Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Dealing with lat strain

Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto said Sunday that Hancock (arm) sustained a minor lat strain about three weeks ago and has been shut down from throwing since then, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Hancock was shut down to close out the 2021 campaign while focusing on arm care and strengthening his shoulder, and he's now dealing with a lat issue as spring training gets underway. Although the righty hasn't been throwing recently, he's been working out and conditioning with the other pitchers in the team's minor-league camp. Even if Hancock is forced to miss time to begin the minor-league season, it's unlikely that he'll face a lengthy absence.