Hultzen to Make 2015 Debut in Jackson

Jackson, Tenn. - The Seattle Mariners announced that left-handed pitcher Danny Hultzen would start for the Jackson Generals on Friday night against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. It will be his first action for an affiliated team since September 1 of 2013 with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers. Hultzen missed the entire 2014 season after having surgery on his left shoulder in October of 2013.

Hultzen is a familiar face to fans in West Tennessee. He was part of the "Big Three" along with Taijuan Walker and James Paxton that led Jackson to a 42-28 record and a First Half North Division title.

The southpaw from Bethesda, Maryland might have been the best of the bunch. In 13 starts for Jackson, Hultzen went 8-3 with a 1.19 ERA while striking out 79 and walking just 32 in 75.1 innings. His performance earned him a midseason promotion to Tacoma.

The Seattle Mariners selected Hultzen with the second overall pick in the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft out of the University of Virginia. He made six starts in the Arizona Fall League that season before skipping Class-A and jumping right into the Jackson rotation.

Both Baseball America and MLB.com ranked the lefty among baseball's top 30 prospects heading into 2013, but recurring shoulder injuries limited him to just seven starts between Triple-A Tacoma and the rookie-level Arizona League Mariners. He struck out three in two scoreless innings for the Rainiers on September 1, 2013 against Sacramento, but underwent surgery a month later and has not pitched in a minor league game since.

Hultzen did make his return to the mound with Seattle during Spring Training. He pitched a scoreless inning against the Colorado Rockies in his first live action in close to 18 months before being reassigned to minor league camp.

Hultzen will be officially added to Jackson's roster on Friday, at which time a corresponding move will be made.

Twenty months after his last affiliated start and almost three years after he last pitched for the Generals, Hultzen is slated to make his return to The Ballpark at Jackson.

Friday will be a big night for fans in West Tennessee. In addition to getting to see Hultzen on the mound, the first 500 fans through the gates will take home a Jabari Greer South Side Hawks Bobblehead courtesy of A+ Insurance! The Jackson native and 2009 Super Bowl Champion will be in attendance! It's also Denny's Free Cash Friday, so come on down for a chance to leave with more money in your wallet than you came with!

You can catch the game on MiLB.tv and on the TJ Network (AM 1390, FM 94.1 and 94.3) in Jackson starting at 6:50 pm with the Jackson Generals Pregame Show protected by the Tennessee Army National Guard.

Tickets are still available to Friday's contest by calling (731) 988.5299, stopping by the park or going online to jacksongeneralsbaseball.com.