One of the Mariners’ most-prized pitching prospects, Danny Hultzen, had surgery Tuesday to repair a partial tear of the rotator cuff, another personnel blow to a team that finished its eighth losing season in the past 10 that cost manager Eric Wedge his job.
Noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, FL., performed the work, cleaning up the labrum and repairing the capsule. No timetable was given for his return but recovery from rotator cuff surgeries can take four to six months for full activity, and longer for heavy use required for pitching.
“This is very unfortunate for Danny and his family, but we have nothing but high hopes for a good recovery and rehab,” general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a club release. “Danny is a tireless worker and will do everything he can to get back on the mound to start competing again.”
Hultzen, 23, made seven minor league starts, combining to go 5-1 with a 2.02 ERA (8 ER, 35.2 IP). He made his last appearance Sept. 1 for the Tacoma Rainiers (two innings), after missing most of the second half of the Triple-A season.
In two minor league seasons Hultzen has combined to go 14-8 with a 2.82 ERA in 32 starts. He was the No. 2 overall selection in the June 2011 MLB draft out of the University of Virginia. He entered this season as the No. 18 overall prospect in baseball by MLB.com.