ST PETERSBURG, Fla. — With Tropicana Field basically empty in the hours before the official pregame workouts began, the loud pop of David Phelps’ pitches striking the catchers’ glove of Carlos Ruiz produced a reverberating sound that the Mariners were happy to hear.
For the first time since leaving a game in Kansas City on Aug. 7 with elbow discomfort and going on the disabled list the next day with an elbow impingement, Phelps threw off the mound.
The 25-pitch bullpen represented a significant step in his recovery and a looming return to the set-up role where he had been dominant since being acquired from the Marlins in July.