With Woo hurt, Hancock ready to step into Seattle rotation

SEATTLE -- Right-hander Emerson Hancock is fit, and as of now, will fill the No. 5 spot in the Seattle rotation.

Hancock was headed for Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday with Seattle fine-tuning its roster ahead of Thursday's Opening Day matchup against the Boston Red Sox, but then righty Bryan Woo came down with forearm inflammation, landing him on the injured list and Hancock back in the Emerald City.

The Mariners, who wrapped up their spring slate with a 7-6 win over the Padres, have slated Hancock to start on Monday against the visiting Cleveland Guardians.

"The biggest thing is I'm healthy,'' said Hancock, the sixth overall pick of the 2020 Draft. "I feel really good and I am able to prepare the way I want.''

His Major League christening last year came to a sudden halt; after three effective starts in August, his right shoulder started barking.

"It was tough, especially because I felt like I was in a good spot,” Hancock said after compiling a 4.50 ERA with six strikeouts and three walks over 12 innings last year. "I was making strides, making adjustments and then my season was over.''

The heavy lifting was just beginning, once his shoulder strain dissipated. Hancock used his premature exit in 2023 to drive him in 2024. During the offseason, he chased increasing his two-seam fastball velocity and upgrading his secondary pitches, which include a changeup and slider.

"You've got to use that extra time to try and get better and take advantage of it,'' he said. "Because feeling sorry for yourself is not going to help you in that situation.''

The 6-foot-4, 213-pound Hancock's stay in pity city was short-lived.

"That doesn't get you anywhere,'' said Hancock, who had eight strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings over his four spring outings. "You can feel upset and disappointed for a day, but it was time to get back to work.''

Seattle manager Scott Servais noticed an improved Hancock.

"I think he had a good spring and we saw that the stuff was better,'' Servais said. "His velo was up a little bit to 94-95 and he has a really good changeup. I've got no problem sliding him in there and [feel] good about him giving us a chance to win when he goes out there.''

When Hancock, 24, takes the mound on Monday it will feel familiar, but different.

"This time I won't be so wide-eyed and like 'wow, here we are,''' he said. Now it's like, 'OK, it's time to go win and compete.’ As you get experience you get better, you get used to it, you understand how things go and you feel a little more comfortable and you can be yourself.''

Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh is expecting Hancock to find another gear.

"He's healthy,'' Raleigh said. "It's hard when something is bothering you and you're trying to pitch through it, especially when you are making your debut. He's made some good adjustments in the offseason as far as fixing his changeup and tweaking his slider a little bit. He can move the ball around and make it go different ways.''

On Saturday, Hancock was bound for Tacoma. Some 48 hours later his destination was a tad north, to Seattle.

"Obviously you want to be with the club and I'm going to try and take advantage of this and help us any way I can,'' Hancock said. "The fire to win is there and I just want to go out and compete the best I can.''