Baseball America
Mariners Final Report
The best player, best pitcher and a prospect to keep an eye on for the 2011 Mariners organization.
Majors
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M’s Go Back To ACC In 2011 Draft
The Mariners have not been reluctant to dip into the pool of talent coming out of the Atlantic Coast Conference in recent years, and Brad Miller says that will only make the organization stronger. Seattle drafted Dustin Ackley and Kyle Seager out of North Carolina in 2009 and both are already starting in Safeco Field—Ackley at second base and Seager at third.
Mariners Midseason Report
Picking the Mariners best minor league player, leap forward and biggest disappointment of the first half.
Mariners Surprise Industry, Take Hultzen No. 2
Some scouts believe Virginia lefty Danny Hultzen, the Mariners' selection with the second pick in the 2011 draft, could be the closest to the big leagues of all the college pitchers available.
M’s Cortes Slowing Down, Moving Up
Given the velocity on his fastball, it seemed a good bet that righthander Dan Cortes would make the Mariners' roster out of spring training. He reaches 98-99 mph with relative ease, but Cortes is learning that he needs more than just pure heat to get by. Control is essential, and with four walks in four spring innings coupled with 60 walks in 102 innings last year, it was clear that mastery was lacking.
Peguero Gets Brief Look With M’s
The Mariners didn't expect to see outfielder Carlos Peguero this soon. True, he led his league in homers last year with 23, but it was the Double-A Southern League. He was going to need a good chunk of time at Triple-A Tacoma before the Mariners were going to be serious about giving him a look. That chunk turned out to be 12 games.
Wilhelmsen Jumps From Low A To Big Leagues
Of the dozens of rookies who made opening day rosters for the first time this year, there is probably none with a less baseball-ish back story than Seattle righthanded reliever Tom Wilhelmsen.
Pineda Ready To Make Big League Leap For M’s
A year ago at this time, Michael Pineda was preparing for his first start in Double-A. In the course of an eventful year, however, he went from West Tenn to Triple-A Tacoma over 25 starts, going a combined 11-4, 3.36 with 154 strikeouts and 34 walks in 139 innings. His next regular season start is likely to be in the big leagues with Seattle.
Mariners Finally Sign James Paxton
There seemed to be a time when James Paxton would never sign. The Blue Jays drafted the 6-foot-4, 220-pound lefthander in the first round two years ago, but working with agent Scott Boras meant he couldn't return to Kentucky to play, so he headed off to play with Grand Prairie and play an independent league schedule when he and the Blue Jays couldn't strike a deal.<br/>
M’s Liddi Hopes To Make Italy Proud
It's been half a century since anyone born in Italy stepped on the field as a major league player. That drought could be close to ending. Third baseman Alex Liddi, a product of the Mariners' far-reaching international scouting system, hit .281/.353/.476 with 15 homers and a Southern League-leading 92 RBIs at Double-A West Tenn last year.
M’s Franklin Is Loaded With Confidence
No one was more surprised than Nick Franklin when he was asked by Seattle management to take part in the Mariners annual fanfest event at Safeco Field in late January.
Beavan could pitch for Mariners in 2011
Blake Beavan has a chance this spring to make big noise in major league camp. Beavan is unlikely in the extreme to win a job in the starting rotation right out of camp in Peoria, Ariz., but the 6-foot-7, 250-pound righthander could establish a foothold in the Mariners' memory so that when a spot opens up later in the year, he's at the top of Seattle's list.
Triunfel Gets Back On Track For Mariners
Two winters ago, Carlos Triunfel was on the fast track to the big leagues with the Mariners. He was being groomed as the next big thing as a Seattle infielder, a shortstop who might wind up playing second base or even third. That was then. Now, Triunfel has got his health back after missing virtually all of the 2009 season after breaking his leg.
