This article covers the tough news about Mariners’ right-handed pitcher Logan Evans. He just had internal brace surgery for a torn UCL and now he’s out for the entire 2026 season.
It digs into what this means for the team’s starting pitching depth. The Mariners have to figure out how to fill this gap as spring training creeps up.
A Devastating Blow to Mariners’ Pitching Depth
The Seattle Mariners, always chasing a playoff spot, just got hit with a tough break before spring training even started. Hearing that right-hander Logan Evans needed surgery for a torn ulnar collateral ligament stings—it basically wipes out a key pitcher for all of 2026.
The Anatomy of an Injury: What Happened to Logan Evans?
Evans is just 24 and was grinding through his offseason throwing program. He’d even been throwing harder than before, or so the reports said.
Then, in early January, he started feeling elbow pain. That ended up leading to a tough diagnosis and, by January 23, surgery with Dr. Keith Meister in Texas. For a young pitcher on the verge of breaking out, you really hate to see this kind of setback. It’s just rough, honestly.
The Ripple Effect: Mariners’ Starting Rotation in 2026
Evans wasn’t just another guy in the bullpen. The team saw him as a possible No. 6 or 7 starter this season, which says a lot about his talent and the faith the Mariners had in him.
In 2025, he bounced between starting and relieving—15 starts, one relief outing, and finished with a 6-5 record and a 4.32 ERA. That “swing role” turned out to be huge, especially when top arms like Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, and Bryce Miller landed on the IL.
Filling the Void: Who Steps Up for Seattle?
General manager Justin Hollander didn’t mince words. He called Evans’ loss “definitely a blow” to the club’s vital starting-pitching depth.
This injury really shows just how shaky pitcher health can be. It also puts a spotlight on why you need a deep roster, especially in a long season like this one.
With Evans out, the Mariners will lean on a trio of right-handers to bolster their rotation behind the established top five:
- Emerson Hancock: Hancock has 31 MLB starts under his belt. That brings a certain level of experience and comfort on the big league mound.
- Dane Dunning: Dunning’s made 102 MLB starts. His veteran presence could help steady things when the pressure ramps up.
- Cooper Criswell: Criswell adds another option with 21 MLB starts. He’s shown he can take the ball at the highest level, though he’s still got something to prove.
Hollander pointed out that these pitchers all have prior MLB starting experience. That’s a big deal when it comes to being ready for the call.
The hope, of course, is that the top five stay healthy. But let’s be real—over a 162-game season, someone’s going to need backup, and these depth arms have to be ready.
Pitchers and catchers report to spring training on February 12. All eyes will be on these arms, and there’s a lot riding on their ability to step up if things get dicey in the American League West.
Here is the source article for this story: Mariners starting pitcher Logan Evans to miss season with arm injury
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