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It's official: Griffey is returning
Posted
at
9:48 am
by By Kirby Arnold
The news has hit the in-box: The Mariners have announced that Ken Griffey Jr. will return in 2010.
We expect to talk with general manager Jack Zduriencik later this morning and will get reaction from manager Don Wakamatsu and teammates.
Here's the news release that the team just sent out:
SEATTLE, Wash. -- Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik today announced that the club has agreed to terms with Ken Griffey Jr. for the 2010 season, which will be his 22nd in the Major Leagues.
After nine seasons in Cincinnati and Chicago (White Sox), Griffey returned to the Mariners in 2009 and contributed to baseball's most improved team.
"I'd like to thank the Mariners organization for inviting me back to play in 2010," said Griffey. "While 2009 was an awesome experience for me, my ultimate goal is for the Mariners to get to and win the World Series. To that end, I look forward to contributing in any role that Don (Wakamatsu) sees fit on the field, and any manner I possibly can off the field."
In 2009, Griffey hit 19 home runs, raising his career total to 630, the fifth-highest of all-time behind only Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays. He also hit 19 doubles and led the Mariners with 63 walks. Griffey had surgery on his left knee on Oct. 26 to remove a bone spur.
"We believe that Ken's presence with the Seattle Mariners organization was such a positive asset last season with his leadership on and off the field," said Zduriencik. "His passion for baseball, life and the Seattle Mariners goes unsaid. We are happy to have Ken back for the 2010 season."
Griffey, who will turn 40 on Nov. 21, spent the first 11 years of his Major League career (1989-1999) in Seattle, after being the first overall pick in the June 1987 Draft. He played the next eight and half seasons with the Cincinnati Reds before spending the second half of the 2008 season with the Chicago White Sox.
He ranks near the top of every offensive category in the Seattle Mariners record book, including home runs (1st/417), slugging percentage (2nd/.559), RBI (2nd/1,209), hits (3rd/1,825), doubles (2nd/339), total bases (2nd/3,475), runs (2nd/1,107), games (2nd/1,652) and at-bats (2nd/6,219).
Griffey has been a 10-time American League All-Star (1990-99), winning the All-Star Game MVP in 1992 and three Home Run Derby's (1994, 1998, 1999). He was voted the American League Most Valuable Player in 1997 and voted to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999. He was also a three-time National League All-Star (2000, 2004, 2007).
Ken also won 10 Gold Glove Awards (1990-99) and seven Silver Slugger Awards (1991, 1993-94, 1996-99).
Griffey currently ranks among baseball's all-time leaders in home runs (5th/630), intentional walks (4th/245), multi-homer games (T7th/55), extra base hits (8th/1,190), total bases (12th/5,251), runs scored (31st/1,656), doubles (T37th/522) and hits (46th/2,763). He also ranks first among active players in hits, home runs, RBI, total bases and runs scored.
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