Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Moves to bullpen at Triple-A
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Hancock has moved to the bullpen at Triple-A Tacoma and allowed one run on two hits and one walk over one inning of work in his first relief appearance there Wednesday.
The bottom-line results weren't there for Hancock, but he averaged 97.4 mph with his four-seamer in the outing. That's a substantial velocity uptick from the 94.7 mph he's averaged this season during his time as a starter with the Mariners. It's not clear whether this is a permanent move to the bullpen for Hancock, but he could turn into a weapon in relief with his stuff playing up in shorter bursts.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Sent to Tacoma
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The Mariners optioned Hancock to Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday.
Hancock will be sent back to the minors one day after allowing five runs over six innings in a loss to the Royals to push his ERA on the season to 5.47. The right-hander had been lined up to start Sunday against the Pirates, so the Mariners will need to find a replacement in the rotation for this weekend.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Handed fifth loss
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Hancock (3-5) allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out one over six innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Royals.
Hancock struggled early, allowing three runs over the first two innings. Salvador Perez added a two-run double in the fifth, which was too much for the Mariners to come back from. Hancock has lost three straight starts, allowing 16 runs over 15 innings with an 8:9 K:BB in that span. He's now at a 5.47 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 53:30 K:BB across 77.1 innings over 15 starts this season. The right-hander is tentatively projected for a favorable home matchup against the Pirates this weekend.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Falls to Minnesota
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Hancock (3-4) took the loss Thursday against the Twins, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out two.
Hancock was sharp early, blanking Minnesota through his first four innings, before giving up a two-run homer to Trevor Larnach in the fifth. While Hancock would ultimately take a second straight loss, it was a good bounce-back effort after he gave up nine runs and four homers in his previous outing against the Cubs. Overall, Hancock sports a 5.30 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP and 52:27 K:BB across 14 starts (71.1 innings) this season. He's currently scheduled to face the Royals at home in his next start.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Tagged for nine runs in loss
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Hancock (3-3) took the loss Saturday, allowing nine runs on six hits and three walks over four innings against the Cubs. He struck out five.
The right-hander gave up back-to-back home runs to open the first inning, setting the tone for a rough outing in which he allowed season highs in runs and homers (four). Hancock has shown flashes of his potential but has struggled with consistency, rarely stringing together consecutive strong starts. On the season, the 26-year-old holds a 5.43 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over 66.1 innings across 13 starts.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Excellent in third win
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Hancock (3-2) allowed two hits and a walk while striking out four over seven shutout innings to earn the win over the Guardians on Sunday.
Hancock had his longest outing of the year and had no trouble keeping Cleveland's offense under control. He finished the start with just 85 pitches (56 strikes), and he was able to erase two of the baserunners he allowed by inducing double plays. This was Hancock's sixth straight start with fewer than three runs allowed, though he has just two quality starts in that span as he's struggled to meet the six-inning requirement. Hancock has a 4.48 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 45:21 K:BB through 62.1 innings over 12 starts. With Bryce Miller (elbow) back on the injured list through the All-Star break, Hancock will continue to serve as the Mariners' fifth starter, with his next outing projected to be on the road versus the Cubs.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Takes another no-decision
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Hancock allowed two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three over five innings in a no-decision versus the Diamondbacks on Monday.
Corbin Carroll sent Hancock's first pitch of the game out to left field, but the Seattle right-hander settled in fine after that. He's allowed five runs with a 13:8 K:BB over 16 innings across his last three starts, which have all been no-decisions. He isn't actively doing anything wrong, but he also isn't standing out all that much. Hancock has a 5.04 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 41:20 K:BB across 55.1 innings over 11 starts this season. Logan Gilbert (elbow) is set for a rehab start Tuesday, and if that goes well, he could be activated this weekend. That would likely spell the end of Hancock's current stint with the big club, though Bryce Miller has also struggled lately. The team hasn't tipped its hand as to who will get bumped out of the rotation when Gilbert returns.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Solid in no-decision Thursday
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Hancock didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Nationals after allowing two runs on two hits and three walks in 5.1 innings. He struck out four.
