"Strained oblique" are two of the cruelest words in baseball. It is an injury that rarely permits a quick recovery, typically forcing the player to miss at least a month and often longer.
Rookie right fielder Mitch Haniger suffered a strained oblique Tuesday on a swing in the third inning of what was already turning into a disappointing night for the Mariners against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
The Mariners confirmed the injury shortly after Haniger left the game but did not comment on its severity. The ailment often does not initially appear to be serious, but the recovery period almost always lingers.