Dustin Ackley signed his first pro contract with the Seattle Mariners a year ago Tuesday, and since then it’s been nearly nonstop baseball for the 22-year-old who, so far, hasn’t wilted from it.
After signing on Aug. 17, 2009, Ackley:
n Took part in the Mariners’ instructional program last September in Peoria, Ariz.
n Played in the Arizona Fall League in October and November.
n Remained in Peoria through the winter working on the side fields after the Mariners decided to convert him from the outfield to second base.
n Went to spring training with the Mariners in February and March.
n Started the season in April with the Class AA West Tennessee DiamondJaxx and will finish in September with the Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers (or, possibly, the Mariners if he becomes a September callup).
If it seems Ackley finally will get a break after more than a year of baseball, think again. Ackley will play a second straight season with the Peoria Javelinas in the fall league.
By Thanksgiving, he’ll finally have a chance to get away.
Ackley’s reputation for loving the ballfield is starting to sound a little like former M’s prospect Chris Snelling, who would sneak into the batting cage at odd hours in Peoria to work on his swing.
“Dustin is a real quiet kid, but he’s a gamer,” said Pedro Grifol, the Mariners’ minor league director. “He wants to work and he’s always asking for it. We’ll probably have to tone him down and give him time off. We’ll give him time for recovery, but he’ll be right back in January getting after it again.”
At a time in the season when many players wear down from nearly six months of nonstop play, Grifol said Ackley has remained fresh in his 12th month.
“He’s probably got 400 at-bats but he’s gotten stronger,” Grifol said.
Grifol credits the Mariners’ new training regimen for minor leaguers which has gotten players away from weight lifting and pushed them more toward workouts that add strength in baseball-related movements.
“He’s more powerful according to the numbers we’re getting back from our strength and conditioning coaches,” Grifol said. “We’ve got to get him stronger.”
Ackley entered Tuesday with six homers and 40 RBI combined at West Tennessee and Tacoma. He’d hit three in 289 at-bats at Tacoma, including the game-winner in the 10th inning Monday against Round Rock. He was batting .293 with a .363 on-base percentage, .479 slugging percentage and .842 on-base-plus-slugging percentage entering Tuesday.
Grifol won’t say if Ackley will see any time in September with the Mariners, but it’s clear the organization believes it’s important for him to continue his development in the fall league. He’s listed as a priority player with the Javelinas, meaning he’ll get the majority of playing time at second base. He’ll also work on the side fields with Mariners infield coordinator Darin Garner to improve his infield play and baserunning.
“It’s important to get him comfortable on the bases because we think he’s got a chance to do some base stealing,” Grifol said. “Keeping him in Arizona, it’s the best place for him.”
A look around the Mariners’ minor league system (excluding the Class A Everett AquaSox, whose reports appear daily in The Herald sports section):
Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers
The Rainiers entered Tuesday 64-58 with a half-game lead over Salt Lake in the Pacific Coast League Pacific North Division. Outfielder David Winfree was batting .320/.354/.542/.896 with eight home runs and 83 RBI, and third baseman Matt Mangini .291/.339/.496/.835 with 13 homers and 50 RBI. Outfielder Greg Halman had hit 27 home runs with 66 RBI, and had struck out 137 times in 339 at-bats.
Right-hander Michael Pineda, who the Mariners are being cautious with as he approaches a career-high in innings, is 3-2 with a 3.81 earned run average. He has pitched 1311/3 innings combined at Tacoma and West Tennessee.
Class AA West Tennessee DiamondJaxx
Outfielder Carlos Peguero was the Southern League’s co-leader with 21 home runs and third baseman Alex Liddi shared the RBI lead with 79. First baseman Johan Limonta was third with 36 doubles and fourth with 72 RBI.
The DiamondJaxx were 34-37 and third in the North Division, nine games behind first-place Tennessee.
Class A High Desert Mavericks
First baseman Rich Poythress led the California League with 109 RBI, second baseman Kyle Seager’s .347 average ranked second and outfielder Johermyn Chavez’s 30 homers were second. Right-hander Kenn Kasparek is 7-4 with a 3.62 ERA that was the fourth-lowest in the league.
The Mavericks were 25-24 and second in the South, one game behind first-place Lake Elsinore.
Class A Clinton LumberKings
Shortstop Nick Franklin was the Midwest League co-leader with 19 home runs. He was batting .274/.336/.478/.814 with 54 RBI. Right-hander Erasmo Ramirez was 10-4, 2.60 and right-hander Brandon Josselyn had 14 saves.
The LumberKings were 27-22 and third in the Western Division, four games behind first-place Quad Cities.
Rookie-level Pulaski Mariners
Third baseman Ramon Morla was second in the Appalachian League with 12 home runs, second with 43 RBI and fourth with a .324 average. Outfielder Jorge Agudelo ranked third with six triples. Right-hander Tim Boyce was 8-2, 2.70 and led the league in victories. The Mariners were 30-22 and first in the East, three-games ahead of second-place Danville.
Rookie-level Peoria Mariners
Catcher Ji-Man Choi was batting .378/.417/.576/.922 and right-hander Seon Gi Kim was 5-2, 5.61. The Mariners were 17-29 and third in the Arizona League West, eight games behind the first-place Surprise Rangers.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
