Seattle Mariners Starting Pitcher George Kirby will reportedly begin the 2025 regular season on the Injured List. Shoulder inflammation is the culprit for Kirby being sidelined to begin the year. He had been struggling to respond between starts in Spring Training. Even though Kirby’s MRI came back negative, the Seattle Mariners are shutting him down as a precaution.
Kirby is coming off a stellar 2024 season. He was 14-11 with a 3.53 ERA. He was 25th in the league in ERA last season, 23rd in strikeouts, and ninth in WHIP. Kirby was a crucial part of a Seattle rotation that was the best in Major League Baseball. How will the team fare in Kirby’s absence?
Seattle Mariners Season Outlook
George Kirby will start the year on the IL pic.twitter.com/GJLuovdUO4
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 7, 2025
The Mariners had a quiet 2025 offseason. Veteran Justin Turner, who spent the second half of the 2024 season with the Mariners, sounded off on the team’s moves this offseason. Turner opined about Seattle’s plan to not surround its great pitching staff with an improved offense. He believes the franchise has a golden opportunity to compete for a World Series, but they let it fall by the wayside.
Seattle’s offense will continue to be led by Center Fielder Julio Rodriguez. Even though he had a down 2024, he is still considered one of the best players in Major League Baseball. He will be assisted by Left Fielder Randy Arozarena and Catcher Cal Raleigh. The team’s offense has a few high-profile names, but they did not play up to expectations in 2024.
Final Thoughts
It is unclear when Kirby will be able to return to the diamond. When he is healthy enough to pitch, he will still need a few weeks to ramp up toward a return with his Spring Training being cut short. He will look to regain his form from years past for a Seattle Mariners club stuck in neutral.
