HEADLINE

Mariners GM: Haniger to have core muscle surgery

Field Level Media

January 23, 2020 at 9:19 pm.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger is expected to undergo core muscle surgery that might keep him out through the start of the regular season, general manager Jerry Dipoto said Thursday.

Dipoto laid out a timeline that would see Haniger sidelined for six to eight weeks, though the GM conceded that it could be longer. The Mariners’ regular season opens March 26, nine weeks from Thursday.

Haniger got hurt during an offseason workout earlier in the week, with Dipoto noting that the outfielder’s latest setback is tied to an injury from last season.

The team is still gathering information on Haniger’s status.

“It’s disappointing,” manager Scott Servais said. “I feel bad for Mitch. He was working his tail off. His strength was up, and he was very excited to get back on the field and get it going again. But I know Mitch will do everything he can to get back as soon as he can. We’ll know more soon.”

Haniger sat out the final three-plus months of the 2019 season after he was struck by his own foul ball during a game against Houston on June 6. The ball caromed off the ground and hit Haniger in the crotch, rupturing his testicle.

The 29-year-old California native batted .220 with 15 homers and 32 RBIs in 63 games last year, one season removed from an All-Star campaign in which he hit .285 with 26 homers and 93 RBIs.