Mariners correspondent John Hickey reports that 18-year-old shortstop Carlos Triunfel has been suspended indefinitely by the Mariners for what Seattle farm director Greg Hunter confirmed was a violation of team rules. Triunfel has been sent back to the Mariners’ extended spring training base in Peoria, Ariz., to serve his suspension, and he hasn’t appeared in a game since May 10.

Signed out of the Dominican Republic for $1.3 million in 2006, Triunfel advanced to high Class A High Desert in 2007, at age 17, where he batted .288/.333/.356 in 208 at-bats. Re-assigned there to begin this season, the righthanded batter was off to a  .263/.300/.342 start, showing the same terrific contact ability, but little of the power projected of him.

Triunfel has not homered in 485 pro at-bats—and has slugged an aggregate .361—but he hits the ball hard the other way and gets good backspin on the ball, suggesting to many evaluators that the power will develop in time.