Utility race down to two

PEORIA, Ariz. – Since before spring training officially began last month, there’s been a friendly competition among three players hoping to win the Seattle Mariners’ utility infield job.

Jack Hannahan, Josh Wilson and Matt Tuiasosopo all reported early and fielded balls at a variety of positions, knowing anything less than that kind of commitment would leave any one of them behind in the quest to make the team. Hannahan even strapped on catching equipment to learn that job in case he’d be needed on an emergency third-catcher basis.

It became a two-man battle, at least for the next 7-10 days, on Friday when a magnetic resonance imaging exam showed that Hannahan has a strained right groin.

“It’s better than we thought, but we’re going to shut him down for three days of nothing, and then progress,” manager Don Wakamatsu said

While it could have been worse, the injury still may alter the competition for the opening-day backup infield job.

Hannahan has played third base most of his career but the Mariners planned to give him considerable work in the middle of the infield, particularly shortstop, in this camp. If he’s sidelined only 7-10 days – that’s the least the Mariners could expect, knowing it’s an injury that could linger – Hannahan still would miss valuable opportunities to play shortstop in exhibition games.

He hurt it in the second exhibition, March 4, when he turned to pursue a fly ball and felt discomfort.

“There was no pop, no great pain,” Hannahan said. “But it didn’t get better. I couldn’t get it loose. I had an MRI done and it showed a small tear. It’s really frustrating. I worked so hard all offseason, I come in here and I’m fighting for a spot on the roster, now this. It’s baseball.”

If it becomes a two-man battle among Wilson and Tuiasosopo, the Mariners may lean toward the one who plays the best shortstop. Jack Wilson is the starting shortstop but, with a history of leg problems of his own, would need regular rest.