Seattle Mariners: Cautious Optimism Where Shae Simmons is Concerned

Shae Simmons is recovering well from a forearm strain, but the Seattle Mariners should temper any expectations for a pitcher who has already dealt with several injuries in his young career.

Is Shae Simmons set to become one of the more frustrating players for the Seattle Mariners, i.e. someone with obvious talent, who just can’t stay healthy? The upcoming season will provide us with evidence either way.

As Mariners’ fans are aware, Simmons has been out of action since suffering a forearm strain just two months after arriving in a trade from Atlanta. The good news is he is recovering well, with an MRI on Tuesday confirming there is no ligament damage.

However, as per Bob Dutton of The News Tribune, the 26-year old is still on the no-throw list, at least for the time being. As a result, he will start the season on the 10-day disabled list.

At this point, some people may be asking why there is any concern surrounding Simmons? After all, most players suffer injuries at some point during their baseball career.

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However, there is justification in worrying about the Cape Girardeau, Missouri native. The fact of the matter is he missed virtually all of the two previous seasons, while recovering from Tommy John Surgery.

And this doesn’t include the shoulder soreness which saw Simmons’ rookie season ended prematurely, in 2014. With all this in mind, you could be forgiven for wondering why the Mariners traded for him back in January?

The simple reason is that when the righty has been healthy, he’s looked extremely impressive. Consider that during his rookie season, he had an immediate impact, striking out 19 and recording a 0.96 ERA through his first 20 games.

Even though Simmons’ production started to dip after this, it was related to his season-ending injury. In addition, when he finally returned to action late in 2016, he impressed again with a 1.35 ERA in seven appearances for the Braves.

Questions also surround the 2012 22nd round draft pick’s size and strength. However, the belief is he is more than capable of competing for playing time at the back end of the bullpen.

First things first though, Simmons has to get healthy again, with Mariners’ manager Scott Servais recently admitted his progress has been slower than expected. As for the pitcher himself, he is fighting to keep any negative thoughts at bay, as he told Dutton:

"“I’m trying to stay positive, man. What else can you do? It’s out of my control. I’ve had a streak of unfortunate events throwing. And it just happens that that’s my job.”"

Unfortunately for Simmons, if he can’t remain healthy in future, there’s no telling how long he will have a job in the Majors. As such, the Mariners will remain cautiously optimistic for now, while making sure not to rush him back into action.

Next: Why the Mariners Will Make the Postseason

Taking everything into account, what are you expecting from Simmons in 2017? Do you believe he will be a key contributor in the Mariners’ bullpen, or are you not predicting much from the young pitcher? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

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