Hisashi Iwakuma
SP FA
Thu 12/6/18 11:09 AM

Iwakuma has signed a contract with the Yomiuri Giants for the 2019 season, the Kyodo News reports.
EDGE Analysis
Iwakuma pitched in the minors in the Seattle organization last season as he worked his way back from September 2017 shoulder surgery. At age 38 next season, he seems unlikely to return to MLB. Iwakuma previously played in Japan for the Kintetsu Buffaloes (now Orix Buffaloes) and Rakuten Eagles.

Hisashi Iwakuma
SP FA
Tue 9/11/18 7:31 PM

Iwakuma (shoulder) will attempt to play in Japan in 2019, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Iwakuma has been sidelined all season while recovering from a shoulder injury, and this officially rules him out for the remainder of the year. Given his age (37) and recent injury history, this likely signals the end of Iwakuma's major-league career. The veteran right-hander posted a respectable 3.42 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 63-39 record across parts of six big-league seasons with the Mariners, highlighted by a 2012 All-Star appearance.

Hisashi Iwakuma
SP FA
Sun 9/9/18 11:13 AM

Iwakuma (shoulder) is still considered a long shot to pitch in a major-league game in 2018 according to manager Scott Servais, David Gottlieb of MLB.com reports. "He'd love to get in a game at some point, but we really haven't talked about it," Servais said. "I think he felt OK and his stuff was just OK. It's been a long time since he's pitched, so the expectations need to be realistic."
EDGE Analysis
Even if he never dons the Mariners uniform during what remains of the regular season, Iwakuma has seemingly made substantial progress by getting back into game action after a year-plus layoff. The veteran right-hander has managed to make three rehab starts for short-season Everett, offering mixed results. It remains to be seen if Iwakuma will try to resume his major-league quest again next spring, with the prospect of further strengthening his surgically repaired shoulder over the offseason certainly a factor working in his favor.

Hisashi Iwakuma
SP FA
Thu 9/6/18 5:29 PM

Iwakuma (shoulder) was charged with the loss in short-season Everett's defeat at the hands of Spokane on Wednesday, allowing three earned runs on four hits and three walks over two innings. He recorded one strikeout.
EDGE Analysis
On the bright side, Iwakuma got some work in, laboring through 47 pitches. While that was a good test for his surgically repaired shoulder, how he ended up with that robust of a workload was problematic. Iwakuma struggled with control throughout the appearance and gave up some hard hits as well, surrendering a pair of two-baggers during his two frames. It's difficult to gauge how this outing affects the Mariners' outlook on Iwakuma for what remains of the regular season, but at least his shoulder appears to finally be showing signs of bouncing back.

Hisashi Iwakuma
SP FA
Sat 9/1/18 6:34 PM

Iwakuma (shoulder) tossed two scoreless innings in short-season Everett's loss to Vancouver on Friday, allowing a walk and recording two strikeouts.
EDGE Analysis
Iwakuma's hopes of pitching some big-league innings in 2018 remain alive following a second consecutive encouraging outing, one in which he worked up to a modest 20 pitches. Naturally, the level of competition is far from what he would face at the major-league level, but the fact his surgically repaired shoulder seems to be holding up well thus far is the most important takeaway from his first pair of minor-league outings. Iwakuma has now pitched three innings overall with Everett, and he could potentially be bumped up to a higher level in the organization for his next rehab appearance.

Hisashi Iwakuma
SP FA
Mon 8/27/18 9:57 AM

Iwakuma (shoulder) allowed an earned run on two hits over one inning in Low-A Everett's win over Hillsboro on Sunday.
EDGE Analysis
The outing marked Iwakuma's first time back in game action since June 2017. The veteran right-hander's recovery from September 2017 surgery has endured a series of fits and starts, but he's consistently been trending in the right direction for some time, culminating in Sunday's appearance. Given the relatively short time remaining in the regular season and the fact Iwakuma faces multiple rehab appearances before activation can be seriously contemplated, his chances of making it to the big-league roster this season appear minimal. However, manager Scott Servais hasn't ruled out the possibility, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports, commenting Sunday that he'd have "a better indication" after Sunday's appearance whether Iwakuma could still possibly help the Mariners this season.

Hisashi Iwakuma
SP FA
Wed 8/22/18 10:53 AM

Iwakuma (shoulder) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session and a 20-pitch live batting practice session Tuesday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
The live BP came against Ichiro Suzuki, and coupled with the work he put in during his bullpen, represented his heftiest workload in quite some time. Iwakuma, who's on a minor-league contract and has been rehabbing his shoulder all season, continues to hold out hope for a 2018 return despite the increasingly slim opportunity for such a development.

Hisashi Iwakuma
SP FA
Mon 8/13/18 7:25 PM

Iwakuma (shoulder) tossed live batting practice Monday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
This marks the first time Iwakuma has managed to pitch against live hitters since undergoing right shoulder suffers in September. If he feels good following his latest throwing session, expect him to begin a rehabilitation assignment in the near future. A concrete timetable for Iwakuma's return is yet to be established.

Hisashi Iwakuma
SP FA
Sat 7/7/18 6:01 PM

Iwakuma (shoulder) played catch Saturday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
EDGE Analysis
Iwakuma hasn't pitched yet this season after suffering multiple setbacks while recovering from September shoulder surgery. He's now resumed his throwing program, though it's very difficult to say when he'll be finally able to return to game action given how rocky his recovery has been.

Hisashi Iwakuma
SP FA
Sat 6/30/18 3:19 AM

Updating a previous report, Iwakuma (shoulder) met with Dr. Keith Meister this past week and has been cleared to resume throwing again in a "few more days" according to manager Scott Servais, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Meister is the Dallas-based physician that performed Iwakuma's initial shoulder surgery, and he apparently feels all the veteran right-hander needs is a few days of rest to overcome the setback he recently experienced while throwing live batting practice. Iwakuma has been rehabbing at the Mariners' extended spring training facility in Peoria, Arizona, and his chances of making a big-league appearance in 2018 appear increasingly slim.