Like ‘a left hook,’ Mariners release Walker

Tyler Walker never had much chance the past six weeks to show the Mariners what he could do because of a quad injury and then back spams that limited him to 5 2/3 innings of work at spring training.

Late this morning, the Mariners decided to let Walker try and impress someone else. They released the 32-year-old right-hander.

“It’s definitely a left hook that I didn’t see coming,” Walker said as he cleaned out his locker in the Mariners’ clubhouse. He said general manager Jack Zduriencik told him there were several other pitchers ahead of him in the bullpen.

Walker, how had 23 saves with the Giants in 2005 before having elbow surgery, went 5-8 witha 4.56 ERA in 65 relief appearances last year. He was 0-0 with a 4.76 ERA at spring training, with four strikeouts, two walks and six hits in his six appearances.