Mariners bullpen coach John Wetteland taken to Texas hospital

Mariners bullpen coach John Wetteland was taken to the Denton Regional Medical Center near Dallas today after police were called to his house, according to cbs11tv.com.

According to the report, Denton County officials said Wetteland was hospitalized for a mental health issue.

The Denton County Sheriff's office said they took a call from the Argyle/Bartonville area around 12:30 p.m. CST Thursday on a possibly suicidal person. When officers arrived to the home, a man later identified as Wetteland came out with his hands in the air, saying he "needed help."

When The Seattle Times contacted the Denton Regional Medical Center late Thursday afternoon, a spokesman said Wetteland was not registered.

Wetteland, 43, recently completed his first year on the Mariners' staff, under manager Don Wakamatsu.

In a statement released Thursday evening, Wetteland said, "Thank you for your concerns. My wife and I are very appreciative of the over and above care of our local officers and paramedics. The circumstances leading to my elevated blood pressure and heart rate have been addressed. I am currently resting safely at home."

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said, "We were relieved once we heard the details from John and Michelle and that John is safe at home and in good health. Contrary to earlier news reports, the reason John was hospitalized was because of an extremely high heart rate. We have let them know that the Mariners will do whatever we can to assist them."

Wetteland pitched in the major leagues for 12 seasons with four teams, saving 330 games. He was the World Series MVP in 1996, saving all four of the Yankees' victories.

The news came as a shock to members of the Mariners' bullpen, who had a close relationship with Wetteland.

"Obviously, it caught me off guard,'' said Mariners reliever Mark Lowe. "He's a strong man. I know he's been through a lot. I know he'll pull out from it and be fine. He's going through a rough time, but I have complete confidence everything is going to be fine. Everyone goes through their times.''

Reliever David Aardsma said, "John's a huge part of our team, a huge part of our bullpen. He's been a big part of my life this past year, a big part of all of our life. My heart is with his family, and with him. I really hope everything is all right, obviously.

Aardsma said he had no inkling of any problem.

"No, in the clubhouse he's a great guy, a fun-loving guy. He's full of life, he loved coming to the park every day. He has a great family he absolutely loves. He couldn't wait to see them all the time. He brought them into the clubhouse every chance he could. He always seemed like everything was great. He was so proud of his family and eager to show them off. I know it sounds like a cliche, but this was the last thing I ever saw coming.''