Seattle, WA
Seattle Mariners reveal recovery timetable for 2B Ryan Bliss
Seattle Mariners second baseman Ryan Bliss is expected to need four to five months to recover from surgery on his torn left biceps, the club announced in a release Thursday.
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Bliss, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, had an MRI the same day that revealed the severity of the tear. He will undergo surgery Friday at the University of Washington Medical Center.
The 25 year old’s injury occurred on a swing during the second inning of Tuesday’s loss to Houston. Bliss finished the game and had well-struck line drive double after the injury occurred.
“It’s a really tough break, especially for Ryan,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said Wednesday. “I think he showed a lot of heart. He played most of the game with it yesterday. I think it shows you a lot about what’s inside of him, the character that he has.”
Bliss was getting his first chance at an extended look in the big leagues and played in 11 of the team’s first 12 games. He hit .200 with a .596 OPS, but had started to heat up during a six-game hitting streak. Over his last six games, the right-handed-hitting second baseman batted .300 with an .833 OPS and his first home run of the season.
With Bliss out of the lineup Wednesday against Houston, left-handed-hitting Miles Mastrobuoni got the start at second base against Astros right-hander Hunter Brown and collected a pair of hits. Wilson said Wednesday the team is weighing its options at second base, which also include Dylan Moore and recently recalled Leo Rivas.
Seattle Mariners weighing options at 2B after Bliss injury
Bliss’ injury adds to what’s been a tough first few weeks health-wise for the M’s. Right fielder Victor Robles is set to miss at least 12 weeks with a dislocated left shoulder and fracture in the humeral head suffered on a highlight-reel catch Sunday, and the team is still awaiting the return of injured starting pitcher George Kirby and relievers Troy Taylor and Matt Brash.
No clear timetable has been given for Kirby, but he was scheduled to throw two bullpen sessions this week before starting a begin a “spring training-type game progression,” general manger Justin Hollander said Monday.
Taylor is currently on a rehab appearance in Tacoma, while Brash threw a live batting practice against two minor leaguers Wednesday morning at T-Mobile Park. Hollander said the team would assess if Brash was ready to begin a rehab appearance after Wednesday’s live batting practice.
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