Matt Brash shut down indefinitely by Mariners, leaving season in doubt

Sometimes you don’t avoid the worst, you just delay it.

The growing hope of Matt Brash returning to bolster the Mariners bullpen in the coming weeks is gone. And the chances of him returning to pitch in 2024 range from slim to see you next season.

On Saturday afternoon, the day Brash was scheduled to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma, general manager Justin Hollander announced that Brash was being shut down from throwing indefinitely after continued issues with his elbow following recent throwing sessions.

Brash played catch Friday in preparation for his rehab assignment and didn’t feel right.

“He threw and did not feel good at all,” Hollander said. “I think his words were, ‘every throw felt bad.’ Obviously, we’re concerned. He’s concerned.”

Brash met with the Mariners team physicians on Friday evening and they made the decision to shut him down indefinitely. Hollander had already provided an update earlier in the afternoon, saying Brash was ready to start a rehab assignment.

“I didn’t want you guys to check box scores and wonder why he wasn’t in Tacoma today or tomorrow,” Hollander said. “The conversation with Matt and our physicians happened after we spoke last night and I felt like I should go ahead and give you guys that update.”

Brash flew back to Arizona on Saturday morning. He will fly to Dallas-Fort Worth next week to meet with Dr. Keith Meister, the orthopedic specialist who examined his elbow during spring training.

The growing concern from the Mariners stemmed from Brash’s recovery time after throwing off the mound at max effort. Instead of it taking less time to be ready to go again — a sign of building arm strength and stamina — it was taking longer.

“It’s sort of been a pattern over time,” Hollander said. “His stuff has been great when he goes out there. He’s touching 99 mph and sitting 97-98 mph. With each progressive outing, he has bounced back slower each time. He’s felt tightness afterward or just heavy afterward. And that feeling, at least according to him and our trainers, has been slower to go away with each progressive outing.”

Brash first developed elbow issues after his first bullpen session during spring training Feb. 20. The Mariners decided to shut him down and fly him to visit with Meister. After undergoing tests and an MRI, it was determined by Meister and the Mariners medical staff that Brash did not need season-ending Tommy John surgery. He was diagnosed with medial elbow inflammation and was cleared to start a throwing program a week later.

But while the diagnosis was positive at the time, it was also a little ominous. When asked if the MRI of Brash’s elbow, specifically the ulnar collateral ligament, came back clean, Hollander replied: “It’s consistent with what it’s been previously.”

All pitchers develop damage to their UCL over time. Brash’s MRI didn’t show any new damage at the time. Given the violent nature of his throwing motion with an extreme arm whip, the arm speed needed to throw as hard as he does and the propensity to throw sliders, it seemed like a Tommy John surgery would be an inevitability.

Also

In his second rehab start, right-hander Bryan Woo delivered another solid outing. He pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits with no walks and six strikeouts. He threw 49 pitches with 31 strikes.

It’s possible that Woo will throw one more rehab start before returning the rotation.