Mariners send Taijuan Walker to Triple-A, recall Stephen Pryor

The Seattle Mariners demoted top prospect Taijuan Walker to Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday prior to their game against the Twins. They recalled reliever Stephen Pryor in a corresponding roster move.

Walker has been the Mariners' consensus top prospect for the last two seasons and was recently called up after recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered in spring training and re-aggravated at the start of the season. He made two starts since being recalled on June 30, throwing 10 innings and giving up four runs. He had some control issues, however, allowing seven walks versus nine strikeouts.

Fellow pitching prospect, James Paxton, is recovering from a upper-arm stiffness and is expected back near the end of July.

Pryor has dealt with his fair share of injuries, but is healthy now and being called up. Mariners reporters speculated on Twitter that the roster move sets up a bullpen day for the big league club on Thursday, while allowing Walker to get his normal work in over the All-Star break.

- Evan Webeck