Former Bulldog Emerson Hancock Makes Mariners Opening Day Roster

Seattle Mariners pitcher and former Georgia Bulldog Emerson Hancock has made the big league ball club's opening day starting rotation for 2024 MLB season.

Former Georgia baseball player Emerson Hancock was set to start the 2024 MLB season in the Seattle Mariners minor league system, but he has now been promoted to the major league roster. Bryan Woo, a right-handed pitcher, was placed on the 15-day IL which in return opened up a slot for Hancock in the rotation during opening weekend. 

Hancock is now slated to start for the major league ball club on Monday against the Clevland Guardians.  

The former Bulldog made his major league debut during the 2023 season after being drafted in the first round with the sixth overall pick in the 2020 draft. He started three games for the ball club, posting a 4.50 ERA, six strikeouts and 12 innings pitched. His stint in the majors then got put on pause due to an injury to his throwing arm. 

That injury has since been put behind Hancock and is ready to roll for the 2024 season.

"The biggest thing is I'm healthy,'' said Hancock. "I feel really good and I am able to prepare the way I want.''

Mariners manager Scott Servais feels good about plugging Hancock into the rotation after seeing him in action during his spring training appearances with the ball club. 

"I think he had a good spring and we saw that the stuff was better,'' Servais said. "His velo was up a little bit to 94-95 and he has a really good changeup. I've got no problem sliding him in there and [feel] good about him giving us a chance to win when he goes out there.''

During his time at Georgia, Hancock was a prolific starter and quickly became recognized as one of the best arms in college baseball. Over three seasons, he posted a career 3.47 ERA, fanned 206 batters and batters held just a .216 batting average against the former college ace. 

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