Twitter
    Sportspress Northwest
    • Football
    • Baseball
    • NCAA
    • Hockey
    • Soccer
    • Basketball
    Twitter
    Sportspress Northwest
    Twitter
    Home»Baseball»Walker held out of Tacoma start: Stiff shoulder
    Baseball

    Walker held out of Tacoma start: Stiff shoulder

    Anthony DionBy Anthony DionApril 15, 2014No Comments2 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Reddit LinkedIn Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Reddit LinkedIn Email

    TACOMA — Despite much buildup,  Mariners’ top prospect Taijuan Walker did not make his scheduled start for the Tacoma Rainiers Tuesday night at Cheney Stadium. Walker, 21, was expected to make his third minor league rehab start as he works his way back to the big leagues.

    He was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Mariners prior to the start of the season due to bursitis in his throwing shoulder that limited him during spring training.

    According to general manager Jack Zduriencik, Walker felt some stiffness prior to warming up for Tuesday’s start and told the training staff.

    “He spoke to (trainers), he spoke to the manager and he told everybody the same thing: ‘I just feel a little stiff.’ So we’ll just back him off,” Zduriencik said.

    “He hadn’t thrown at all . . . He felt great yesterday, from what I understand, in his workout. So let’s just back him off a little bit and see how he feels (Wednesday).”

    Walker flew back with the team from Albuquerque, NM., Tuesday morning, arriving in Tacoma in the early afternoon. The stiffness could be a result of  travel or the prior night’s sleep.

    Is the setback a concern?

    “It gets your attention, I think would be the easiest way to say it, anytime anybody is not able to perform on a given day,” Zduriencik said. “So you always try to take the cautious road and realize, especially someone young like this, someone with the career ahead of him that he has, that you’re better off to err on the side of caution.”

    After a five-inning, zero-run, 10-strikeout performance in AA Jackson Wednesday, it appeared Walker was one solid, setback-free start from returning to Seattle.

    “A lot of that just depends on how he performs,” said Zduriencik. “If he had come out here and done well (Tuesday) then, you know, depending on how he would have looked, what we would have seen, you evaluate it.

    “Again, what I’ve said from the beginning I think with a kid like this, when he gets to the big leagues, is he ready to be there? . . . In terms of innings, in terms of throwing to hitters, in terms of touch and feel, those are the things that you’re looking for.”

    Share. Facebook Twitter Reddit LinkedIn Email

    Related Posts

    A few musings about sports journalism as the unwinding begins

    February 18, 2022

    Carroll’s staff makeover seeks to get Wilson back in the game

    February 16, 2022

    Arizona loss unmasks truths about Hopkins, UW hoops

    February 15, 2022

    Comments are closed.

    • Follow @Art_Thiel on Twitter
    Use our affiliate link on Amazon

    Subscribe to Our Weekly Roundup

    Get the top stories sent to your inbox every Thursday.

    Art Thiel on KNKX 88.5FM

    Kirsten Kendrick's Q. & A. with Thiel can be heard every Friday during Morning Edition at 5:45am and 7:45am and again that same day on All Things Considered at 4:44pm. It also airs Saturday at 9:35am.

    Listen now!
    Latest Posts

    A few musings about sports journalism as the unwinding begins

    February 18, 2022

    Carroll’s staff makeover seeks to get Wilson back in the game

    February 16, 2022

    Arizona loss unmasks truths about Hopkins, UW hoops

    February 15, 2022

    Rams win a survivors contest called the Super Bowl

    February 14, 2022
    Twitter
    • Football
    • Baseball
    • NCAA
    • Hockey
    • Soccer
    • Basketball
    © 2022 Sportspress Northwest

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.