Mariners catcher Jesus Sucre suffers broken leg in Venezuela

SEATTLE — Catcher Jesus Sucre suffered what is initially characterized as a broken fibula in his leg while playing winter ball in Venezuela, the Mariners confirmed late Sunday.

Sucre, 27, is scheduled to undergo a complete imaging examination Monday to determine the severity of the injury, but early projections suggest he will miss at least the start of spring training.

The news broke Sunday night in a twitter report by Venezuela journalist Marcos Grunfeld. The Mariners subsequently confirmed the report. The fibula is the calf bone.

Sucre, a native Venezuelan, was playing for Magellanes in the Venezuela Winter League playoffs. He batted .157 last season in 52 big-league games and has a .178 average over 81 games in parts of three seasons.

The Mariners open spring camp Feb. 19 when pitchers and catchers report to the organization’s year-round complex in Peoria, Ariz. Workouts start the following day.

Sucre spent the last three seasons shuttling between the Mariners and the minors, but he projected to enter spring camp as fourth on the depth chart behind Chris Iannetta, Steve Clevenger and Mike Zunino.

The highlight of Sucre’s 2015 season was catching Hisashi Iwakuma’s no-hitter on Aug. 12 against Baltimore at Safeco Field. Sucre also made two pitching appearances in blow-out games.

The Mariners signed Sucre as a free agent on July 19, 2011 after he was released five days earlier by the Atlanta Braves. He began his pro career by signing with the Braves as a 17-year-old in 2005.

Bob Dutton: @TNT_Mariners

This story was originally published January 17, 2016 at 10:27 PM with the headline "Mariners catcher Jesus Sucre suffers broken leg in Venezuela."