Hultzen Soldiers On
PEORIA, Ariz.—Lefthander Danny Hultzen can only watch, wait and work out this spring.
On backfields in Peoria, the 26-year-old watched lefthander James Paxton throw in a minor league game to prepare for the upcoming season. Not long ago, he and Paxton and righthander Taijuan Walker were expected to be the foundation of the Mariners’ rotation.
Three lost years, countless setbacks and a reconstructive shoulder surgery later, Hultzen has yet to join his friends in Seattle. With each new problem, he gets a little further away.
After a solid start to spring training and relishing his new role as a reliever, Hultzen was shut down again with shoulder tightness following a live batting-practice session.
“It’s just a setback,” said Hultzen, the second overall pick in the 2011 draft out of Virginia. “It’s obviously super frustrating, because I’ve been doing everything I can. That’s the way I’m looking at it.
“I know I’m doing everything I can, and whatever happens is going to happen. I’m not going to look back and say I wish I’d done something more, because I know I’m doing everything I can.”
Hultzen faced diminished expectations when he reported to big league camp. The Mariners removed him from the 40-man roster last November after he cleared waivers, and now he works as a reliever after logging just 44 innings in the past three seasons.
Hultzen looked strong in long-toss and bullpen sessions this spring. He threw two impressive live BP sessions and seemed ready to pitch in Cactus League games. But in the days after the second BP session, his shoulder didn’t feel right.
“It was painful, and really, really weak,” Hultzen said. “Maybe I was just doing too much. It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly happened. I definitely didn’t feel a pop or anything like that.”
Hultzen continued to strengthen his shoulder at extended spring training, where he begins a third straight season.
MARINADE
• First baseman D.J. Peterson, the 12th overall pick in the 2013 draft, had played in one inning of Cactus League play this spring. He was slowed by a hand injury.
• A year after having Tommy John surgery, converted third baseman Ramon Morla is back pitching in games. The righthanded reliever’s fastball already was back in the mid-90s.
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