SEATTLE — Seattle Mariners senior director of athletic training, Rick Griffin, provided injury updates on several players during Thursday’s pre-spring training media luncheon at Safeco Field:
— Robinson Cano: Griffin said Seattle’s star second baseman should be ready for spring training following surgery to repair core muscles on both his left and right sides in October. Griffin said Cano is currently working out in his native Dominican Republic, and although the team will monitor him during spring training the Mariners don’t anticipate any problems.
— Hisashi Iwakuma: Iwakuma was re-signed by the Mariners following a surprising about-face by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who signed the right-handed starting pitcher to a free-agent contract, only to back out following Iwakuma’s physical. Griffin said he didn’t know what the Dodgers found during their physical, but that he had no concerns at all regarding Iwakuma’s health.
— Jesus Sucre: The reserve catcher will be out for six months after suffering a broken fibula and a severely sprained right ankle while sliding into second base during a winter-league game in Venezuela. He underwent surgery in Seattle last week.
— Charlie Furbush: The left-handed reliever missed the end of last season because of shoulder tendonitis. He spent the offseason undergoing rehabilitation in Seattle and is currently experiencing no discomfort. Furbush is on a throwing program, but the team will take things slow with him during spring training.
— James Paxton: The left-handed starter suffered a torn fingernail at the end of last season. The fingernail tore almost to the cuticle, but it has grown back and should no longer be an issue. Griffin also said Paxton is in great shape after losing 20 pounds.
— Franklin Gutierrez: Often sidelined in recent years because of irritable bowel syndrome, Gutierrez has found the right dosage for his medication and saw his weight stabilize at 210-215 pounds during the offseason. However, Griffin emphasized the IBS won’t be going away, meaning Gutierrez will continue to require monitoring on a daily basis.
— Danny Hultzen: The left-handed pitcher lost the past two seasons because of reconstructive shoulder surgery. He’s back to throwing and working out and will come to spring training with the intention of earning a roster spot. The Mariners plan to work him more as a reliever than a starter.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/seattlesidelines, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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