A Seattle Mariners’ right-hander had a rough return to the rotation, and his stay was short-lived—lasting just two outs before he was pulled from the game. Now, the Mariners have moved quickly to adjust their pitching staff in the wake of his struggles.
Before Tuesday’s game, a left-hander was promoted from Triple-A Tacoma to bolster the bullpen, which had been taxed heavily after Hancock’s early exit in Monday night’s 9-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers. With Díaz capable of serving as either a long reliever or a spot starter, the move provides Seattle with extra pitching depth should they need someone to bridge innings in upcoming games.
“We really needed to add a piece tonight to the bullpen,” manager Dan Wilson explained. “That’s what made the most sense at the time.”
Hancock Struggles in Brutal Outing
Hancock endured a nightmare first inning, surrendering seven hits and six earned runs before being pulled. His struggles stemmed from a mix of hard-hit balls left over the heart of the plate and unlucky hits on the edges of the strike zone.
It was a disastrous outing that marked the first time a Mariners starting pitcher failed to complete the first inning since April 27, 2022, when Marco Gonzales was removed after taking a line drive to the wrist.
Despite the poor performance, Wilson remains optimistic about Hancock’s potential.
“The ball has been coming out of his hand really well, and the velocity has been up,” Wilson said. “He gave up some hard-hit balls, but he also had some bad luck, breaking bats and watching a few bloop hits fall in. The key now is for him to flush this game and build on what he showed during spring training.”
What’s Next for the Mariners’ Rotation?
Sending Hancock down to Triple-A raises immediate questions about the Mariners’ starting rotation moving forward. The team does have multiple off days built into their April schedule—five total, including three consecutive Mondays later in the month—which could allow them to operate with just four starters for the time being.
However, relying on a four-man rotation this early in the season could put added strain on the staff, especially with George Kirby still working his way back from injury rehab in Arizona. There is no clear timeline for when he’ll be ready to return.
Hancock’s Immediate Future
Hancock was originally slated to pitch this Sunday against the San Francisco Giants, but that is no longer an option. Since he was optioned to the minors, he must remain with Tacoma for at least 15 days before he’s eligible for a big-league recall. That means the Mariners will need to find another solution if they decide to stick with a five-man rotation in the coming weeks.
“We’re looking at everything at this point,” Wilson said. “There are a lot of different options on the table, and we’ll see how things develop with all the off days ahead.”
For now, the Mariners’ rotation remains in flux, and the team will have some key decisions to make before the weekend series in San Francisco.
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