Former Saugus Pitching Star Salkeld to Be Promoted to Majors by Mariners

Roger Salkeld, a former standout right-hander at Saugus High, will be promoted to the Seattle Mariners today, the team said Thursday.

After missing a season and a half because of shoulder problems, Salkeld, 22, returned in June to pitch at double-A Jacksonville, Fla.

The Mariners, who are in fourth place, eight games behind Chicago in the American League West, start a nine-game trip through Milwaukee, Baltimore and Anaheim on Monday.

The third pick in the 1989 draft, Salkeld missed the 1992 season with a shoulder injury. He underwent reconstructive surgery in October, but returned to the mound in June, months ahead of schedule.

Salkeld, 4-3 with a 3.27 earned-run average, gave up two runs and seven hits in five innings against Orlando on Thursday night, but didn’t figure in the decision as Jacksonville won, 8-6.