PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) - During a spring training that's been filled with small nagging injuries, the Seattle Mariners believe they caught a fortunate break after Felix Hernandez took a line drive off his right arm.
Hernandez said Tuesday he is still very sore after the liner off the bat of the Chicago Cubs' Victor Caratini hit Hernandez in the right forearm. The injury happened in Hernandez's first spring training start a day earlier. X-rays were negative, but Hernandez still had enough swelling in the elbow area after he arrived in the Mariners clubhouse Tuesday morning that he couldn't fully straighten his arm.
There was initial concern Hernandez had suffered a significant injury. Hernandez went down to a knee, hopped up and walked around in obvious pain. He headed to the dugout with a trainer holding his arm. The ball hit Hernandez on a tattoo signifying his All-Star Game selection in 2013.
He has a contusion on the arm, but X-rays showed no broken bones.
Felix threw one-and-a-third innings. He gave up a run on one hit and struck out two Cubs.
The 31-year-old Hernandez was slowed by shoulder trouble last season. The 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner was 6-5 with a 4.36 ERA in 16 starts.
