Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Emerson Hancock was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma earlier on Sunday, according to Shannon Drayer. In a corresponding move, the Mariners promoted Gabe Speier from Triple-A. Hancock posted a 4.50 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP across his previous two starts at the big-league level in September. This move suggests that Luis Castillo (hamstring) could be on his way back from the injured list, as the Mariners now only have four pitchers in their rotation. While Hancock has struggled in the big leagues this summer, he has posted a modest 3.26 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and a 61:36 BB:K across 88 1/3 frames in the minor leagues.
The Seattle Mariners reinstated right-hander Gregory Santos (lat) from the 60-day injured list on Monday and optioned right-hander Emerson Hancock to Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move, according to executive vice president and general manager of baseball operations Justin Hollander. A right-lat strain has kept Santos from making his Mariners debut this year to this point, but he will now join Seattle's bullpen as a key late-inning setup man. Santos features a high-90s heater and could quickly become relevant in fantasy leagues that reward points for holds. Hancock, 25, gets sent back to the farm after making a spot start on Saturday against the Blue Jays, when he gave up two runs in four innings of work. Hancock should be back with the M's again in 2024 when they're in need of more rotation help.
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Emerson Hancock has been recalled to start against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. The 25-year-old is already on the taxi squad, but will get the official call prior to Saturday's contest. Hancock has a 4.79 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 24/13 K/BB ratio across eight starts this season. The Mariners are hopeful Hancock can develop into a reliable everyday option, but he isn't quite there yet. He'll be a somewhat shaky option for Saturday's slate.
Emerson Hancock Could Have Turn In Rotation Skipped
Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock could have his turn in the rotation skipped after struggling in his last start against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. Hancock has taken over the Mariners' fifth spot in the rotation with the injury to Bryan Woo (elbow inflammation). But, the right-hander was hit hard in his last start, giving up eight runs on 11 hits with one walk and six strikeouts across 3.1 innings pitched. Not only was he hit hard, but his velocity dip was noticeable, according to Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports. Hancock was consistently hitting 97 mph on his two-seam fastball and 90 mph on his changeup in spring training. However, he averaged just 92.9 mph on that fastball on Sunday and 87.3 mph on that changeup. With the Mariners having an off-day on Thursday, they wouldn't need Hancock to pitch again until Tuesday, April 16.
Seattle Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock will now open the 2024 season in the team's starting rotation as the fifth starter with Bryan Woo (elbow) starting the year on the injured list due to elbow inflammation. The 24-year-old Hancock, the former sixth overall pick in 2020 out of Georgia, is lined up to make his first start of 2024 next Monday in a strong matchup against the Cleveland Guardians. He made his MLB debut in 2023 and went 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA (4.09 FIP) and a 1.33 WHIP with three walks and six strikeouts in 12 innings over three starts before being shut down with a shoulder ailment. Until Hancock shows more consistency, fantasy managers in mixed leagues can probably ignore him, especially since he could only make a few starts for Seattle before being sent back to the farm.
Emerson Hancock Impressing Early In Spring Training
The Seattle Mariners are impressed with how pitching prospect Emerson Hancock has looked early in camp, specifically manager Scott Servais. The sixth overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft, the right-hander's development has been slowed by injuries to this point but he did manage to make his big-league debut in the 2023 season, working to a 4.50 ERA across three starts and 12 innings of work. He spent the bulk of his season at Double-A Arkansas where he tossed a 4.32 ERA alongside a solid 16.8% K-BB% in 20 starts and just under 100 innings of work. However, a shoulder injury ended his season early as the injury red flags continued. He is projected to make 11 starts and 26 appearances in the big leagues by ATC in 2024 but with a 4.62 ERA and 18.6% K%. The 24-year-old's lack of strikeout stuff could limit his fantasy value moving forward.
Seattle Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock (shoulder) threw a bullpen session at spring training on Wednesday. Hancock made his major-league debut in 2023, but he was only able to make three starts before being shut down due to a Grade 1 shoulder strain. The 24-year-old didn't need offseason surgery, though, and looks likely to be ready for the start of the 2024 season. Hancock will be competing for a starting rotation spot in camp, but he could be a long shot to break camp with the Mariners as long as their other rotation options stay healthy this spring. In his three starts last year, Hancock allowed six earned runs on 13 hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out six in 12 innings. The former first-rounder in 2020 hasn't shown much consistency in the minors and would benefit from more seasoning down on the farm to open 2024.
Seattle Mariners rookie right-hander Emerson Hancock (shoulder) doesn't have a tear or any structural damage in his right shoulder, but given that the recovery time frame for his injury was roughly four to six weeks when he suffered it during an Aug. 20 start, his 2023 season is likely over. Hancock was moved to the 60-day injured list on Aug. 22, one day after landing on the 15-day injured list. The 24-year-old was diagnosed with a Grade 1 shoulder strain and received a platelet-rich plasma injection on Tuesday in order to speed up the healing process. The good news is Hancock should be fully recovered by spring training next year, where he will look to open the 2024 season as a full-time member of Seattle's starting rotation.
Seattle Mariners rookie pitching prospect Emerson Hancock (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Monday with a right-shoulder strain. The team recalled right-hander Darren McCaughan from Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move. Hancock goes on the shelf after being pulled from his start on Sunday against the Houston Astros after just two innings. Fellow rookie Bryan Woo (forearm) is set to come off the injured list during the series against the Chicago White Sox this week to take Hancock's spot in the starting rotation. In Hancock's first three major-league starts, he's allowed six earned runs on 13 hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out six in 12 innings pitched.
Seattle Mariners rookie right-hander Emerson Hancock (lat, shoulder) could be headed for a trip to the injured list after he felt his lat "kind of grab" in his start on Sunday against the Houston Astros, according to manager Scott Servais. Hancock was removed after just two innings with what the team was calling a shoulder strain at the time. The former first-rounder in 2020 had his season delayed by six weeks this year due to a lat strain, and he's battled shoulder issues since being taken sixth overall out of Georgia. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues that have been using Hancock might need to prepare to be without him, possibly for the rest of the 2023 season. In his three MLB starts, the 24-year-old has a 4.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and six strikeouts in 12 innings.
Emerson Hancock
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