Seattle Mariners pitcher Emerson Hancock could have his turn in the rotation skipped after struggling in his last start against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. Hancock has taken over the Mariners' fifth spot in the rotation with the injury to Bryan Woo (elbow inflammation). But, the right-hander was hit hard in his last start, giving up eight runs on 11 hits with one walk and six strikeouts across 3.1 innings pitched. Not only was he hit hard, but his velocity dip was noticeable, according to Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports. Hancock was consistently hitting 97 mph on his two-seam fastball and 90 mph on his changeup in spring training. However, he averaged just 92.9 mph on that fastball on Sunday and 87.3 mph on that changeup. With the Mariners having an off-day on Thursday, they wouldn't need Hancock to pitch again until Tuesday, April 16.

Seattle Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock will now open the 2024 season in the team's starting rotation as the fifth starter with Bryan Woo (elbow) starting the year on the injured list due to elbow inflammation. The 24-year-old Hancock, the former sixth overall pick in 2020 out of Georgia, is lined up to make his first start of 2024 next Monday in a strong matchup against the Cleveland Guardians. He made his MLB debut in 2023 and went 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA (4.09 FIP) and a 1.33 WHIP with three walks and six strikeouts in 12 innings over three starts before being shut down with a shoulder ailment. Until Hancock shows more consistency, fantasy managers in mixed leagues can probably ignore him, especially since he could only make a few starts for Seattle before being sent back to the farm.

The Seattle Mariners are impressed with how pitching prospect Emerson Hancock has looked early in camp, specifically manager Scott Servais. The sixth overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft, the right-hander's development has been slowed by injuries to this point but he did manage to make his big-league debut in the 2023 season, working to a 4.50 ERA across three starts and 12 innings of work. He spent the bulk of his season at Double-A Arkansas where he tossed a 4.32 ERA alongside a solid 16.8% K-BB% in 20 starts and just under 100 innings of work. However, a shoulder injury ended his season early as the injury red flags continued. He is projected to make 11 starts and 26 appearances in the big leagues by ATC in 2024 but with a 4.62 ERA and 18.6% K%. The 24-year-old's lack of strikeout stuff could limit his fantasy value moving forward.

Seattle Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock (shoulder) threw a bullpen session at spring training on Wednesday. Hancock made his major-league debut in 2023, but he was only able to make three starts before being shut down due to a Grade 1 shoulder strain. The 24-year-old didn't need offseason surgery, though, and looks likely to be ready for the start of the 2024 season. Hancock will be competing for a starting rotation spot in camp, but he could be a long shot to break camp with the Mariners as long as their other rotation options stay healthy this spring. In his three starts last year, Hancock allowed six earned runs on 13 hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out six in 12 innings. The former first-rounder in 2020 hasn't shown much consistency in the minors and would benefit from more seasoning down on the farm to open 2024.

Seattle Mariners rookie right-hander Emerson Hancock (shoulder) doesn't have a tear or any structural damage in his right shoulder, but given that the recovery time frame for his injury was roughly four to six weeks when he suffered it during an Aug. 20 start, his 2023 season is likely over. Hancock was moved to the 60-day injured list on Aug. 22, one day after landing on the 15-day injured list. The 24-year-old was diagnosed with a Grade 1 shoulder strain and received a platelet-rich plasma injection on Tuesday in order to speed up the healing process. The good news is Hancock should be fully recovered by spring training next year, where he will look to open the 2024 season as a full-time member of Seattle's starting rotation.

Seattle Mariners rookie pitching prospect Emerson Hancock (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list on Monday with a right-shoulder strain. The team recalled right-hander Darren McCaughan from Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move. Hancock goes on the shelf after being pulled from his start on Sunday against the Houston Astros after just two innings. Fellow rookie Bryan Woo (forearm) is set to come off the injured list during the series against the Chicago White Sox this week to take Hancock's spot in the starting rotation. In Hancock's first three major-league starts, he's allowed six earned runs on 13 hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out six in 12 innings pitched.

Seattle Mariners rookie right-hander Emerson Hancock (lat, shoulder) could be headed for a trip to the injured list after he felt his lat "kind of grab" in his start on Sunday against the Houston Astros, according to manager Scott Servais. Hancock was removed after just two innings with what the team was calling a shoulder strain at the time. The former first-rounder in 2020 had his season delayed by six weeks this year due to a lat strain, and he's battled shoulder issues since being taken sixth overall out of Georgia. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues that have been using Hancock might need to prepare to be without him, possibly for the rest of the 2023 season. In his three MLB starts, the 24-year-old has a 4.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and six strikeouts in 12 innings.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Emerson Hancock left Sunday's outing with a right shoulder strain. That was all the news relayed from the Mariners' PR team, so expect an update when available. It was just the third start in the show for one of baseball's bright young arms. Hopefully, nothing too serious comes from this and Hancock won't miss much if any time.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Emerson Hancock was not nearly as effective as he was in his first career start in Tuesday's 10-8 extra-innings win over the Royals. The 24-year-old rookie pitched five innings, allowing five runs on nine hits (including a home run) and no walks with one strikeout. While Hancock is the club's No. 4 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline, he does not carry quite as much fantasy clout as some of the other young starters this season. He had put together a decent season with Triple-A Tacoma, but fantasy managers will need to see more from him at the big-league level before trusting him. He is tentatively slated to make another start at the Astros, which fantasy managers may want to avoid.

The Seattle Mariners are calling up top pitching prospect Emerson Hancock on Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the situation. Per MLB Pipeline, Hancock is the club's No. 4 overall prospect. The 24-year-old right-hander will bypass Triple-A and will get the call to the big leagues after going 11-5 with a 4.32 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 38 walks and 107 strikeouts in 98 innings over his 20 starts for Double-A Arkansas this year. The sixth overall pick of the 2020 MLB draft has had some clunker outings, but overall he's been solid for Arkansas. High walk and strikeout rates will make him unpredictable in his first taste of the big leagues, but the strikeout upside can't be ignored by fantasy managers in deeper leagues. The former Georgia Bulldog doesn't have as high of a ceiling as fellow rookie starter Bryce Miller.

Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Emerson Hancock put together an impressive performance for Double-A Arkansas on Tuesday evening. The first-round pick of 2020 went six innings and allowed four hits, one walk, no runs and struck out seven. Hancock, 24, has battled injuries since being drafted sixth overall a few years back and that has stalled his development. With him fully healthy so far in 2023, Hancock has put together a better season than his 5.44 ERA would suggest over 11 starts. Much is because he has allowed 30 runs on the season, but 23 of those runs have come across three dreadful starts. Provided that he remains healthy, Hancock should take a jump to Triple-A this season and if that goes well, the right-hander may get a shot with the big-league club this summer. He's worth monitoring in redraft leagues with his biggest value being in dynasty leagues.