It was the final day of spring training for the Seattle Mariners, and starting pitcher Bryce Miller knew he would be left behind in Arizona as his job now is to work his way back from the oblique inflammation that derailed his spring after just one Cactus League start.
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Still, he had every reason to be upbeat Monday as he took a big step forward in his return with a successful bullpen (much of which you can see in the video at the top of this post).
“One-hundred percent,” he answered when asked what his effort level was. “One-hundred percent for the first time in a long time.”
In truth, the bullpen looked like a normal bullpen for Miller, who threw all of his pitches and went to work on start points and locations. The fastball topped out at 98 mph and the breaking pitches were sharp. Behind the plate, bullpen catcher Justin Novak went to the sound effects button he has been employing this spring after good pitches, and Miller’s rotation mates behind him were vocal about several pitches that were particularly nasty.
Miller believes he will pitch a live BP session against minor leaguers Friday and another early next week, and if all goes well, he will be sent out on a rehab assignment shortly after as he progresses towards retaking his spot in the starting rotation.
“I think the way he’s been progressing has been outstanding,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “He seems to be right where he needs to be and throwing the ball well. And I think once he gets rolling and starts to get spread out, then it just becomes a matter of where’s the best opportunity to plug him in according to the schedule.”
Wilson pointed out it is not quite as simple as just plugging a starter back into his spot in the rotation when ready. It does need to be finessed, particularly early in the season.
“You sort of have to take your bullpen into consideration – where (the relief pitchers) are at, how many innings they’ve had to cover prior to – because you just don’t know how those first couple ones are going to go,” he said. “That’s a big part of it, too. But I think our guys, our (high performance) staff, the work they put in with these guys, they’re usually ready to go. And I think in Bryce’s case, he’ll definitely be ready to go. It’s just a matter of where it fits in best.”
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