Mariners RHP Miller takes positive first step toward return

With trainers, front office members, media and his pitching coaches looking on, Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller threw his first bullpen session on Sunday since being shut down with inflammation in his oblique 10 days ago. All appeared to go well.

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Miller threw for approximately 10 minutes from the mound at what he estimated to be 80% intensity. He mixed in all of his pitches and recorded 94 mph on his last fastball.

“Everything felt good,” Miller said after the session. “Doing all my spins, getting 15, 20 pitches on the slope and just not feeling anything was the main thing. I want to obviously throw more and like a normal bullpen and throw harder and all that, but limit the build-up, put a little governor on and make sure we do it the smart way.”

Bryce Miller throwing a light bullpen. pic.twitter.com/8jY7U6neGh

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Miller’s command looked surprisingly sharp having not thrown from a mound since being shut down after his Feb. 26 Cactus League start. Other than the slower pace and lessened intensity, it almost looked like a regular Miller bullpen, complete with the right-hander checking the overhead monitors after each pitch. Some of that was habit, some of it was work.

“I’m just always looking,” Miller said. “But just trying to get the shapes down back in. I haven’t been on the TrackMan in about, what, 10 days, so making sure they’re still there.”

Miller was pleased with what he saw and felt, but at the same time, very aware of how potentially serious what was just inflammation in the oblique can turn.

“Everything I’ve heard from everybody else with this oblique stuff that have had it, they always say, just try your best to make sure it’s fully gone before, you know, don’t try to ramp too quick,” Miller said. “You don’t want it to linger, and I think they are notorious for lingering. So just trying to be smart with the initial build-up, and once I get full go, full clearance to let it rip, I’ll do that. But try to be smart with it.”

Not feeling anything while he threw is extremely positive news. Not feeling anything the day after will be even better news. If everything is good on Monday, his next step would be to throw a regular midweek bullpen of 25 to 30 pitches at higher intent and go from there – likely either to another bullpen or live batting practice.

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