It’s a bad day for top prospects and injuries. First the Cardinals aren’t ready to put Oscar Taveras into a game because his ankle isn’t fully healed and now the Mariners announced that Taijuan Walker will be shut down for at least a week after an exam revealed shoulder inflammation.
Walker complained of shoulder soreness two weeks ago, but then threw a bullpen session last week and said afterward that he “felt great.” He was sent to Los Angeles to meet with a doctor anyway and now his status for Opening Day is in question, with manager Lloyd McClendon predictably saying the team plans to be very cautious because “we’re not just talking about 2014, we’re hopefully talking about the next 15 years.”
Hisashi Iwakuma is already out for 4-6 weeks with a finger injury, so the Mariners’ rotation is suddenly in flux.