Trevor May, from Longview, Wash., was excited to pitch in front of friends and family on Saturday - but it was a brief appearance.
May's start ended early when a line drive off Kyle Seager's bat with one out in the fifth struck May in the right elbow.
May left the game early and missed out on the Twins stringing hits around Safeco against erratic lefthander James Paxton and the Mariners bullpen.
May took the shot, chased after the ball when it deflected and threw to first to retire Seager. But he winced, grimaced and squirmed in pain as he tried to shake it off.
Head trainer Dave Pruemer rushed to his aid. After a few minutes, May was removed from the game.
X-Rays were negative, and May is day-to-day with a right elbow contusion.
The game was tied 2-2 at the time but the Twins offense got going and they led 6-3 in the late innings.
HERE'S WHAT WENT ON BEFORE THE GAME