MESA, Ariz. — Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez was hit in his pitching arm by a line drive Monday and forced to leave his spring training debut.

The Mariners said a precautionary X-ray of his right forearm was negative.

Hernandez was listed as day-to-day. He will be re-evaluated Tuesday.

The 31-year-old star, slowed by injuries last year, was struck by a liner from Victor Caratini of the Chicago Cubs.

After being hit, Hernandez immediately grabbed his arm and didn’t pursue the ball on the infield grass.

Hernandez went down to a knee, hopped up and walked around in obvious pain. He headed to the dugout with a trainer holding his arm, and Caratini gave him a tap of encouragement.

Hernandez spent considerable time on the disabled list last season because of shoulder trouble. The 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner was 6-5 with a 4.36 ERA in 16 starts.

YANKEES: Russell Wilson’s head knows football was the right choice. Baseball still has his heart. A 2014 Super Bowl champion quarterback with the Seattle Seahawks, the 29-year-old began a week of workouts Monday with New York.

“Is this just a stunt?” he said. “I think that if you really know me, baseball’s been a part of my blood. It’s been a part of who I am and where I’ve come from and what I’ve done. When you see me make plays on the football field, a lot of that’s a direct correlation to baseball.”

Wilson hit six homers in 39 swings as part of a batting practice group that included Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, the top sluggers in the major leagues last season, plus Gary Sanchez and Greg Bird.

A middle infielder who hit .229 over 93 games at Class A in the Rockies’ system in 2011 and ’12, Wilson became the Seahawks’ starting quarterback in autumn 2012. He was selected by Texas in the 2013 winter meeting draft and attended spring training with the Rangers.

GIANTS: Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda has made significant progress from a heart problem that left him in critical condition last week. The family said the 80-year-old former slugger is “showing major signs of improvement.” The family thanked all the well-wishers in a statement released by the Giants.

Cepeda has been a regular at San Francisco home games. He played first base during his 17 seasons in the majors, beginning with the Giants. He also played for St. Louis, Atlanta, Oakland, Boston and Kansas City.

ORIOLES: Baltimore and designated hitter Pedro Alvarez have agreed on a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training.

REDS: Ben Revere and Cincinnati finalized a minor league contract after the outfielder passed a physical.

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