The Mariners’ bullpen has already had its share of harm scares this spring. Worry of a monthslong absence for high setup man Matt Brash has been alleviated with a prognosis of irritation in his proper elbow, however he’s weeks not on time now and can be constructed up cautiously.
Commerce acquisition Gregory Santos was shut down for every week earlier this spring because of a lat concern however has resumed throwing and will but be prepared for Opening Day, although that’s contingent on him avoiding any additional setbacks in fact. Now, Mariners supervisor Scott Servais tells reporters that right-hander Jackson Kowar is assembly with a physician tomorrow to have his arm evaluated (X hyperlink by way of Ryan Divish of the Seattle Occasions).
That won’t look like a major concern, given Kowar’s ugly large league observe report. The previous Royals first-round choose and high prospect was traded to Atlanta after which to Seattle in a pair of change-of-scenery swaps over the winter. He’s 27 years outdated and, in components of three large league seasons, has yielded greater than an earned run per inning (75 runs in 74 frames). He additionally has a minor league choice remaining. On paper, he appeared like an extended shot to make the crew.
However as Divish just lately wrote, Kowar has impressed the Mariners in camp. He’s averaged 96.1 mph on his heater in his profession however was hitting 98 mph early in camp. Kowar has pitched a pair of scoreless innings, fanned three of his six opponents, and caught the crew’s consideration with the standard of his changeup.
With Brash unlikely to be prepared for the opener and Santos additionally nonetheless increase, there was a possible spot for Kowar to assert. Divish famous that he had “appeared to be locking in a spot” earlier than soreness in his arm led to a short lived shutdown. Kowar final pitched on Feb. 28 and is now going for added testing — an ominous signal.
The Mariners have a knack for unearthing bullpen expertise. Previously few years they’ve turned unheralded pickups of Paul Sewald, Drew Steckenrider, Justin Topa, Kendall Graveman, Gabe Speier, Tayler Saucedo and others into influence strikes. Their skill to search out hidden gems to spherical out the aid corps has allowed the M’s to perennially discipline sturdy bullpens and in addition to keep away from the sorts of multi-year offers for relievers that usually flip into landmines.
A couple of brief appears to be like in spring coaching is much too small a pattern to point Kowar could be the subsequent discount discover for president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto and his workers, however on the very least, the hard-throwing Kowar was trending in the fitting route. No less than for now, that’ll be placed on maintain — hopefully just for a short interval.
Already coping with a trio of arm scares within the bullpen isn’t an enviable spot to be in — notably since Seattle traded certainly one of final yr’s high setup males, the aforementioned Topa, to the Twins as a part of their commerce to amass second baseman Jorge Polanco. The Mariners nonetheless have one of many sport’s most proficient closers in righty Andres Munoz, they usually can look to lefties Speier and Saucedo to construct on final yr’s breakout showings to assist type a setup corps. Santos could possibly be prepared for Opening Day nonetheless, and if not, he and Brash might not be delayed all that lengthy.
However the Mariners had been already prone to be counting on some unproven arms — Kowar amongst them. Righty Trent Thornton had a powerful exhibiting after coming over from the Blue Jays in a little-noticed commerce final yr. Flamethrower Carlos Vargas, acquired within the Eugenio Suarez commerce, has a major ceiling however worrying command points. Swingman Austin Voth has had flashes of massive league success however has lacked consistency.
Former eighth-rounder Ty Adcock had a stable debut in ’23, however final yr’s 15 2/3 innings within the majors had been his first expertise above Double-A. Offseason pickups of Mauricio Llovera, Collin Snider and Cody Bolton give the M’s another choices, however none are confirmed on the large league stage. Veterans like Heath Hembree, Ty Buttrey and Trevor Kelley are in camp on non-roster offers.
The Mariners probably wouldn’t draw back from late-spring additions, be they by way of the commerce market, the waiver wire or maybe a late splash for one of many remaining free-agent relievers of word (e.g. Ryne Stanek). Even within the absence (thus far) of a significant harm, their depth is already being examined a bit.
