In a disappointing turn of events for the Seattle Mariners, reliever Matt Brash has been sidelined from throwing as he deals with tightness in his lat muscle. This setback comes after he had been making progress towards a potential rehab assignment following a series of bullpen sessions. The Mariners have opted to conduct an MRI to assess the situation further, which adds uncertainty to Brash's return timeline.
Brash, who has yet to make an appearance this season, had been showing signs of improvement. However, after his latest bullpen session in Boston, he reported discomfort that prompted the team's decision to pause his throwing activities. General Manager Justin Hollander noted that this injury has been a recurring issue for Brash, complicating his recovery efforts.
“This has been a recurring theme with this specific injury,” Hollander explained. “He feels good when he’s throwing on flat ground, but in the pens, it’s continued to tighten up on him as he finishes the bullpen and gets into the recovery phase.” This pattern has kept Brash from advancing to live batting practice or game situations, which are critical steps in his rehabilitation process.
Currently, there is no set timetable for Brash's return to the Mariners' active roster. Given that he has not progressed to the live batting practice stage, it appears increasingly unlikely that he will rejoin the team before the regular season concludes. Even in the best-case scenario, where he responds positively to treatment, a return during the latter part of the season seems optimistic.
In addition to Brash, the Mariners are also monitoring infielder Brendan Donovan, who remains in the concussion protocol. Donovan has struggled to complete his pregame routine without experiencing symptoms such as nausea and dizziness. Hollander described Donovan's recovery as “incremental” and “slow,” emphasizing the importance of ensuring he is symptom-free before considering a return to play.
“Some days are better than others,” Hollander said regarding Donovan’s condition. “The last few days, he has felt symptomatic towards all of those pregames…it’s just not okay if we run him out there when he’s feeling those things until he can get all the way through them and feel 100%.”
Meanwhile, the Mariners are also keeping an eye on pitcher Emerson Hancock, who is currently on the injured list due to a groin strain. Hancock is scheduled to throw on Sunday, either from a mound or flat ground, which will help the team assess his recovery and decide on the next steps.
On a more positive note, fellow reliever Cole Wilcox is set to throw off a mound this weekend, with hopes of progressing to bullpen sessions and eventually participating in rehab games in Tacoma before the end of the Triple-A season. The Mariners are eager to bolster their bullpen as they navigate the final stretch of the season.
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