in 2018, when he threw eight innings for the White Sox. Back then, he was throwing 101 mph.

“The first pitch I threw in a game this spring was 97; I was very happy with that,” Hamilton said. “The guy smacked it over the fence but it was still 97.”

Hamilton missed much of the 2019 season after needing surgery to repair multiple facial fractures after being hit in the face by a line drive during a game for Triple-A Charlotte.

Hamilton’s addition puts the Mariners’ 40-man roster at 38 players.