PEORIA, Ariz., March 19 (UPI) -- Catcher Dan Wilson of Seattle will miss the start of the regular season after being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained internal oblique muscle.
Wilson sustained the injury during batting practice on Feb. 28 and has not appeared in any exhibition games. He will be eligible to come off the disabled list April 5 against the Texas Rangers.
The 6-3, 215-pounder, who turns 34 on March 25, has spent the last the nine seasons with the Mariners. He batted .295 with six home runs and 44 RBI in 115 games last season.
Wilson, expected to back up Ben Davis this season, has a .266 batting average with 82 homers and 441 RBI in 1,089 career games with Cincinnati and Seattle.
The Mariners were scheduled to begin the regular season on March 25 against Oakland in Japan. On Tuesday, Major League Baseball canceled those plans because of the strong possibility of military action by the United States.
The games, both of which were Oakland home dates, were rescheduled for April 3 and June 30. The A's and Mariners instead open the season on April 1 in Oakland.
