Mariners’ Danny Hultzen clears waivers, assigned to Triple-A

Pitcher Danny Hultzen, who was designated for assignment Friday to create a spot on the Mariners’ 40-man roster, has cleared waivers and been assigned to Triple-A Tacoma.

The former No. 2 overall draft pick started the 2015 season on the disabled list after undergoing labrum, rotator-cuff and capsule surgery on his throwing shoulder the previous year. Hultzen threw well in spring training but his comeback once the season started did not go smoothly and he was shut down in July. He was originally scheduled to resume pitching in the fall, but the decision was later made to focus on rest, rehab and strengthening his shoulder before picking up the ball again.

“By the time we sent him home he was feeling good but he had not resumed his throwing program,” assistant general manager Jeff Kingston said last week.

The hope is Hultzen will be able to start his throwing program like most pitchers do in January. The Mariners will take it day by day from there.

“We still feel like he is better suited to be a starter. That’s his best role where he can stay healthy,” Kingston said. “Obviously, not being able to build up innings the last few years, that becomes a challenge. We tried to put a plan in place this year to start him slow, which would allow him to build up innings and pitch the majority of the year, and obviously, things didn’t go as planned.”

Clearing waivers will put a little more certainty into the process of attempting to bring Hultzen back. Being out of options, he would have had to be put on the 25-man roster or the 60-day DL at the start of the season or be exposed to waivers at a time when other teams perhaps had more flexibility. He is Rule 5 Draft eligible but it is extremely unlikely he will be selected.

Related

Ex-Seahawks safety Coby Bryant out 4-6 months after surgerySeahawks set a throwback uniform matchup vs an old rivalMariners-Yankees Lineups: No Josh Naylor for series openerSeahawks FB Robbie Ouzts to IR, will miss 2026 seasonBased on precedence, a big Mariners run should be coming soonSeahawks’ Nick Emmanwori takes big step toward return from surgery