Soriano leaves hospital

Rafael Soriano was released from a Seattle hospital Wednesday, less than 24 hours after being hit in the head by a baseball traveling more than 100 mph – saved from disaster by luck and his own reactions.

“Pretty miraculous that he was able to absorb that sort of impact and look as great as he’s looking right now,” Dr. Richard Ellenbogen said.

Struck behind the right ear Tuesday by Vladimir Guerrero’s line drive that was clocked at 108 mph, Soriano was taken off the field on a stretcher as players on both teams and a crowd of 29,059 watched.

After undergoing an array of medical tests – including a pair of CT scans – the only obvious sign of injury Wednesday was what Ellenbogen called “a large goose-egg behind his ear” and a minor concussion.

What doctors considered nearly as miraculous as Soriano’s quick recovery was his ability on the mound to turn away from that line drive and avoid taking the hit in the face.

“He’s fortunate he didn’t hit him in the … eyeball, nose or any of the softer places of the skull,” Ellenbogen said. “He wasn’t in the right place at the right time, but it was better than it could have been.”

The Mariners didn’t want to think about the could-have-beens.

“You think about what would have happened if it had been an inch or two to the left or down or whatever and you’ll make yourself crazy,” manager Mike Hargrove. “I don’t want to go there. I’m just glad Raffy’s OK.”

After determining there to be no brain damage beyond a mild concussion, Soriano will begin rehabilitation in the next few days and be re-evaluated by a neurologist in two weeks.

Whether he pitches again this season is largely up to Soriano and his recovery, although the Mariners appeared optimistic about his return by not putting him on the disabled list.

On Friday, major league rosters expand from 25, and the team will recall at least one pitcher – Emiliano Fruto is a leading candidate – to work in the bullpen. But by not putting Soriano on the DL, the Mariners could allow him to pitch sooner than the 15-day period he’d have missed.

The incident was, as Hargrove said, “everybody’s worst nightmare,” the kind of injury on the field that has most everyone holding their breath.

The Mariners top setup man, the right-handed pitcher used to work the eighth inning to get the game to closer J.J. Putz, Soriano is having a spectacular season a year after major elbow surgery.

With a 1-2 record, two saves and a 2.25 earned run average, he’s a piece of the Seattle bullpen not easily replaced.

Guerrero visited Soriano in the hospital after Tuesday’s game, and so did Hargrove.

“Raffy was awake and alert and had one hell of a headache,” Hargrove said. “There were tubes and wires running everywhere, and he said he wanted to go home. I don’t blame him.”

Soriano’s injury came one day after the Mariners lost right-handed reliever Julio Mateo for the season with a broken finger, and left the Seattle bullpen in disarray.

“Everybody in the bullpen just moved up a step,” Hargrove said. “Everyone will be asked to do a little bit more.”

New blood expected

When the calendar flips from August to September on Friday, major league teams will begin expanding their rosters from the regular-season limit of 25 – and the Mariners will begin a series of callups that will bring six to eight minor league players to the big leagues.

Most won’t join the team right away.

“We’re going to let most of them finish the minor league season,” general manager Bill Bavasi said.

With one exception: The Mariners will have a pitcher join them Friday in Florida, where they begin a three-game series with Tampa Bay. With Rafael Soriano down with a concussion, the most likely candidate is rookie Emiliano Fruto, who has some experience with Seattle this season.

Beyond that, who’s coming?

Probably players who have already spent time with the Mariners this year – position players such as Greg Dobbs and Adam Jones – and pitchers on the team’s 40-man roster.

With Felix Hernandez scheduled to miss at least one and probably two September starts to hold his innings to less than 200 for the season, the Mariners may want to look at young starters other than Jake Woods and Cha Seung Baek.

Other than that, the team doesn’t expect to have many at-bats or innings for the ‘kids.’