Encouraging signs from Felix, Iwakuma in latest bullpen sessions
May 30, 2017, 5:35 PM
Felix Hernandez has been on the 10-day DL since April 26 with shoulder bursitis. (AP)
(AP)
DENVER – Tuesday was a good day for Mariners pitchers on the mend.
Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma both threw their second bullpens since going on the disabled list, and while Iwakuma remains behind Felix in an anticipated return, his second session showed much more promise than his first. As for Felix, pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. told me that he could not have been more pleased with what he saw in his 30-pitch bullpen.
“He was good today,” Stottlemyre said. “Good intensity, threw all of his pitches and wasn’t holding back at the end, which is a great sign. He’s ready for hitters.”
With Iwakuma, a mechanical change helped get his delivery back in sync.
“He felt good throughout the entire bullpen,” Stottlemyre said. “He had really good life, command and location. And the main thing was, at the end of that he felt good and he had a smile on his face.”
The smile was significant. Iwakuma was clearly not happy after his first bullpen session on Saturday. Stottlemyre said Iwakuma did feel some soreness in the back of his shoulder that day but nothing this time out.
Iwakuma will need at least a couple more bullpen sessions before he faces hitters, but Stottlemyre believes Felix is ready for a simulated game and a rehab assignment after that if all goes well. He will need at least two rehab games, most likely more, before returning. But for now he appears to be on a good path toward what has been expected to be a mid-June return.
James Paxton makes his return Wednesday at Safeco Field. Stottlemyre also talked about expectations for him in his first couple of outings back as well. You can listen to that interview through this link.
