Hirano (illness) joined the team at the alternate training site Friday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hirano tested positive for COVID-19 during the offseason, which forced him to miss time during camp. The right-hander will need to face hitters several times at the alternate training site as he gets ready to make his season debut, but the team is reportedly hopeful that he'll be able to join the major-league club soon.

Hirano (illness) is close to being ready to face live hitters at the Mariners' alternate training site in Tacoma, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran reliever has continued throwing bullpen sessions at the spring training facility in Peoria, Arizona, as he looks to make up for time lost to a COVID-19 infection earlier in the summer. Hirano appears close to being ready for the next step, with manager Scott Servais noting the 36-year-old is "getting his arm strength up and throwing all his pitches off the mound."

Hirano (illness) remains at the Mariners' spring training facility in Peoria, Arizona for the moment, where he continues throwing bullpen sessions in an effort to build up his arm, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran reliever's bout with COVID-19 earlier in the summer put him significantly behind the curve in building his arm back up, so Hirano is in the midst of playing catch-up at the moment. The 36-year-old, who's thought to be in line for save opportunities whenever he does make it to the big-league roster, will transition to the Mariners' alternate training site in Tacoma when he's ready to face live hitters.

Hirano (illness) is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session at the Mariners' spring training facility in Peoria, Arizona on Thursday, Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hirano remains without a firm timetable for his 2020 debut, but manager Scott Servais noted the veteran is "another guy we desperately need." The 36-year-old had signed a one-year, $1.6 million deal with the Mariners in January and was thought of as a leading candidate for the closer's job until testing positive for COVID-19 on June 25. Hirano did manage to gain clearance in time to participate in the last few days of summer camp, and he'll eventually work up to pitching in intrasquad games at the team's alternate training site in Tacoma before activation is considered.

Hirano (illness) cleared MLB's COVID-19 protocols and reported to the team facility Saturday, The Japan Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran reliever was absent from most of summer training after testing positive for coronavirus, but he produced two negative tests and was able to participate in workouts Saturday. Hirano apparently dealt with a high fever and was unable to train during the early stages of his quarantine, so he'll likely require some time to ramp up before being game ready. The 36-year-old was in the mix to operate as Seattle's closer, but Matt Magill is likely to begin the season in that role.

Hirano told the Kyodo News on Tuesday that his placement on the injured list was the result of a positive COVID-19 test.

EDGE Analysis

Seattle never provided an official explanation behind Hirano's move to the IL earlier Tuesday, though his absence from summer camp had already created suspicion that he might have tested positive for the coronavirus. According to the report, Hirano's positive test came all the way back on June 25, and he's since tested negative for COVID-19 on June 6. He'll need one more negative test result before he's allowed to rejoin the Mariners for workouts, but since he hasn't been able to train the past two weeks, Hirano will likely require some ramp-up time once he reports to the team before he's deemed ready for game action. With Hirano out of the Seattle bullpen picture at least temporarily, Matt Magill now looks like the favorite to open the season as the team's top closing candidate.

Hirano was placed on the injured list Tuesday for unspecified reasons.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran right-hander has yet to report to Seattle's summer camp, and his availability for Opening Day next week is firmly in question. No official reason was provided for Hirano's absence, as the Mariners are legally unable to disclose if it has anything to do with the COVID-19 pandemic without his permission. The 36-year-old was expected to be in the mix for the closer's job at the start of the season, but Matt Magill is now the favorite to work the ninth inning for Seattle.

Hirano had yet to report to the Mariners' summer camp as of Monday due to an unspecified reason, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Viewed as a potential closing candidate for the Mariners heading into summer camp, Hirano's ongoing absence may now leave him behind Matt Magill in the bullpen pecking order. As a reliever, Hirano will require less time to get his arm conditioned for game action than a starter would, but with Opening Day just a week and a half away, he won't be a lock to be ready to go even if he reports to camp in the next day or two.

Hirano was present for the re-start of workouts at the Mariners' spring facility in Peoria. Arizona on Tuesday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 36-year-old right-hander joined several of his teammates for informal workouts that were conducted in groups no larger than three. Hirano was able to engage in his throwing program under staff supervision, and he and his fellow hurlers should soon have access to bullpen mounds at the facility. The veteran only got five innings of Cactus League work in before spring training was suspended, but he put together impressive performances in both Japan and his 2018 MLB debut campaign with the Diamondbacks before scuffling some last season on the way to a 4.75 ERA and 1.38 WHIP.

Hirano is likely to make the Opening Day roster, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 36-year-old didn't exactly make a strong case with his overall numbers during Cactus League play, as he posted a 5.40 ERA across five innings over five appearances before spring training was suspended. However, Hirano was identified by manager Scott Servais early in camp as a reliever he'd be comfortable utilizing frequently in high-leverage situations, even as the right-hander's 48:4 hold-to-save ratio over his first two big-league seasons underscores he's played much more of a set-up role thus far in the majors.