YuseiKikuchi

News: 2 days agoKikuchi, who maintained a heavy throwing workload during the three-month-plus shutdown, appeared to be the best-conditioned pitcher during the first day of summer camp Friday, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports. "He looked just like he did when he left spring training," said manager Scott Servais, who watched a bullpen earlier this week. "He's probably a little further ahead. The volume of throwing he does is probably a little bit more than other guys."

Spin: The 29-year-old Japanese import came into spring training with plenty to prove after a rough first season stateside, and he appeared to be on solid footing when spring training was suspended. Kikuchi's work ethic during the time off may allow him to be an exception to the general rule Servais is likely to have for his pitchers to open the regular season, namely, a workload of approximately four innings or 70 pitches.