Haniger takes hacks in intrasquad game

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Mariners right fielder Mitch Haniger isn’t quite ready to resume Cactus League play just yet as he recovers from a strained lower back, but the 2018 American League All-Star took part in an intrasquad game on one of the back fields at the Peoria Sports Complex on Thursday, and said he expects to be back in the lineup by this weekend.

Haniger tweaked his lower back while lifting weights on Sunday and has been held out of game action since, but he went 2-for-4 with a double in the outing against teammates Justus Sheffield and Tommy Milone.

That’s a welcome sign for the Mariners, who already are without starting center fielder Mallex Smith, who is just beginning to do some light throwing and hitting as he returns from a strained right elbow that has sidelined him the entire camp.

Haniger will be needed to play center field in Smith’s absence for at least the first two regular-season games in Tokyo against the A's on March 20-21, and he’s expected to fill a key role in the offense as well after a breakout '18 in which he hit .285/.366/.493 with 26 homers and 93 RBIs.

“It felt good,” Haniger said. “My swing feels good. I just had to do a little testing like I did today and if all goes well, I should be back playing tomorrow or Saturday. I’m real close. Everything looks good.”

Haniger didn’t run the bases or play in the field in the controlled scrimmage and said diving to steal a base or catch a ball in the outfield remains one of his final questions. But he said facing Sheffield -- the club's No. 1 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, who was acquired from the Yankees this winter -- served as a welcome challenge.

Haniger singled off Sheffield in his first at-bat, then struck out on a nasty breaking ball in his second shot at the youngster.

“I wasn’t too worried about swinging because I’d pretty much been letting it go in the cage,” he said. “But there is a little uncertainty once you face a live guy and if you take a big swing and don’t realize it’s a changeup and you swing and miss. But luckily Justus threw me some pretty nasty offspeed pitches and made me look stupid. And my back felt good. So that was nice. I needed one of those at-bats.”

Haniger also doubled off the wall against Milone.

“Mitch is fine,” said manager Scott Servais. “He’s squaring the ball up like he always does and those were good at-bats, so good sign there.”

Short takes

• Four non-roster players were cut from Major League camp on Wednesday, including catcher Cal Raleigh (the club's No. 13 prospect) and outfielder Eric Filia (No. 28).

Both were reassigned to Minor League camp, which opened this week, along with right-handed pitchers Nabil Crissmatt and Taylor Scott. The moves leave 57 players still in big league camp.

• Reliever Anthony Swarzak threw a 25-pitch bullpen session as he begins gearing up after rehabbing his right shoulder over the first month of camp from an issue that hindered much of his last season with the Mets.

• Servais said Felix Hernandez's next start will come Sunday against the Indians in a 1:10 p.m. PT game in Peoria. The Mariners have a split-squad day on Sunday, with Mike Leake slated to face the Angels in Tempe at the same time. The Indians game will be televised on MLB.TV.

Up next

Marco Gonzales makes his fourth start of the spring in Friday’s 5:40 p.m. PT game against the Cubs at Peoria Stadium as he continues making his case to be the Opening Day starter. The lefty has allowed just four hits and one run with nine strikeouts and two walks in seven innings thus far. Closing candidate Hunter Strickland is also scheduled to throw in the televised night game.