By Matt Eddy
January 22, 2010


Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2009.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Dustin Ackley, of/1b 2. Michael Saunders, of 3. Adam Moore, c 4. Alex Liddi, 3b 5. Carlos Triunfel, ss/2b 6. Michael Pineda, rhp 7. Nick Franklin, ss 8. Greg Halman, of 9. Danny Cortes, rhp 10. Mario Martinez, 3b/1b

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Dustin Ackley Best Power Hitter Greg Halman Best Strike-Zone Discipline Ezequiel Carrera Fastest Baserunner Ezequiel Carrera Best Athlete Greg Halman Best Fastball Michael Pineda Best Curveball Josh Fields Best Slider Steven Hensley Best Changeup Nick Hill Best Control Michael Pineda Best Defensive Catcher Steve Baron Best Defensive Infielder Gabriel Noriega Best Infield Arm Carlos Triunfel Best Defensive Outfielder Michael Saunders Best Outfield Arm James Jones

PROJECTED 2013 LINEUP

Catcher Adam Moore First Base Dustin Ackley Second Base Jose Lopez Third Base Chone Figgins Shortstop Nick Franklin Left Field Michael Saunders Center Field Franklin Gutierrez Right Field Ichiro Suzuki Designated Hitter Alex Liddi No. 1 Starter Felix Hernandez No. 2 Starter Cliff Lee No. 3 Starter Michael Pineda No. 4 Starter Ian Snell No. 5 Starter Ryan Rowland-Smith Closer David Aardsma

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2009 2000 Ryan Anderson, lhp Out of baseball 2001 Ryan Anderson, lhp Out of baseball 2002 Ryan Anderson, lhp Out of baseball 2003 Rafael Soriano, rhp Braves 2004 Felix Hernandez, rhp Mariners 2005 Felix Hernandez, rhp Mariners 2006 Jeff Clement, c Pirates 2007 Adam Jones, of Orioles 2008 Jeff Clement, c Pirates 2009 Greg Halman, of Mariners

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2009 2000 Sam Hays, lhp (4th round) Out of baseball 2001 Michael Garciaparra, ss (1st supp.) Brewers 2002 *John Mayberry Jr., of Phillies 2003 Adam Jones, ss/rhp (1st supp.) Orioles 2004 Matt Tuiasosopo, ss (3rd round) Mariners 2005 Jeff Clement, c Pirates 2006 Brandon Morrow, rhp Mariners 2007 Phillippe Aumont, rhp Mariners 2008 Josh Fields, rhp Mariners 2009 Dustin Ackley, of/1b Mariners *Did Not Sign

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Dustin Ackley, 2009 $6,000,000 Ichiro Suzuki, 2000 $5,000,000 Jeff Clement, 2005 $3,400,000 Brandon Morrow, 2006 $2,450,000 Matt Tuiasospo, 2004 $2,290,000

MARINERS LINKS

Mariners' Team Page Mariners Top 10 Scouting Reports  Last Year's Mariners Top 10 Prospects 2009 Draft: Mariners (Basic Database) 2009 Draft: Mariners  (Advanced Database) 2009 Draft Report Cards: Seattle Mariners  Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2010 Prospect Handbook

Year one of general manager Jack Zduriencik's tenure with the Mariners registered as a major success. The big league team won 85 times, improving its showing from 2008 by 24 games, while benefiting from a new focus on defense and starting pitching, of the lefthanded variety.

Formerly scouting director for the Brewers, Zduriencik assumed control of the Mariners in October 2008 and made his first significant move two months later when he shipped former all-star J.J. Putz and two other players to the Mets in a three-team, 12-player deal. The transaction netted Franklin Gutierrez, who had a career year both at the plate and in center field, three other big leaguers and three prospects.

The prospects included first baseman Mike Carp, who made his big league debut during the 2009 season, and outfielder Ezequiel Carrera, who won the Double-A Southern League batting title.

Furthering their search for pitching and defense, the Mariners snagged Ian Snell and Jack Wilson during the Pirates' fire sale last July. The deal cost the organization several early-round draft picks made by former GM Bill Bavasi and scouting director Bob Fontaine, including Jeff Clement, the third overall choice in 2005.

Seattle buttressed its prospect depth with summer trades of Yuniesky Betancourt to the Royals and Jarrod Washburn to the Tigers. The swaps netted power righthander Danny Cortes and young lefties Luke French (who made seven uneven starts for the big league clubs and lost his prospect eligibility), Maurico Robles and Derrick Saito.

The club remained active in the offseason, making four significant deals, two of which involved young players. In December, they parted with righthanders Phillippe Aumont and J.C. Ramirez as well as outfielder Tyson Gillies to land Phillies ace Cliff Lee. A month later, Seattle shipped Brandon Morrow to the Blue Jays to acquire righthander Brandon League and outfielder Johermyn Chavez.

As special assistant to the GM Tony Blengino helped identify acquisition targets through performance analysis, new scouting director Tom McNamara helped stock the system with talent through a productive draft. Both came to Seattle from Milwaukee with Zduriencik.

McNamara and his scouting department used the No. 2 overall pick in the draft on Dustin Ackley, the best pure hitter available.

The sweet-swinging lefty signed late but played in the Arizona Fall League, where he batted .315/.412/.425, and Seattle will try to move him from first base to center field or second base. With two other picks among the top 33 (compensation for losing free agent Raul Ibanez to the Phillies), Seattle continued to stress defensive chops by taking shortstop Nick Franklin and catcher Steve Baron, two talented prep players from Florida.

Between the draft, the continued international effort—headlined in 2009 by the signing of slugging Dominican outfielder Guillermo Pimentel for $2 million—and trade acquisitions, the new regime breathed life into a farm system that Baseball America ranked 24th among baseball's 30 organizations entering the season.

Down on the farm, high Class A High Desert went 83-57 and lost in the California League finals to San Jose. The Mavericks scored more runs than any minor league team and finished second in homers (to Seattle's Triple-A Tacoma affiliate). Third baseman Alex Liddi led the minors in hitting at .345, while outfielder Jamie McOwen hit safely in a league-record 45 straight games, a string no minor leaguer has surpassed in more than half a century.

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