SEATTLE – Former Saint Joseph's baseball standout Brian O'Keefe has been called up to the Major Leagues.  The Seattle Mariners elevated O'Keefe to the Major League roster on Friday.

O'Keefe becomes the fourth Hawk baseball player to suit up for a Major League club.  Outfielder Fritz Henrich appeared in 36 games for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1924, while pitcher Jamie Moyer spent 25 years in the big leagues with eight clubs, winning 269 games in his career and a World Series title with the Phillies in 2008.  O'Keefe's former teammate, Jimmy Yacabonis, was first called up to the big leagues in 2017 with the Baltimore Orioles and most recently appeared for the Tampa Bay Rays this season.

"We couldn't be happier or more excited for Brian and his call up to Seattle," head coach Fritz Hamburg said.  "He has worked very, very hard at his craft over the years.  Besides the elation of getting the call, it certainly is an exciting time for him to go up with the Mariners, being that the team is just a game away from clinching a playoff spot.  We certainly will be following him and looking forward to seeing him get his first action at the Major League level."

Hailing from Albany, New York, O'Keefe was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh round with the 225th overall selection in 2014 after a stellar career on Hawk Hill.  He earned a pair of Atlantic 10 All-Conference honors, including First Team accolades in 2014.  He was a three-time All-Big 5 honoree as well as a semifinalist for what is now known as the Buster Posey Award, given to the nation's top collegiate catcher.

O'Keefe has appeared in 83 games this season for the Tacoma Rainiers.  In his first full season at the Triple-A level, he has posted a .253 average to go with 13 home runs and 40 runs batted in.

The Mariners are scheduled to host the Oakland A's at 9:40 p.m. Eastern on Friday night.  Seattle is on the cusp of its first postseason appearance in 21 years, needing a win – or a loss by the Orioles – to clinch a wild card berth.