This week, Seattle Mariners fans got some really bad injury news.
On Monday, it was revealed that right-hander Bryan Woo will open the year on the injured list with right elbow inflammation.
That means, in a best-case scenario, that he will miss at least a couple of weeks of action.
Media and fans alike are already worried about losing a valuable member of their rotation.
“That didn’t take long. Mariners dip into their starting depth as Bryan Woo will start the season on the IL with right elbow inflammation. Same situation as last year when he spent 18 days on the IL. Emerson Hancock will take his place in the rotation,” Shannon Drayer tweeted.
That didn’t take long. Mariners dip into their starting depth as Bryan Woo will start the season on the IL with right elbow inflammtion. Same situation as last year when he spent 18 days on the IL. Emerson Hancock will take his place in the rotation.
The fact that the team (in this case, general manager Justin Hollander) has stated it’s very similar to last year’s injury (the one that knocked Woo out of action for 18 days) is somewhat encouraging.
However, elbow inflammation should be treated with extreme caution.
The good news is that there is no structural damage to Woo’s elbow.
In the meantime, Emerson Hancock will take Woo’s place on the staff.
Hancock made his MLB debut in 2023 but wasn’t very good, with a 4.50 ERA in 12 innings of work.
He is a former first-round pick from the 2020 MLB Draft and has a great pedigree, although some people think his stuff has regressed since those days.
In any case, the Mariners are hoping Woo can make a smooth recovery and return to the rotation fairly soon.
If they are going to hang with the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros, they need him healthy.