Mariners notebook: Taijuan Walker on his way back

By Shannon Drayer

PEORIA, Ariz. – Taijuan Walker’s week off is about to come to an end as he is expected to resume throwing on Thursday. The Mariners will take it slow with him as he begins a throwing program to get him back on the hill, but once he begins throwing bullpens things should progress at a normal pace in regard to getting him into spring training games.

If there are no further setbacks, a mid-April return would not be out of the question.

Felix faces a test his first time out

Felix Hernandez makes his spring debut Tuesday afternoon and is not exactly getting a soft landing his first time on the hill as there are some big names in the Dodgers’ lineup.

Mariners

Brad Miller, 6
Kyle Seager, 5
Stefen Romero, 7
Justin Smoak, 3
Logan Morrison, DH
Cole Gillespie, 9
James Jones, 8
Mike Zunino, 2
Ketel Marte, 4

Felix Hernandez

Dodgers

Yasiel Puig, 9
Carl Crawford, 7
Hanley Ramirez, DH
Andre Ethier, 8
A.J. Ellis, 2
Juan Uribe, 5
Clint Robinson, 3
Justin Turner, 6
Chone Figgins, 4

Brian Wilson

Yeah, that Chone Figgins. Moving on. A number of regulars are out Tuesday as they have had a good amount of work early on. Brad Miller leads off for the first time this spring.

All in the family

Looks like we will not be seeing a Seager reunion Tuesday at Camelback Ranch as Dodger prospect Corey Seager is not listed as dressing for the game. There is a possibility we could see Mariners first-base coach Andy Van Slyke’s son Scott, however, who is on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.

On the radio

Tuesday’s game will not be broadcast live or in delay on 710 ESPN and the Mariners’ radio network. It is not a complete day off for Rick Rizzs and Aaron Goldsmith, however, as there will be a “Cactus League Report” that can be heard from 7 to 9 p.m. Guest scheduled to join us at the Salty Senorita include Lloyd McClendon, Dustin Ackley and his beard, Charlie Furbush, Mike Zunino, Blake Beavan, Dan Wilson, James Jones and Greg Johns from MLB.com. Stop by and join us if you are in the area.

Note

• The Mariners are down a catcher as it was announced that Manny Pina suffered a strained left oblique. He is expected to miss a few weeks.