Mariners Rumors: Danny Hultzen Shut Down With Shoulder Issue As Young Arms Taijuan Walker and James Paxton Gives Seattle Hope

Jul 10, 2013 01:59 PM EDT
Seattle Mariners pitchers Danny Hultzen, Taijuan Walker and James Paxton
Seattle Mariners pitchers Danny Hultzen, Taijuan Walker and James Paxton are the future of the team. The three are considered to be some of the best prospects in all of baseball."

The Seattle Mariners are one of the worst offensive teams in the league, but at least in the minor leagues they can look to their pitching, as they have three of the most talented prospects in the game with Danny Hultzen, Arms Taijuan Walker and James Paxton.

According to Hardball Talk, Hultzen was likely going to be the first player called up from the trio, but after dealing with some shoulder problems general manager Jack Zduriencik decided to shut him down for at least 10 days while the team tries to figure it out. The Mariners said that the issue is minor and that will leave the former No. 2 overall pick on the bench as he tries to get better health-wise. The team said they will look at his throwing routine to figure out what is going on and he clearly was going to be called up after going 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA and 31/7 K/BB ratio in 29 innings at Triple-A.

Walker may now be the next man up, as he has been fantastic this season in 100 innings in Double-A and he has also been good after being promoted, going 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in three starts in Triple-A. Zduriencik said the team has a planned target for Walker and when he hits that, a move will be made. Hultzen may not throw again this season depending on how things go, while Walker could be a late season call up for the team in September.

"We're prepared to do whatever it takes," Zduriencik said. "Some of this is a process where you do one thing and see where that leads you and if it takes you to step two and step three. But we're hoping when he starts throwing we'll see positive results. What I've heard is the last couple days he's felt pretty good."

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