Mitch Haniger was placed on the injured list a couple of weeks ago due to a right ankle sprain, with the club not providing an estimate on his recovery period at that time. Haniger himself spoke to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times and gave an update that won’t come as good news to Mariners’ fans, as he might be out until around the All-Star break.
“As far as getting back in games, I think like a rough estimate would be from date of injury is 10 to 12 weeks,” Haniger says. “But at the same time, I’ve heard it can go on the earlier end and I’ve also heard on the longer end.” As Divish notes, that 10-12 week timeline would mean a return to action somewhere in the window of July 10-24, with a rehab stint likely pushing his return to the big leagues another couple of weeks down the road.
This marks yet another frustrating development in the Haniger arc, as he has oscillated between excellent performance and extended absences in his career. Over 2017 and 2018, he hit 42 home runs and slashed .284/.361/.492 for a 134 wRC+. After 63 games in 2019, he fouled a ball off himself and ruptured a testicle, wiping out the rest of that season as well as the next. He returned last year and had a tremendous comeback, hitting 39 dingers and slashing .253/.318/.485, 120 wRC+. This year, he’s been limited to nine games, first by a bout with Covid, followed by this ankle sprain. Incidentally, Haniger thinks one issue might have led to the other, as he tells Divish that he had post-Covid struggles with congestion and pressure in his head, which affected his balance.
For Haniger personally, it’s very unfortunate timing for yet another serious injury. The 31-year-old is in his final year of club control, heading to free agency at season’s end. It seems now that his platform year will be reduced to the last two or three months of the campaign, assuming he can follow the prescribed timeline. Even if he can return to health and play well over the second half of the schedule, teams will no doubt use this injury as a way to try to tamp down their offers.
It’s also quite unfortunate for the team, as their hot start has been largely erased by a rough two-week skid. After going 11-6 in their first 17 games, the club has since gone 3-12 in their last 15 contests, winding up at 14-18. Although Julio Rodriguez has been heating up after a cold start, the rest of the regular outfielders haven’t provided much. Jesse Winker’s batting line is sitting at .202/.313/.275, 86 wRC+. Jarred Kelenic is even colder, with a line of .141/.221/.294, for a 58 wRC+. With Haniger not returning for a few months, that group will need to step up in order to help the team pull out of this recent tailspin. Some help is on the way, however, with 2020 AL Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis currently out on a rehab assignment and likely returning in just over a week.
“he fouled a ball off himself and ruptured a testicle”
I am painfully aware of how this happened and yet every time it is mentioned, I cringe and flinch and punch myself twice and it’s just terrible! All of my empathy and positive vibes go out to Mitch Haniger so that he may achieve Pure Joy in his existence!
Ken Giles enters the chat
For whatever reason, my brain first read this as “Mitch Haniger out until, like, July” and I laughed
Ouch. At least it’s not another testicle. Hope he heals up and is back soon.
God this is such BS. A late bloomer who turned out to be steller cant even get a couple full seasons before prime age passes.
Nice use of “oscillated.”
The M’s should have traded him when his market was at its highest back after the 2018 season. But they decided to hold on to him and waste him on a team that wasnt going to compete kinda like the Royals did to Whit Merrifield. And right now I can say the same about the Pirates and Brian Reynolds and the O’s with Cedric Mullins they both should have got the most for their players but neither will orobably have the same trade value during next the offseason.
KC locked up Whit to a ridiculous extension (5/23M) with a mutual option for 6th year. Those are the kinds of contracts they need to compete. Sure, they could have traded him when his stock was up, with extension, and possibly gotten a load of prospects, but isn’t there some honor in NOT doing that? IDing your guys, locking them up and giving them the platform to be a star? Something to be said about not seeing every star from a smaller market end up as platoon player for the Dodgers or in Yankee pinstripes.
If the star you have is 25 or older and its going to take 3 ir 4 years before you can compete and you can get 3 to 5 organizational top 30 prospects then yea you should make the move. None of these guys are superstars like Jose Ramirez (who did sign an extension but if they didnt they would have traded him as well) they are good but not superstars. So yea you got to strike while the iron is hot. Like the A’s did for all their player that they traded. And in 3 years they will be a lot closer than they would be if they kept them.
Merrifield’s tools don’t translate to king’s ransom offer from teams. He’s a swiss army knife with speed, some avg/power. He’s a luxury, not a necessity for most teams that would warrant the kind of offer KC would demand, especially with that extension. Thus, why he’s still a Royal. I dare say if they would have seen a Wil Myers-like package, he’d be gone. Reynolds is a whole ‘nother ball of wax.
Should have traded him in the offseason.
You mean 3 offseasons ago
once Lewis replaces Kelenic in the lineup there will be enough offense to get the M’s to Hanover’s July return.
An amazing talent, who unfortunately cannot stay healthy.
I think Kyle Lewis should be hitting in Seattle not Tacoma. He’s already hit 2 HRs and is hitting over .300 out of the DH slot. The Mariners could use that while allowing his knee to fully mend instead of letting a guy like Luis Torrens have those ABs.
Agreed, Lewis should be in the majors. Could have the same DH OF time split he is doing in Tacoma. Get Haniger back in July and Lewis, Haniger and Winker can rotate through LF, RF and DH with JRod in CF
McGee: his knee is healed. It’s his game mechanics and conditioning he’s tuning at Tac.
The Mariners are a poorly runned team and it starts at the top. If and when Haniger comes back JD better have the bullpen squared away or it won’t matter
Define why you think there a poorly ran team.
Wikipedia
The Mariners 1977 to present.
One of 5 teams in the American League West.
Never been to the World Series. Haven’t been to the post season since 2001 when they won 116 games during the regular season.
Mariners are a poorly run franchise with no hope in sight.
So long as GM Jerry Dipoto is in charge Mariner fans can expect promises that are never kept.
So as of today, not dating back to 1977. They have a top 5 farm with numerous young prospects on there current team developing. And plenty of cap space to get better when they see it fits. Again how are they a poorly ran franchise? Other than the obvious of not making the playoffs in 20 plus years.
Leach, how long you been following the Mariners? Afew months?
What? Dipoto has actually given us hope again!
I don’t want to even image what’s gonna happen to him in August.
Haniger right in line for a 1-year prove it contract this winter. The guys a great talent, but if he’s not available, he won’t generate long term interest. If M’s offer him the QO, he’ll most likely take it. I’d like to think the FO already knows this and has some kind of plan.
The BIG question for the M’s about Mitch, in the off season; extend him or trade him. This injury along with the others -i’d say makes Seattle lean towards trading him.
He’ll be a free agent next offseason.
The Mariners should have traded Haniger long ago! The guy is always hurt. It does make me wonder about his conditioning…out for Covid and hurts himself as soon as he’s back.
Without Haniger, this next road trip thru NY, Toronto etc will make or break the season. Sigh…..