Mariners’ Jarrod Dyson looking forward to Opening Day and playing every day
Mar 27, 2017, 5:26 PM | Updated: 8:12 pm
PEORIA, Ariz. – Mariners outfielder Jarrod Dyson is still a couple of days from returning to Cactus League play after being sidelined for the better part of a week with what has been called leg soreness, fatigue and a number of other things. After going 6 for 10 with a home run in a minor league game Monday, Dyson clarified what the trouble with his right leg has been.
“My legs, they are good,” he said. “It’s not like I wake up sore every day. I think the pain in my hammy came from having tightness in my lower back. When I am running, that nerve don’t want to be bothered. Try to calm it down with some meds for the inflammation, try to make sure I am healthy for opening day.”
The Mariners can control Dyson’s at-bats in the minor league games. He can hit in each inning and doesn’t have to run. If all feels good with his hamstring on Tuesday, Dyson will play in another minor league game and could be allowed to run a little bit more. He is shooting for a Wednesday return to Cactus League play and believes it should be no problem to be ready for opening day next Monday in Houston.
“It’s time to go to work after that,” he said. “Just get me close to 100 percent where your mind doesn’t worry about the hammy, that’s what I am trying to get to.”
This spring is different for Dyson as the Mariners are looking at him than much more than a platoon player who only plays against righties. Physically, this could be a bit of an adjustment as he hasn’t started more than 83 games in a big league season. An adjustment he is not concerned about is facing lefties.
“I never worry about lefties,” said Dyson, who has faced them just 277 times in his career and has come away with a /231/.305/.590 line against them.”It’s thrown out there in the media you can’t hit lefties. Well, it’s hard to hit anybody if you are sitting on the bench. I am just being honest.”
The Mariners believe that Dyson brings enough defensively to give him the opportunity to find his way on base against the southpaws. Dyson appreciates the confidence his new team is showing in him.
“I am very pumped about it,” he said. “It is a shot for me. I have got to take advantage of it. I do believe I can help these guys if I am healthy and that’s the goal to bring my game to the table every day. I want to show everybody I can play every day, and they can count on me.”
