The Seattle Mariners must dip into their skinny beginning pitching depth earlier than the season begins, with projected No. 5 starter Bryan Woo now set to start out the season on the 15-day injured record with proper elbow irritation.
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Mariners basic supervisor Justin Hollander made the announcement Monday afternoon earlier than the primary of Seattle’s two exhibition video games at San Diego’s Petco Park this week.
Emerson Hancock will take Woo’s place within the rotation.
“Luckily the MRI, all the things else got here again very clear structurally,” Hollander mentioned of Woo. “He might be no-throw for seven days then he’ll ramp again up. We don’t count on a extra prolonged absence, in all probability extra much like what it was in August of final yr when he went on the IL, however however he is not going to be within the rotation to start out the season.”
Woo, who spent 18 days on the IL final yr with proper forearm irritation, seemed to be having a principally regular spring, beginning three Cactus League video games between March 1-14 and a minor league sport on March 20. The Mariners did give Woo further days between begins, which didn’t seem out of the peculiar. Mariners supervisor Scott Servais mentioned early in spring coaching that Seattle would watch out with Woo contemplating his historical past, which incorporates minimal innings within the minors and a 2021 Tommy John surgical procedure.
Hancock, who made his MLB debut on Aug. 9 final season, began three video games for the Mariners in 2023, permitting six runs in 12 innings pitched earlier than seeing his season finish on account of a lat pressure.
Absolutely wholesome this spring, Servais predicted Hancock may present one thing in his first outing that may have folks speaking, and he did certainly with elevated velocity on his two-seam fastball and a tougher changeup in a powerful first outing. That was adopted by a begin the place he was hit exhausting by the Cubs and one other tough outing in opposition to the Reds the place he needed to throw out of the bullpen as his begin was rained out the day prior to this. Hancock rebounded in his last outing in Arizona, throwing 4 innings of one-run ball in opposition to the Diamondbacks.
Hancock was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday however now will begin Tuesday’s exhibition in opposition to the Padres. He then ought to subsequent get the ball on Monday, April 1 at T-Cellular Park in a sequence opener in opposition to the Cleveland Guardians.
As well as, Hollander gave the next stories:
• Aid pitcher Matt Brash threw off the mound at 85% Sunday and can proceed to ramp up his depth.
• Aid pitcher Eduard Bazardo will begin the yr on the IL however is throwing and may very well be able to return by the the top of April.
• Aid pitcher Gregory Santos is scheduled for an MRI Thursday. If that reveals his lat irritation is gone, he’ll be capable of begin ramping up rapidly as he has not been down lengthy.
• Utility participant Sam Haggerty will begin the season on the IL with a private medical situation.
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