James Paxton had an 1-2-3 first inning but left the game before the end of the season. (Getty)
SEATTLE (AP) – Lefthanded James Paxton left the first start of his second stint with the Mariners due to a forearm load in his throwing arm after throwing only 24 pitches against the White Sox on Tuesday-evening.
M’s suffer 2 injuries, losing to White Sox 10-4 after Abreu’s grand slam
The Mariners initially said Paxton suffered from elbow issues, but after the 10-4 defeat to Chicago, both manager Scott Servais and Paxton described it as a forearm injury.
Paxton, who stayed in the dugout to watch after leaving the mound, will undergo an MRI on Wednesday
It’s just frustrating. I feel like it’s one thing after another for me, ”Paxton said. “I work really hard and do everything I can to be out there, and I will continue to do so. And hopefully I can take a break and stay healthy. “
Paxton grimaced after throwing a 92 mph fastball to Chicago’s Andrew Vaughn with one out in the second inning. Mariners manager Scott Servais and a trainer immediately came to the mound as Paxton leaned forward with his hands on his knees. After some discussion, Paxton walked away and was replaced by Nick Margevicius.
“I felt it coming a little bit and by the time that third batter came in, it just got worse and worse and it just felt a little bit,” said Paxton. “It got to the point where I couldn’t throw any more throws.”
Paxton, who spent the past two seasons with the New York Yankees after playing his first six years for Seattle, returned to the Mariners in February with a one-year deal worth $ 8.5 million. Paxton can earn an additional $ 1.5 million in performance bonuses for games started: $ 150,000 each for six to ten and $ 750,000 more at 11-22 starts.
He had surgery in February 2020 to repair a hernia and remove a cyst from his back. He went 2-3 last year with a 6.64 ERA in five starts for New York, before being eliminated with a left forearm flexor.
Paxton said this problem with his forearm feels different from last year. He said there was more pain a year ago, making him optimistic that it could be less severe than initially feared.
Paxton said the off-season was a progression of building strength in the forearm in hopes of putting the problem behind.
“I came in tonight and I was pretty sure I was going to be good, but it turned out it was just a little bit too much for what my flexor was ready for, I guess,” Paxton said.
Scott Servais Show: M’s manager’s takeaways at 710 ESPN Seattle