Pitcher Bobby Madritsch began therapy Thursday on his strained left shoulder, and the Mariners are feeling good that his recovery could be measured in days, not weeks.
Madritsch left Wednesday’s game against the Twins in the fifth inning when he felt stiffness behind his left shoulder after throwing a pitch.
“I saw Bobby at the ballpark today and he feels worlds better than he did immediately following his departure from the game,” pitching coach Bryan Price said Thursday.
A magnetic resonance imaging exam Wednesday did not show a tear in the shoulder, and the Mariners are calling it a mild strain. Price said the next 48 hours would give the Mariners a better idea of Madritsch’s recovery period.
“If the soreness continues to subside like it did from yesterday to today, there’s a possibility he wouldn’t be a DL (disabled list) candidate,” Price said. “It may be that we can skip him one time through the rotation.”
It’s a much better situation than the Mariners thought they were dealing with when Madritsch walked off the mound Wednesday.
“Everything is pointing in the direction that there’s not any extensive damage and we’re hoping to avoid going through a long rehab,” Price said. “Over the next 48 hours, we’re hoping the soreness goes away completely and that he’ll start playing catch again. That will give us an idea if he’s able to make a start soon or if it’s going to be a more extended recovery time.”
Madritsch’s next turn in the rotation would be Monday. To replace him, the Mariners will consider moving Ryan Franklin out of the bullpen or calling up Cha Seung Baek or Jorge Campillo from Class AAA Tacoma.
Joel Pineiro, who started the season on the DL as he comes back from shoulder soreness, also is a possibility to start Monday. The Mariners, however, would prefer for him to make one more minor league start – scheduled Sunday for the Rainiers at Fresno – before he faces major league hitters.
Nageotte injured: Right-handed pitcher Clint Nageotte, who the Mariners sent to Class AAA Tacoma early in spring training, has a strained forearm muscle and will be out four to six weeks. Nageotte had an MRI Wednesday.
Nageotte went 1-6 in 12 appearances, five of them starts, last year with the Mariners before he went on the disabled list because of back spasms.
The Rainiers, who opened Thursday night at Fresno, also are without infielder Jose Lopez, who will be out four to six weeks after surgery to remove the hamate bone in his left hand.
Kids weekend: This will be the Mariners’ eighth annual Salute to Kids Weekend, when selected boys and girls from 6-14 will fill various jobs around the ballpark, including public address announcer, scoreboard operator, grounds crew member and honorary team manager. Kids 14-under who attend the games tonight, Saturday and Sunday will receive T-shirts.
Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer
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