2012 Draft Report Cards: Seattle Mariners

By Conor Glassey
October 23, 2012



POSITION PLAYERS

QUICK TAKE

The Mariners appear to have solved their future catching needs by taking Zunino with the third overall pick. After that, Seattle got a mix of hitters and pitchers with upside

Bonus Spending: $9.3 million

Best Pure Hitter: C Mike Zunino (1) has the ability to backspin balls and use the whole field. A smart hitter, he has an advanced approach at the plate and puts together consistent at-bats. Best Power Hitter:Zunino's plus power is his best tool. He's the rare catcher who profiles to hit in the middle of a batting order. 3Bs Joe DeCarlo (2), who signed for $1.3 million, andPatrick Kivlehan (4) also have promising power, as does 1B Taylor Ard (7). Fastest Runner: OF/2B Jamodrick McGruder (9) and OF Mike Faulkner (12) are both plus-plus runners who clock in at 6.5 seconds in the 60-yard dash. Faulkner is a more explosive runner than McGruder. Best Defensive Player: SS Chris Taylor (5) is a pure shortstop with good fundamental skills. He has smooth hands and feet, takes direct routes to balls and has solid arm strength. Zunino projects as a solid defender behind the plate.

PITCHERS

Best Fastball: On the radar gun, RHP Edwin Diaz (3) wins with a heater that tops out at 97 mph, with the potential for even more velocity when he adds weight to his skinny frame. LHP Tyler Pike (3s) pitches at 89-91 mph, but his fastball sneaks up on hitters because of its late life and deception. He also can reach back for 94 mph when he needs it. Best Secondary Pitch:Pike's curveball is a tight 11-to-5 downer that he throws at 72-76 mph.

ODDS AND ENDS

Best Pro Debut: Zunino hit .360/.447/.689 with 14 doubles and 13 homers between short-season Everett and Double-A Jackson. Kivlehan won short-season Northwest League MVP honors after batting .301/.373/.511, topping the circuit in homers (12) and slugging. RHP Matt Brazis (28) reached low Class A while posting a 0.65 ERA, seven saves, a 51-5 K-BB ratio and a .117 opponent average in 28 innings. Best Athlete: Kivlehan played defensive back for Rutgers' football team for four years. Most Intriguing Background: Unsigned OF Mike Yastrzemski's (30) grandfather Carl is a Hall of Famer. Kivlehan took three years off from baseball, then returned this spring and won player of the year honors in the Big East Conference and NWL. Zunino's father Greg scouts for the Reds. 2B Timmy Lopes' (6) brother Christian plays in the Blue Jays system. Closest To The Majors: Zunino has the tools and intangibles to get to the big leagues in 2013 and stay there for a long time. Best Late-Round Pick:Brazis has a fastball that gets up to 96 mph and the chance for a plus slider. OF Dario Pizzano (15) has a pure lefthanded swing with some strength. The One Who Got Away: The Mariners liked 1B Nick Halamandaris' (8) strong lefthanded bat and makeup, but they weren't able to pry him away from his commitment to California. RHP James Kaprelian (40) might have gone in the first three rounds had he been signable away from UCLA.