SEATTLE — Mariners pitchers and catchers are less than two weeks away from reporting for Spring Training, yet they will arrive with their starting rotation depth having taken a notable hit.
Right-hander Logan Evans, the talented 2025 rookie, recently underwent surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching arm, and he will miss the ’26 season.
The “internal brace” procedure — which was performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Texas — took place on Jan. 23 and comes with an expected timeline of 12 months to return, per the club.
Evans, 24, was not expected to enter camp within Seattle’s starting five, but he was nonetheless a notable piece to the Mariners’ plans for 2026.
Evans made 15 starts last season as an injury fill-in for starters Logan Gilbert (in April/May), Bryce Miller (June) and Bryan Woo (September), proving to be a valuable depth piece. Evans posted a 6-5 record with a 4.32 ERA (39 earned runs in 81 1/3 innings), 59 strikeouts and 31 walks over 16 total appearances.
As such, Evans was penciled in just outside the starting five on Seattle’s depth chart before his issue, which surfaced recently while he was ramping up his offseason throwing program.
The health hits that the rotation weathered last season were the primary storyline among that group, mostly given how the club overcame them. Gilbert, Miller and George Kirby each spent extended time on the injured list, and Woo was sidelined nearly a month leading into the postseason. Yet at its ceiling, that group, which also includes Luis Castillo, was arguably the sport’s best the year prior in 2024, when it was mostly healthy throughout.
It’s the dropoff that comes immediately down the depth chart that could create some cause for concern if any of the rest of the Mariners’ starters goes down.
The first such reinforcements are expected to be right-handers Emerson Hancock (who transitioned to the bullpen late last year), Dane Dunning (whom the club signed to a Minor League deal on Jan. 22) and Cooper Criswell (whom Seattle acquired from the Mets on Jan. 23 but who is also out of Minor League options). Another 40-man-roster player who has options is Blas Castaño, who has one MLB relief appearance under his belt.
