The Mariners are doing their best to temper expectations for left-handed pitcher Danny Hultzen going into the 2015 season. They made it clear he won’t break camp on the big-league roster. Nor do they know how many innings he can throw.
Regardless, Hultzen’s first bullpen of spring training was the latest reminder that he is apparently past the left shoulder issues that wiped out almost all of his past two seasons.
After throwing Sunday, a happy Hultzen told The News Tribune (Tacoma) that his left shoulder feels “completely normal.” A former No. 2 overall in the 2011 MLB draft, Hultzen had major left shoulder surgery Oct. 1 2013. After an arduous rehab process — a year ago in spring, he struggled to play catch from 60 feet — he made gains in the Instructional League with a 25-pitch outing.
“I feel like I’m back,” he said. “I have no idea what a game will be like. I haven’t been in a full-game situation in a long time.
“But as far as how my arm feels, and being able to let it go, I’m definitely back to where I was before.”
Those hoping Hultzen can break into the rotation right away shouldn’t hold their breaths. He threw 35.2 innings before getting hurt in 2013 and didn’t pitch in the minor leagues last season. He also recently changed his motion so that he steps more toward the plate rather than the side-arm, cross-body delivery he experimented with to ease his shoulder pain. He used the straight-on delivery in college.
“The stepping-straight thing, it’s not a huge change,” Hultzen said. “But I think it’s going to help out a lot.”
There doesn’t appear to be an immediate opening at the back of Seattle’s rotation. Right-hander Taijuan Walker and left-hander Roenis Elias are set to compete for the No. 5 spot, according to Greg Johns of MLB.com. Manager Lloyd McClendon said during the offseason that newcomer J.A. Happ (11-11, 4.22 ERA), acquired from the Blue Jays in exchange for RF Michael Saunders, won’t pitch in the bullpen. At the top of the rotation are RHP Felix Hernandez, RHP Hisashi Iwakuma and LHP James Paxton.
That means Hultzen, 25, will likely start the year in Triple-A Tacoma, where his 2013 season ended. In three years in the minor leagues, he is 15-8 with a 2.66 ERA in 38 starts.
“We need to take it slow with him, obviously,” McClendon said. “I don’t put any limitations on any player, but we’re probably building for 2016, more than anything, with him.”
Paxton falls, hurt forearms
In what he admitted wasn’t his proudest athletic feat, Paxton had a foot catch on artificial f turf and fell during an agility drill at the spring training complex in mid-February.
The result: Paxton bruised/strained both forearms.
He threw the day after the accident. After experiencing soreness, he underwent X-rays and an MRI that came back negative.
As a precaution, the Mariners are holding him out of workouts and throwing for a few days. It isn’t considered serious.
“It’s just one of those crazy things,” he said. “I can’t explain it. It’s an un-athletic moment for me.”
Linkage:
- Divish also had this story over the weekend about first baseman Jesus Montero’s physical transformation. Montero lost 40-plus pounds by undergoing a rigorous winter conditioning program at the team’s facility. MLB.com also had a good-write up, and a photo of Montero looking especially svelte.
- Whether he makes the rotation, Elias will have more of his family in the country to support him this season after defecting from Cuba in 2010, then playing in Mexico for a year before finally getting to the U.S.
- More from The News Tribune: Reigning AL Cy Young runner-up Felix Hernandez has yet to throw a bullpen this spring training, but McClendon doesn’t mind, saying “Felix can do whatever the (heck) he wants to do.”
- Pitching prospect Victor Sanchez remains in a coma after being struck in the head by a boat propeller while swimming Feb. 13 at Playa Medina in Carupano, VZ.. According to the latest report from lavinotinto.com, recent scans showed that Sanchez, 20, still has brain activity. He is listed in critical condition.
- As part of ESPN’s spring training tour that features all 30 MLB clubs, SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight analysts will profile the Mariners Feb. 27, with commentators Jay Crawford, Aaron Boone and Tim Kurkjian.
2 Comments
At this point, anything from Hultzen will be a happy accident. I never think of him in terms of the future of this team anymore.
Praying for the Sanchez family.The more info that comes out the more dire things seem to be.
I’ve always hoped that Hultzen would be in the rotation right now. But over the years it’s been problematic for M’s prospects to break in as a starter. Seems as though Felix is the exception and not the norm for them. After Dave Fleming they’ve always had arm and shoulder issues of some sort. I’m not even sure they can count on 2016 on him. As much as they needed to get Cano protection in the lineup I think a solid #3 pitcher was needed as well. I see Happ more as a #4 pitcher than I do a #3.Not sure if Paxton, Elias and Walker are ready for that role right now.