EVERETT — The 2016 Everett AquaSox will begin making their way to Everett today in anticipation of their Class A short-season Northwest League opener scheduled for Friday against the Tri-City Dust Devils in Pasco.
Most of the players are fresh off their college seasons, so the opening week of workouts is for the players to familiarize themselves with one another and the Seattle Mariners’ organizational philosophy rather than get in playing shape.
The AquaSox will play an exhibition game Wednesday at 7:05 at Everett Memorial Stadium against the Everett Merchants of the Pacific International League, a summer league for college-age players.
That will be the only chance for Everett fans to see their team for a week as the AquaSox begin the season with a six-game road trip featuring three-game series at Tri-City and Vancouver. The home opener against the Boise Hawks is scheduled for 7:05 on June 23 to begin a five-game homestand.
Rob Mummau returns for his second season as Everett’s manager. He is joined by hitting coach Brian Hunter and pitching coach Moises Hernandez, the brother of Mariners ace and former AquaSox hurler Felix Hernandez.
The star attraction for fans this summer will be Seattle’s top draft pick, Kyle Lewis, whom various media outlets have reported will begin his career in Everett.
The question is when.
Lewis, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound outfielder from Mercer University was at Safeco Field over the weekend where he signed his contract and took batting practice with the Mariners.
However, there was speculation that he might first head to the Mariners’ spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz., for several days before reporting to Everett.
Lewis was named Baseball America’s College Player of the Year and a two-time Southern Conference Player of the Year before the Mariners took him 11th overall in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft Thursday night. Baseball America also named him a first team All-American, and he is a finalist for USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award.
Under former Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik most players selected from the college ranks were assigned to Everett. However, with the new regime of general manager Jerry DiPoto and farm director Andy McKay in place, it remains to be seen how many of this year’s draftees will play for the AquaSox. Nine of the Mariners’ first 10 draft picks were selected out of college, so it’s possible a number of them could wind up spending the summer here if they do in fact sign.
Last year the AquaSox won the second half North Division title before falling in two straight to Tri-City in the first round of the North Division playoffs.
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