Griffey to make spring debut Wednesday

Mar 2, 2009 - 11:11 PM PEORIA, Arizona (Ticker) -- Ken Griffey Jr. remains on schedule to make his official return with the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.

Griffey, who had been bothered by a swollen left knee earlier in the spring, hit for 10 minutes Monday against two minor leagues pitchers in a simulated game.

The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer will make his spring debut Wednesday, when he is used as the designated hitter in the Mariners' game against the Australian national team.

"Junior did great," Seattle manager Dan Wakamatsu said. "There was some swelling in the knee a couple of days ago, but everything's good now."

Wednesday's appearance will come 11 days after Griffey, the active home run leader, signed a contract to return to the Pacific Northwest.

He began his career with Seattle 20 years ago and played his last game for the Mariners in 1999.

Griffey hit 398 of his 611 career home runs in Seattle. Following the 1999 season, he was traded to Cincinnati and remained with the Reds until he was dealt to the Chicago White Sox at last year's deadline.