Danny Hultzen suffers apparent setback

Bad news out of Mariners camp today, as Scott Servais announced that chronically unlucky LHP Danny Hultzen is "in a holding pattern" for a few days after renewed shoulder soreness.

LHP Danny Hultzen suffers setback. Sore shoulder. In holding pattern but doesn't sound good.

— Bob Dutton (@TNT_Mariners) March 9, 2016

Hultzen threw live batting practice Saturday. The team hasn't said anything definitive about his long term status, but Servais told reporters this morning that Hultzen had, "Some stiffness in his shoulder. I don't see when he'll be in a game. That's too bad." Hultzen was expected to see his first Spring Training game action this week.

Hultzen missed all of 2014 after shoulder surgery in October 2013 to repair damage to his rotator cuff, labrum, and shoulder capsule. He showed promise during last year's Spring Training, but his shoulder continued to ail him. He was shut down in July. He has yet to pitch in the Majors. Hultzen was designated for assignment November 20, 2015, and cleared waivers before being outrighted to Tacoma. The Mariners had hoped to convert him to a reliever. After his live BP Saturday, he told Ryan Divish:

"I feel good. I'm just really happy to be pitching again. Every time I go out there, I feel like I don't take that for granted any more. After all this stuff happened, you never want to take it for granted."

Here's hoping this setback is less serious than it is being made to sound today. Hultzen appears to have been relishing his new role as a reliever. He's certainly due for a lucky break.

Can't imagine this minor setback will keep Hultzen down. He felt like real progress was being made this spring and the new role would help

— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) March 9, 2016