Seattle Mariners oversee rookie pitchers – MLB News
The last day of intra-squad game at Peoria, Arizona, on Wednesday, February 29, witnessed a flurry of activities. The Seattle Mariners carefully evaluated the hitters and pitchers so as to see what lies ahead for them in the days to come.
There is a lot for the Mariners that can raise the spirit of the team. One key factor which can prove to be morale-boosting and spirit-elevating is the rookie pitchers. The pitching prospects of the Mariners, on Wednesday, did not disappoint.
It was the second appearance for James Paxton, Taijuan Walker and Danny Hultzen this Spring Training. Interestingly, Walker is only 19-years-old while Hultzen is 22. The 23-year-old Paxton is among the young lot that the Mariners can see as potential success
in the near future.
Paxton, full of energy, had a chance to throw at Ichiro Suzuki. He did it with confidence, allowing only a single to his Japanese team-mate. For Paxton, among other things, throwing strikes was something big here.
"I definitely calmed down a little bit," Paxton said. "Last time I had the first-time jitters a little bit. I was a lot more calm and was throwing strikes, which is the biggest thing in Spring Training."
The young and confident Walker has a game plan that may leave the onlookers stunned. Simple as it gets, the player is hardly carried away by the sensation of Major League Baseball or the conspicuous presence of the big players in the camp.
"You try not to think about the people in the box and the names," Walker said. "You don't want to get caught up in that. I'm just concentrating on my stuff right now, trying to pound the strike zone with my fastball and get ahead in counts."
All the youngsters who have made their way into the camp will definitely have a lot to offer for the club. It is this aspect that fills the fans with curiosity and excitement. It is to be seen how the players prove their instrumentality in the big games.
The Mariners will be hoping for a decent Spring Training performance as they prepare for the arduous regular season.
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