Mariners' George Kirby: Throws 64 pitches in rehab start
Rotowire
Kirby (shoulder) allowed four runs on 10 hits and no walks in his minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Tacoma on Friday, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.
Friday marked Kirby's third outing in the minors amid his recovery from right shoulder inflammation, with Jude noting the hurler's next start could come with the Mariners. Kirby got his fastball velocity up to 97.5 mph, per Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, and he was able to throw 64 pitches. The 27-year-old right hander will be aiming to build up his pitch count even further in his next outing, which should come either in the minors once more or perhaps in Thursday's series opener against the Astros to aid Seattle's injury-ravaged rotation.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Set for another rehab start
Rotowire
Kirby (shoulder) is expected to make another minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Tacoma on Friday in Albuquerque, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Kirby completed his second rehab start with Tacoma on Saturday, surrendering three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five batters over three innings. The right-hander has missed the entirety of the 2025 campaign so far while recovering from right shoulder inflammation and if all goes well Friday, he'd be on track to return to the major-league roster in the middle of next week.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Completes second rehab start
Rotowire
Kirby (shoulder) completed his second minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts in three innings, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Kirby threw 54 pitches (36 strikes) Saturday, and his fastball touched 97 mph. The hard-throwing right-hander is next expected to make a third rehab appearance while he enters the final stages of his recovery from right shoulder inflammation. If all continues to go well, Kirby should be able to make his season debut for the Mariners at some point before the end of May.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Rehab start slated for Saturday
Rotowire
Kirby (shoulder) is scheduled to make another minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Kirby threw 42 pitches in his first rehab outing last Sunday, and he's in line to build up to around 60 pitches in his second appearance Saturday. The right-hander is working his way back from right shoulder inflammation, and Kirby is also expected to make a third start before rejoining Seattle's rotation. That gives him a chance to make his season debut before the end of May, barring any setbacks along the way.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Sharp in first rehab start
Rotowire
Kirby (shoulder) struck out four and allowed one earned run on one hit and no walks over three innings in his first rehab start for Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday.
Pitching in a game setting for the first time since Feb. 26, Kirby performed about as well as the Mariners could have hoped, with a one-out solo home run in the third inning representing the only damage on his line. He otherwise avoided mistakes while spotting 33 of his 42 pitches for strikes and topping out at 97.8 miles per hour with his sinker. Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto told MLB Network on Friday that he expects Kirby to require just 2-to-3 rehab starts prior to returning from the 15-day injured list, so the right-hander will be in line for another appearance in the minors next weekend before the organization determines his next step.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Ready for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Kirby (shoulder) will begin his rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.
Kirby is in the final stages of his recovery from right shoulder inflammation that caused him to be placed on the 15-day injured list at the beginning of the season. He's slated to make his first rehab outing Sunday, and he'll need at least two or three starts in Triple-A before making his way back to the majors.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Aiming to return before end of May
Rotowire
Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said Friday on MLB Network that he's "hopeful" Kirby (shoulder) will rejoin the rotation before the end of May, Shannon Drayer of SeattleSports.com reports.
Kirby has been ramping up his throwing without issue and could begin a rehab assignment as soon as this weekend. The right-hander will make "at least two, maybe three" rehab starts, per Dipoto. Kirby has been working his way back from right shoulder inflammation, an injury that first cropped up in early March.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Rehab game could come this weekend
Rotowire
Kirby (shoulder) could begin a rehab assignment as soon as Sunday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Kirby threw a live batting practice session Monday and described it as "nasty," adding that he "felt great." He will throw again Sunday, and it will be determined soon whether that will be in an official game setting. Kirby has been slow-played as he works his way back from right shoulder inflammation but has been checking every box along the way.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Slated for live BP
Rotowire
Kirby (shoulder) will throw a live batting practice Monday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Kirby will face live hitters for the first time since being shut down due to right shoulder inflammation March 7. The right-hander will need a substantial build up before making his return to the Mariners' rotation, but Monday's session is a substantial step in his recovery. Kirby produced a 3.53 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with a career-high 179 strikeouts over 191 innings in 33 starts last season.
Mariners' George Kirby: Slated to face hitters this week
Rotowire
Kirby (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session at T-Mobile Park this week, Daniel Kremer of MLB.com reports.
Kirby has thrown several bullpen sessions at the Mariners' spring training complex in Arizona and is almost ready to face hitters for the first time since coming down with right shoulder inflammation in early March. Mariners general manager Justin Hollander indicated Sunday that Kirby could be ready to rejoin the rotation in "May or June," although any timetable at this juncture is approximate. Emerson Hancock is currently filling Kirby's spot in Seattle's rotation.
Mariners' George Kirby: Throws off mound, May return likely
Rotowire
Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said Monday that Kirby (shoulder) "felt great" while throwing a bullpen session over the weekend, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Kirby is set to throw two more bullpen sessions this week before beginning a game progression. While Hollander wouldn't divulge a timetable for when the right-hander will be ready for his season debut, signs are pointing to it being sometime in May. Kirby was diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation back on March 7 but has made steady progress since then.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Begins season on shelf
Rotowire
The Mariners placed Kirby (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Seattle hasn't provided any official updates on Kirby's status since he was placed on the IL last week, but the right-hander was able to resume his throwing program March 21 after he was briefly shut down due to shoulder inflammation. Kirby is eligible to return from the IL next Tuesday, but he looks like he'll need more time beyond that to complete his throwing progression and get fully stretched out for starting duty. Emerson Hancock secured a spot in the Mariners' Opening Day rotation as a result of Kirby's injury.
Kirby (shoulder) made 20 throws from 60 feet Friday and will expand his throwing distance to 75 feet Saturday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Kirby was cleared to begin a throwing program Friday, two weeks after being sidelined with right shoulder inflammation. The right-hander was given a biologics injection last week, which he said definitely helped speed along the healing process. There is no timetable for when Kirby will be ready to make his season debut, as the Mariners will have to see how he responds to the ramp-up.
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Mariners' George Kirby: Plays catch Friday
Rotowire
Kirby (shoulder) played catch with a trainer for a few minutes Friday, Shannon Drayer of SeattleSports.com reports.
It's not much, but it's the first time Kirby's done any throwing since he was diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation March 7. The right-hander is hoping to be ready for his season debut around mid-April, but a clear timeline for the right-hander has not yet been established.
