Clement avoids surgery on elbow

The Mariners received a scare this week when top catching prospect Jeff Clement was sidelined in Arizona with a sore left elbow, but Clement will not need surgery, as originally feared.

Clement, who was shut down for the final two games of the Arizona Fall League, was examined in Seattle on Friday by Dr. Edward Khalfayan, the Mariners' medical director. He also received an MRI exam.

"Everything checked out," said Greg Hunter, the Mariners' director of player development. "He's going to rest and get on with his winter conditioning after a short break. It's not going to be anything major. From Dr. Khalfayan's perspective, he's fine."

Clement, 24, told the Everett Herald on Thursday that the soreness in his nonthrowing elbow was "probably some bone chips." He had surgery in his left elbow in May 2006 to have bone chips removed.

Clement, the Mariners' first-round pick (third overall) in the 2005 draft out of USC, made a strong impression in September with two home runs in the final week of the season. Hunter said Clement will be "knocking on the door" for a roster spot in spring training, either as a catcher or designated hitter.

Playing for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, the left-handed-hitting Clement batted .269 in 14 games, with three homers and 12 runs batted in. For Tacoma this past season, he hit .275 with 20 homers and 80 RBI in 125 games.

"We still like him as a catcher, but we have [Kenji] Johjima there," Hunter said. "I don't know how that will all play out."

The Mariners' AFL contingent also included third baseman Matt Tuiasosopo, 21, who followed a solid minor-league season (.260, nine homers, 57 RBI at Class AA West Tennessee) by hitting .293 in 23 games with the Javelinas, driving in 15 runs.

"Tui did a nice job," Hunter said. "He had a good start, then slowed down. I think he was a little tired. When you look at his overall year, it was a real good year. He was a football guy, so he's behind in baseball terms. For a guy his age to advance the way he has is a real credit to him."

Second baseman Yung Chi Chen, limited to five games at Tacoma this year because of left shoulder surgery, was an offensive standout in the AFL. The 24-year-old Chen, from Taiwan, hit .339 in 17 games for Peoria.

The Mariners are keeping a close eye on right-handed pitcher Brandon Morrow, who arrived in Lara, Venezuela, this week for winter ball.

After appearing in 60 games in relief in his rookie season, Morrow is being converted to starting and will likely vie for a rotation spot next season.

Hunter said that Morrow, 23, is slated to make seven starts in the Venezuela Winter League for the Lara Cardenales, whose pitching coach, Scott Budner, was the Mariners' pitching coach at Class A High Desert last season.

"We want to stretch him out a little," Hunter said. "He needs to continue to develop his secondary pitches."

Lefty Ryan Rowland-Smith, making a similar transition from relieving to starting, has returned to his native Australia after a stint in Lara, where he was 2-2 with a 4.30 earned-run average in five starts, striking out 16 in 23 innings with 12 walks.

"He threw real well," Hunter said. "As we stretched him out, he struggled in the later innings, but each time he got a little better."

Adam Jones, slated for a starting job in the Mariners' outfield next season, is also due to arrive soon in Venezuela.

NOTES

• Outfielder Mike Wilson, who hit 21 homers in 119 minor-league games in 2006 but missed much of last season with leg injuries, is having a strong season in the Hawaiian winter league. Playing for the Waikiki BeachBoys, Wilson is batting .319 in 33 games with seven homers and 30 RBI.

• Jose Castro, formerly a coach in the Padres' organization, has been named the Mariners' minor-league hitting coordinator.

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com