Hancock yielded a season-low two hits, but one went for extra bases on a two-run double by James Wood in the sixth inning. Hancock has fanned more than five just one time this season, and he's mostly struggled with a 5.64 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 32:15 K:BB and .307 opponent batting average over 44.2 innings. The right-hander is tentatively set to take the mound versus the reeling Orioles next week, but Hancock is likely to lose his rotation spot once both Bryce Miller (elbow) and Logan Gilbert (elbow) come off the injured list.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Quality start in second win
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Hancock (2-2) recorded the win Friday against the Astros after allowing three runs on nine hits and no walks in six innings. He struck out three.
Friday marked Hancock's first win since his third start of the season back in late April, and it was also his fourth qualify start in 2025. The 2020 first-rounder has surrendered six runs or greater on two occasions this year, but he's thrown five innings while conceding two runs or fewer in five other instances among his eight outings. Hancock's next turn in the rotation arrives next week versus the Nationals, and he owns a 5.95 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 28:12 K:BB over 39.1 innings.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Inefficient in no-decision
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Hancock allowed a run on six hits and a walk while striking out three over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Padres on Saturday.
Hancock did alright Saturday, but he needed 88 pitches (56 strikes) to get 14 outs. It was still a bit of a rebound effort after he allowed seven runs over five innings to the Yankees in his previous start. Overall, Hancock's numbers are skewed by two bad outings -- he's at a 6.21 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 25:12 K:BB across 33.1 innings over seven starts. He's not guaranteed another turn in the rotation, but the addition of Bryce Miller (elbow) to the injured list Wednesday, joining fellow starters George Kirby (shoulder) and Logan Gilbert (elbow), makes it more likely Hancock gets another start. That outing is tentatively projected to be on the road in Houston.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Turns in another quality start
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Hancock allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two over six innings in a no-decision versus the Athletics on Tuesday.
Hancock has rattled off three straight quality starts, though he has just one win to show for it in that span. He did enough to keep this game close, and the Mariners' offense pulled out a win with a ninth-inning rally. Hancock is now at a 5.70 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB over 23.2 innings over five starts, though the sample is small enough to still be skewed by his poor season debut March 31 versus the Tigers. Hancock should be able to maintain a rotation spot while both of George Kirby (shoulder) and Logan Gilbert (elbow) are on the mend. Hancock's next start is projected to be at home versus the Yankees next week.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Called up for start
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The Mariners recalled Hancock from Triple-A Tacoma ahead of his scheduled start Thursday against the Reds in Cincinnati.
Seattle optioned reliever Will Klein to Triple-A to clear room on the 26-man active roster for Hancock, who will begin his second stint of the season with the big club. With George Kirby (shoulder) opening the season on the injured list, Hancock broke camp as the Mariners' No. 5 starter but was sent back to Triple-A after getting lit up for six earned runs while retiring just two batters in his lone start March 31 versus the Tigers. The Mariners then turned to Luis F. Castillo to fill the fifth spot in the rotation, but Seattle will go back to Hancock after Castillo found little success through his two starts before being optioned to Triple-A. Hancock delivered strong results at Tacoma following his demotion, posting a 3.72 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 12:2 K:BB over 9.2 innings.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Starting Thursday
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The Mariners will recall Hancock from Triple-A Tacoma to start Thursday's game against the Reds, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Hancock was originally expected to come up for a start this weekend in Toronto, but a change of plans will see him return to the big leagues a bit earlier. The 25-year-old righty gave up six earned runs in two-thirds of an inning during his season debut in March, but he's turned in a 3.72 ERA and 1.20 WHIP alongside a 12:2 K:BB in 9.2 frames since being sent down to Triple-A. Assuming Hancock's upcoming start in the majors goes better than his last one, he could remain in the Mariners' rotation until George Kirby (shoulder) returns from the IL.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Getting start this weekend
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Hancock is expected to make a start this weekend in Toronto, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Hancock opened the season as the Mariners' fifth starter but was sent down after getting rocked for six runs while recording just two outs in his first start. Luis F. Castillo took his place after that, but Castillo has since been optioned himself. Hancock will get another opportunity to hold down the No. 5 spot in Seattle's rotation until George Kirby (shoulder) is ready.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Sent to Triple-A
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The Mariners optioned Hancock to Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday.
