Tinsley Feeling Much More At Home As Prime-Time Player In Seattle Outfield

At the end of last season, Lee Tinsley left Boston with the notion that he might be in left field for the Red Sox opener at Fenway Park. His wish is coming true.

But what he didn’t know was that he would be wearing a Seattle Mariners uniform today.

The 27-year-old Tinsley is in familiar territory with a chance to win a permanent job if he stays healthy. With rookie Jose Cruz Jr. not quite ready for prime time, the Mariners were happy to get Tinsley in a trade from Boston for minor-league pitcher Brent Iddon last November.

In parts of three seasons with Boston, Tinsley was a solid third or fourth outfielder. Between June 10 and July 30, he started 38 of 44 games in center field.

But then he suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb while diving for a fly ball. And while he continued to play well on defense, Tinsley’s average dropped to .245, not good enough to keep him in Boston another season. On Oct. 1, Tinsley underwent surgery on his thumb at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. On Thanksgiving Day, he was traded to Seattle.

Once the Mariners decided Cruz needed more seasoning, Tinsley - who was on the Mariners roster briefly in 1993 - had another shot. He has made the most of it, though he’s batting just .222.

“I’ll always be grateful to Seattle,” said Tinsley. “They were my first big-league club. As long as I’m healthy and as long as I can go out there and play every day they need me, I feel I can contribute a lot.”

He also appreciates that there has been none of the frantic player movement that was a big part of his career in Boston.