by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/20/2013) Mariners manager Eric Wedge said Monday starting pitcher prospect Danny Hultzen, who has been sidelined for Triple-A Tacoma since mid-April with a shoulder injury, has begun playing catch, according to the Tacoma News Tribune. But the Mariners don't plan to rush Hultzen back into action.
M's don't have timetable for Danny Hultzen's promotion
"Sooner rather than later," Wedge said during an interview with MLB Network Radio.
But Hultzen hasn't pitched since mid-April for Triple-A Tacoma because of a rotator cuff strain and tendinitis in his left shoulder. Hultzen, who is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, is 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA and .198 opponents' batting average in four starts for Tacoma. He has struck out 25 in 22 2/3 innings.
Danny Hultzen to miss at least one month
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/28/2013) Mariners pitching prospect Danny Hultzen was at Safeco Field Sunday to check in for rehab work after he was diagnosed with a rotator cuff strain and tendinitis in hisleft shoulder, MLB.com reports.
"I don't want to be here for this reason," Hultzen, who was scratched from his Thursday start with Triple-A Tacoma, said. "I'm doing my rehab here, just to get work done with the trainers. Then I'll go be a cheerleader for the Rainiers. That's the plan for now."
Hultzen will likely need two weeks off from throwing, followed by at least two weeks of rehab. He could be down for at least a month.
"This is obviously something you don't want to have happen, but I'm going to just stay positive and get through it," Hultzen said. "It'd been bothering me a little bit, just the normal pitcher's tired arm or whatever. Nothing I worried about. But it got to a point where Dwight [Bernard], the pitching coach, asked me if my arm hurt because he could see something. So that's when we shut it down before the game."
Danny Hultzen diagnosed with rotator cuff strain and tendinitis
by Adam Moore | CBSSports.com (4/27/2013) Mariners pitching prospect Danny Hultzen has been diagnosed with a left rotator cuff strain and tendinitis, the Seattle Times reports. Hultzen, who is ranked the 29th overall prospect by Baseball America, was scratched from his Triple-A start Thursday after he had some problems getting his arm loose.
The left-hander will undergo rehab and is expected to be sidelined for approximately two weeks, according to the report.
Hultzen was 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA to go along with 25 strikeouts and six walks in four starts (22.2 innings) with the Rainiers.
Danny Hultzen scratched as precaution
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/25/2013) Mariners pitching prospect Danny Hultzen was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday for precautionary reasons after he couldn't get loose, according to the Seattle Times.
Hultzen has performed well at Triple-A Tacoma this season, posting a 2.78 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB ratio over 22 2/3 innings in his four starts.
Stash Danny Hultzen or Taijuan Walker?
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/21/2013) Mariners starting pitcher prospects Danny Hultzen and Taijuan Walker are both off to stellar starts this season -- opening up the possibility their major-league debuts might not be far off. But if you can afford only one bench spot in a seasonal format, then your choice has to be Hultzen, who is 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA and .198 opponents' batting average through four starts in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
The most obvious sign is Hultzen is at Triple-A and Walker is at Double-A, so unless the Mariners absolutely see competition level not being a factor, then I don't see Walker getting the call before Hultzen, who made 12 starts last season at Triple-A.
That's another encouraging sign. Hultzen struggled last season (5.92 ERA) for Tacoma, but he's a different pitcher this year. Aside from a poor ERA, Hultzen walked 43 batters in 48 2/3 innings last season for Tacoma. This season, he has walked only six batters in 22 2/3 innings. While Walker has a 1.64 ERA and hasn't allowed an earned run in three straight starts (17 innings), he's walked 14 batters in 22 innings, so he clearly needs to work on some command issues.
Unless the Mariners are trying to save an arbitration year on Hultzen by delaying his MLB debut, then he should be first in line when the Mariners need a starter. Perhaps the biggest road block in Hultzen's way is Jeremy Bonderman, who is improving at Triple-A. But if you are looking for a potential impact arm down the road and can afford to be patient, then consider adding Hultzen to your bench.