Hancock couldn't make it out of the first inning during his season debut Monday, surrendering six earned runs on seven hits and a walk while recording just two outs en route to taking a loss to the Tigers. He'll now head to Triple-A in order to right the ship. Seattle called up Jhonathan Diaz from Tacoma in a corresponding move, and while he'll provide depth in the bullpen in the short term, he could be a candidate to fill the vacant spot in the rotation when Seattle next requires a fifth starter.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Will begin season as fifth starter
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Hancock will open the regular season as Seattle's No. 5 starter, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.
There was little doubt Hancock would be able to win the job, given the lack of other candidates on the roster, but he solidified himself after allowing just one run on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Rangers. George Kirby (shoulder) is not expected to rejoin the Mariners until mid-April, setting up Hancock to make a handful of starts to begin the campaign. "He's really had a good camp. I think he's really taken a step forward here," manager Dan Wilson said. Even so, the 2020 first-rounder's fantasy upside could still be restricted, considering Hancock fanned a lowly 14.7 percent of the batters he faced over 60.2 innings in 2024.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Searching for rhythm this spring
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Hancock gave up three runs on four hits and one walk in Friday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers, striking out four over 2.1 innings while taking the loss.
The Mariners have a rotation spot up for grabs, as George Kirby (shoulder) is likely to begin the season on the injured list, and Hancock appears to be the most likely candidate to begin the year as a starter. However, Hancock is still looking for a groove this spring, as he carries a 9.53 ERA and 1.94 WHIP over 5.2 frames (three starts). The 2020 No. 6 overall pick has a case as a late-round flier in fantasy drafts due to Kirby's injury, but Hancock could have limited upside after recording a weak 14.7 percent strikeout rate across 60.2 innings in 2024.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Control issues in spot start
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Hancock did not factor into the decision in Saturday's extra-inning win over the Athletics, allowing three earned runs on five hits and four walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.
Hancock tossed only 56 of 93 pitches for strikes and generated a modest eight whiffs. He allowed a solo home run to Tyler Soderstrom to lead off the sixth inning before exiting a batter later, making it his longest outing at the big-league level since June 13. The right-hander shuttled between Seattle and Triple-A Tacoma this season, and he finished with a 4-4 mark, 4.75 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 39:19 K:BB across 60.2 big-league innings over 12 starts. Hancock posted better overall numbers in 16 starts with the Rainiers (6-3, 3.26 ERA, 1.27 WHIP), and he could get a chance to try and crack the major-league rotation again in spring training, although the M's aren't lacking for pitching depth.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Recalled from Tacoma
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The Mariners recalled Hancock from Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday.
Hancock has been recalled ahead of his start Saturday against the Athletics. He made his last start with the Mariners on Sept. 21 against the Rangers, when he allowed two runs on five hits while striking out three across five innings. Across 11 major-league outings this season, Hancock has a 4-4 record with a 4.72 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 36:15 K:BB across 55.1 innings.
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Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Earns fourth win
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Hancock (4-4) earned the win against the Rangers on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks with three strikeouts over five innings.
Hancock surrendered a two-run homer to Josh Smith in the third inning but worked four scoreless frames and generated 10 whiffs on 79 pitches. The 25-year-old pitched well considering this was his second consecutive start against Texas, and he now owns a 4.72 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 36:15 K:BB across 55.1 major-league innings this season. He could finish the regular season in the rotation against the Athletics next weekend, though that hinges on the status of Luis Castillo (hamstring).
