Hultzen to continue recovery in minors

Lefty Danny Hultzen will now continue his recovery from major shoulder surgery in minor league camp after being optioned Sunday by the Mariners to Triple-A Tacoma in a series of roster moves.

“I’m very pleased with where he is right now,” manager Lloyd McClendon said. “Obviously, he’s worked very hard. I think he’s very excited about where he is, and we want to make sure he continues to stay healthy.”

The Mariners moved 11 players to minor league camp prior to Sunday’s workouts. Hultzen, left-handed pitcher Mike Kickham and outfielder Julio Morban were optioned to Tacoma.

Eight players not on the 40-man roster were reassigned to minor league camp, including catcher Marcus Littlewood, who had been in the big league camp on an extended loan.

The other seven were right-handed pitchers Sam Gaviglio, Stephen Landazuri and Forrest Snow; outfielder Jordy Lara; and catchers Steven Baron, Mike Dowd and Tyler Marlette.

Hultzen, 25, was the second overall pick in the 2011 draft and was on a fast track through the Mariners’ system before undergoing surgery on Oct. 1, 2013 to repair his labrum and rotator cuff.

When he pitched one scoreless inning March 11 against Colorado, it marked Hultzen’s first game action since Sept. 1, 2013, when he worked two innings for Tacoma against Sacramento at Cheney Stadium.

“To be able to come back and pitch again is incredible,” he said. “There were times when I doubted that I could ever come back again. I’m through that now.”

Dodgers 5, M’s 2

Clayton Kershaw allowed one run in his third spring start, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Mariners 5-2 on Sunday.

Howie Kendrick and Carl Crawford had RBI doubles off Seattle starter Roenis Elias.

Mariners catcher Mike Zunino extended his hitting streak to six games, doubling off Kershaw in his first at-bat.

Clearing the bases

New York Mets reliever Josh Edgin is done for the season and will have elbow-ligament replacement surgery. The 28-year-old was 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA in 47 appearances last season. … Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jason Bourgeois is going to be out four to six weeks with a fracture in his left shoulder. The 33-year old was trying to win a job as the Reds’ fourth outfielder. … Union head Tony Clark says the baseball players’ association has no issues with Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez rejoined the Yankees this spring after serving a one-year drug suspension. During his appeal of the ban A-Rod filed – and later dropped – lawsuits against his own union, Major League Baseball and New York’s team physician.