Drayer: Félix has up and down Mariners spring debut, while Shed Long impresses again
Feb 23, 2019, 4:49 PM
Mariners RHP Félix Hernández didn't make it through the second inning in his first outing. (AP)
(AP)
PEORIA, Ariz. – Félix Hernández made his Mariners Cactus League debut Saturday afternoon, and for an inning things looked relatively good – and different. He had decent fastball velocity from the get-go, ranging from 90-92 mph. He mixed his pitches, hit a good number of spots, generated some swings and misses and rebounded from a Shed Long error made behind him.
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Then came the second inning. A leadoff double was followed by a foul ball that rolled midway to first base, which home plate umpire Chris Guccione called fair after Félix picked it up. Throw in a hit by pitch, a passed ball (that Félix said should have been ruled a wild pitch), a ball off Félix’s glove and a sac fly, and Félix was walking to the dugout having arrived at his pitch limit with four runs in and just one out.
“I thought he threw the ball pretty good in the first inning,” manager Scott Servais said after the Mariners’ 6-4 loss to the Padres (box score). “Then the second inning (happened). He had a good change-up at the bottom of the zone. Got things to work on, I think like we all do at this time of spring. He will get the ball in five days and keep building on that.”
One thing that was noticeably different about Félix on the mound is that he worked exclusively from the stretch. It is something Félix discovered he was more comfortable with when working out with friends near his Florida home in preparation for spring training.
“I’m working on it,” Félix said in the clubhouse following his outing. “I feel good from the stretch. I just feel like I’m going straight to the plate, not too much movement from the stretch. Just get my leg up and go straight to the plate. It’s early, we will see what’s going on after.
“I think I did a pretty good job, had a good curveball,” he continued. “Most important thing is my arm and my body feel real good.”
While Félix left the game with an incomplete grade, one of the newest Mariners turned some heads on the mound. Gerson Bautista, who was acquired in the Robinson Canó and Edwin Díaz trade with the Mets, opened eyes by consistently hitting 99 on the radar gun.
In his first outing. On a cold day. Not something you see very often.
In his #MarinersST debut, Gerson Bautista was out there hitting 9️⃣9️⃣ on the radar. Heat. pic.twitter.com/IB3SogZ0lN
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) February 24, 2019
“I thought Bautista was awesome,” said Servais. “We know we got a big power arm there. He’s got a good slider, another guy trying to stay on line as long as he can. That’s an electric fastball, he’s got the wipeout slider as well.”
The offensive star of the game was once again Long, who led off the game with a home run off the batter’s eye in straightway center.
Long gone. 💪@SLONG895 x #MarinersST pic.twitter.com/fRUs4qoLQ7
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) February 23, 2019
“Shed Long. Wow,” Servais exclaimed. “That’s not easy to do, hit a ball that far. It is a high-wire, fired-up high energy. It’s fun to watch him play.”
The game also saw the Mariners debut of top prospect Jarred Kelenic, another acquisition from the Mets trade who entered the game in the top of the ninth playing right field. He did not get to take an at-bat however.
“We will pick our spots to give him an at-bat here or there,” said Servais, sensing the disappointment of not getting to see the prized prospect take a swing. “He’s a young player. He’s got a lot to learn. He certainly has a lot of skill.”
Another day, another chance for a debut on Sunday when the Mariners take on the Rockies in Scottsdale. Wade LeBlanc is scheduled to start but Justus Sheffield should also pitch in that game, which can be heard on 710 ESPN Seattle at 12:10 p.m.
More from Shannon Drayer: Saturday morning Mariners notebook
