Expectations for Seattle Mariners right-hander Taijuan Walker are skyrocketing by the day, but just one day after it was announced that the Mariners rotation took a hit with the absence of Hisashi Iwakuma, Walker’s prospects for the start of the season are apparently in slight jeopardy.
#Mariners RHP Taijuan Walker to be limited early in camp by some minor shoulder soreness, manager Lloyd McClendon says.
— Bob Dutton (@ByBobDutton) February 13, 2014
Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports that Walker has been experiencing shoulder soreness, and when the shoulder is involved in a 21-year-old power pitcher, all sorts of red flags appear. Walker is currently the #16 prospect on ESPN Keith Law’s top 100 list, but with public concerns over his mechanics and this latest revelation about his shoulder, there is reason for worry.
In 15 Major League innings last season, Walker was quite solid with a 3.60 ERA (2.25 FIP) and 12 strikeouts, but prior to that, his 2013 numbers in the minors were stellar with a 2.93 ERA in 141.1 innings over two different levels. Because the young right-hander was projected as a member of the opening day rotation in Seattle and Iwakuma is already down, the Mariners are (justifiably) worried about their stable of arms, but perhaps this is just an issue with “warming up” at the start of the season, and if all is right with the world, Walker will be ready to go in April.