Danny Hultzen in line for promotion?
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/10/2013) Mariners manager Eric Wedge dodged questions Tuesday night about the status of rookie pitcher Brandon Maurer, who has struggled to begin the season. The Seattle Times reports the Mariners could indicate Wednesday their plans for the right-handed pitcher, who is scheduled to make his next start Sunday against the Rangers.
The Times suggests if the Mariners make a rotation change, then Danny Hultzen and Jeremy Bonderman are the leading candidates to replace Maurer since Erasmo Ramirez remains on the 7-day disabled list in the minors.
Hultzen is off to a promising start at Triple-A Tacoma. He's 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA and .167 opponents' batting average through two starts. He also has 14 strikeouts in 11 innings.
Danny Hultzen solid in Triple-A season debut
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/8/2013) Mariners left-hander Danny Hultzen, who was ranked the No. 29 prospect in the league by Baseball America this offseason, enjoyed a solid performance in his Triple-A Tacoma season debut.
Hultzen yielded one run as he tossed six innings of three-hit ball Thursday. He struck out eight and walked two. Hultzen, a first-rounder in 2011 out of the University of Virginia, is hoping to rebound from a rough Triple-A campaign in 2012 where he went 1-4 with a 5.92 ERA in 12 starts.
Mariners send Danny Hultzen to Triple-A
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (3/14/2013) The Seattle Mariners sent left-handed pitcher Danny Hultzen to Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday.
Ranked the No. 29 prospect in baseball by Baseball America this offseason, Hultzen pitched four scoreless innings for the Mariners this spring, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out six.
Hultzen, who is on the team's 40-man roster, could make his major-league debut this season.
Hultzen back on bump
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/13/2013) Seattle prospect Danny Hultzen (hip) returned to the mound for his third spring training appearance on Wednesday against Kansas City. Hultzen followed Hisashi Iwakuma to the mound and pitched a scoreless inning in the fifth. He gave up just one hit in his first spring appearance since February. The 23-year-old has gone four scoreless innings this spring with six strikeouts and just two hits allowed.
Hultzen throws light bullpen session
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/8/2013) Mariners pitching prospect Danny Hultzen, who is recovering from a mildly strained right hip flexor, completed a light bullpen session Friday, according to the Seattle Times. He is scheduled to throw a regular bullpen soon as he is back at 100 percent.
Injury hurts Hultzen's chances
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/4/2013) Mariners pitching prospect Danny Hultzen was scratched from his scheduled Cactus League appearance Monday and could miss up to a week of playing time with a mild right hip flexor strain, the Seattle Times reports. Hultzen, hailed as one of the team's top prospects after being selected with the second overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, was considered a darkhorse to claim a spot in the starting rotation this spring. "I'm not worried about it at all," he said. "I’m on the shelf for a couple of days, and back at it in another couple of days. It’s not a big deal. I’m not worried about it."
Hultzen powers out of jam
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (2/27/2013) Seattle pitching prospect Danny Hultzen got the start on Wednesday in Cactus League action against Cleveland. Hultzen, rated the team's No. 3 overall prospect by several publications, dazzled over two innings against the Tribe. He did not give up a run and surrendered just one hit with two walks and four strikeouts. Hultzen loaded the bases in the first inning but got out of the jam with a strikeout. He displayed excellent fastball command to left-handed batters, but struggled some against the right-handed ones, reports MLB.com.
Hultzen adjusts to learning curve
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (2/15/2013) Seattle pitching prospect Danny Hultzen provided a rather simple reason for the late struggles he endured during his first professional season: he was tired. But fatigue is not unusual for a first-year player and the Mariners remain committed to the development of Hultzen, the second overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft. "I think alot of it had to do with the fact I tried to do a little too much at the beginning of the year," he told The Seattle Times. "I was telling myself I had to work harder to be stronger for the end of the year. That would mean throw more pitches in the bullpen or lift more weights. But in the end, that really hurts you if you’re draining yourself. I kind of learned that you need to pace yourself a little bit because it is a really long year."
