The Comeback Kid is in the house.

It is 11:40 a.m. here in Peoria and I just exchanged greetings with Ken Griffey Jr., who was in a nearly-empty Mariners clubhouse, standing in front of his locker, dressed in street clothes and, what else, swinging a bat.

He looks good. A little older, maybe, but the unmistakable Junior smile was there.

A large box of baseball shoes, compliments of Nike, were on top of the large trunk that took up much of the room near his locker. He probably needs a second locker for all his equipment, etc., and I’m sure that can be arranged.

After exchanging some barbs with the franchise legend, I was invited to leave the clubhouse as players began coming in from practice.

Next up is the 1:30 p.m. press conference.

— Jim Street