Tacoma Rainiers Class AAA, Pacific Coast League First game: April 7, at Sacramento. Home opener: April 15, vs. Sacramento, 7:05 p.m., Cheney Stadium. Manager: Daren...
Tacoma Rainiers
Class AAA, Pacific Coast League
First game: April 7, at Sacramento.
Home opener: April 15, vs. Sacramento, 7:05 p.m., Cheney Stadium.
Manager: Daren Brown.
Key players: Second baseman Dustin Ackley, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 draft, will start the season with the Rainiers. He’s not expected to be there past June. Blake Beavan and Dan Cortes, two big right-handers, will also be in Tacoma but could find themselves pitching in Safeco Field later this season. Left-hander Mauricio Robles will be back in Tacoma, where he finished the 2010 season impressively. Outfielders Mike Wilson and Greg Halman have been in the system several years and have each shown the ability to hit for power in the minor leagues. Third baseman Alex Liddi hit .281 with 15 home runs and 92 RBI last season in AA. It seems like shortstop Carlos Triunfel has been with the Mariners’ organization longer than the Moose, but he’s still just 21 years old. He’ll probably be in Tacoma, or could start another season at AA.
Jackson Generals
Class AA, Southern League
City: Jackson, Tenn.
First game: April 7.
Manager: Jim Pankovits.
Key players: Slugging outfielder Johermyn Chavez, who hit .315 with 32 home runs last year for Class A High Desert, will start the season in Jackson. He could be joined by first baseman Rich Poythress, who put up a .315-31-130 line at High Desert last season. Kyle Seager, a teammate of Ackley at North Carolina, hit .345 last season for High Desert and might also start in Jackson this season. Josh Fields, the Mariners’ first-round pick in 2008, has spent the past two seasons in AA and will be here or in Tacoma.
High Desert Mavericks
Class A, California League
City: Adelanto, Calif.
First game: April 7.
Manager: Jose Moreno.
Key players: After taking Ackley with the second pick in the 2009 draft, the Mariners had two more first-rounders and used them on high school players, shortstop Nick Franklin at No. 27 and catcher Steven Baron at No. 33. Franklin hit 23 home runs last season at Clinton and could start the season with High Desert. Third baseman Mario Martinez, .239-12-66 at Clinton last season, might start in High Desert.
Clinton LumberKings
Class A, Midwest League
City: Clinton, Iowa.
First game: April 7.
Manager: Eddie Menchaca.
Key players: Baron, who split last season between Everett and Clinton, could be back in Clinton this season. This could be the spot for right-hander Taijuan Walker and shortstop Marcus Littlewood, the Mariners’ first two picks in the 2010 draft.
Everett AquaSox
Class A, Northwest League
First game: June 17, at Tri-City.
Home opener: June 22, vs. Vancouver, 7:05 p.m., Everett Memorial Stadium.
Manager: Scott Steinmann.
Pulaski Mariners
Rookie, Appalachian League
City: Pulaski, Va.
First game: June 21.
Manager: Rob Mummau.
Peoria Mariners
Rookie, Arizona League
City: Peoria, Ariz.
First game: June 20.
Manager: Jesus Azuaje.
Note: The Mariners also have teams in the Dominican and Venezuelan summer leagues.
Bill Reader