SAN DIEGO — The primary pitch of the 2024 season has but to be thrown and the depth of the Mariners beginning pitching will likely be examined.
Previous to the Mariners’ exhibition sport in opposition to the Padres at Petco Park, common supervisor Justin Hollander introduced that right-hander Bryan Woo, Seattle’s No. 5 starter, would begin the season on the 15-day injured listing as a consequence of proper elbow irritation.
Woo “didn’t really feel nice” going into his bullpen session on Saturday and struggled to get his arm unfastened. The Mariners ended the session instantly and Woo underwent an MRI and different checks in Arizona to test on his surgically repaired ulnar collateral ligament within the elbow.
“Fortuitously, the MRI and all the pieces else got here again very clear, structurally,” Hollander stated. “No injury to the UCL, nothing actually of observe, just a bit delicate irritation. He’ll be no-throw for seven days after which ramp again up. We don’t anticipate a prolonged absence, however in all probability extra just like August of final 12 months when he went on the IL.”
Woo missed 17 days throughout that IL stint final season.
“We don’t wish to push him to get again and trigger a much bigger concern,” Hollander stated. “I don’t assume he has a lot curiosity in being tremendous conservative. He was fairly pissed off. Fortunately, the MRIs themselves didn’t present any cause to be extra conservative than regular. His UCL graft seems nice. There’s nothing structurally happening. As soon as he’s able to go, hopefully after the seven-day shutdown, I don’t anticipate it being a protracted construct up.”
Woo, 24, made 18 begins for Seattle final season, posting a 4-5 report with a 4.21 ERA. In 87 2/3 innings, he struck out 93 batters and walked 31.
Mixed with the 44 innings pitched with Double-A Arkansas to begin the season, Woo threw 121 2/3 innings, which is a big bounce over the 57 2/3 innings pitched in 2022 when he was getting back from Tommy John surgical procedure.
The Mariners will insert right-hander Emerson Hancock, who was slated to begin the 12 months in Triple-A Tacoma, into Woo’s spot within the beginning rotation. He’ll begin Tuesday afternoon’s exhibition sport vs. the Padres after which will begin the opener of a three-game sequence vs. the Cleveland Guardians on Monday. April 1 at T-Cell Park.
The Mariners had been happy with Hancock’s spring coaching, total. He bookended a pair of robust outings round two middling outings this spring. In his closing outing, dealing with the Diamondbacks’ A lineup, he pitched 4 innings, permitting one run on 4 hits with no walks and a strikeout.
“I believed Emerson did some good issues within the spring,” supervisor Scott Servais stated. “I believe he’s persevering with to study. We’ve talked to him about like leaning on his greatest pitches. I believe his two-seam fastball as pitchers received an opportunity to get superior outcomes. He’ll pitch for us in Bryan’s spot and we’ll see how that goes. He will get a possibility right here and he’s prepared.”
Hancock, who activates 24 on Could 31, made his MLB debut late final season when Woo went on the IL. He made three begins, posting a 0-0 report with a 4.50 ERA. In 12 innings pitched, he allowed six runs on 13 hits with three walks and 6 strikeouts. He suffered a season-ending lat pressure in his third begin.
Hollander additionally offered different updates on injured gamers.
Versatility utility participant Sam Haggerty will begin the season on the 10-day IL with a “private medical concern” that wasn’t baseball associated. Hollander wouldn’t specify the character of the damage. Haggerty had handled some arm soreness early in spring coaching, however this damage was not arm associated. He hadn’t performed in a spring coaching sport since March 16.
As anticipated, relievers Matt Brash (elbow pressure), Gregory Santos (lat pressure) and Eduard Bazardo (rotator cuff pressure) will all begin the season on the 15-day IL.
Brash threw 25 pitches off the mound at 85% depth on Sunday with Hollander, Servais, pitching coach Pete Woodworth, pitching coordinator Trent Clean and the Mariners’ medical workers all watching.
“He’s going to proceed to ramp on up on depth,” Hollander stated. “We form of already examined it on quantity. He regarded the identical delivery-wise and clearly, our folks had been monitoring it intently, in search of any indicators of discomfort and even adjustments in his mechanics and there was nothing there.”
There isn’t a timetable for Brash’s return. However it’s troublesome to see him being prepared earlier than Could 1.
“He’s progressing on the best path,” Servais stated. “He’s not at 100% depth but. That’ll be the final word take a look at. I believed he regarded snug. The following bullpen will likely be within the subsequent few days and he’ll attempt to ramp it up extra. Then finally he’s received to spin some balls (throw breaking pitches) as a result of he’s received in all probability one of the best slider in baseball. In order that’ll be the final word take a look at. He’s getting nearer to that time. So fingers crossed.”
Bazardo is throwing off the mound and is projected to be sport prepared by the tip of April.
Santos will endure an MRI on Thursday. If it comes again clear and the irritation at the back of the shoulder has decreased, he’ll resume a throwing program.
This story will likely be up to date.