After a year watching players from coast to coast, weeks of meetings and three days selecting new talent into the organization, Seattle Mariners scouting director Tom McNamara took a short break Wednesday after the 50th and final round of baseball’s amateur draft.
A really short break.
McNamara planned to speak with the Mariners’ first selection, high school pitcher Taijuan Walker, Wednesday night and begin the process to sign the 17-year-old.
“We’ll talk to each player and give them an opportunity to play pro baseball,” said McNamara, whose work never really stops, although he’s not complaining. “It’s baseball. It’s work, but when you enjoy what you do, I don’t consider it hard work. It’s fun.”
The fun Wednesday involved 20 more picks whom the Mariners hope will fill needs in the organization’s lower levels, including the short-season Class A Everett AquaSox. Eighteen of the Mariners’ picks Wednesday were college-age players.
“After the 30th round, you’re looking to fill some spots,” McNamara said. “A lot of those guys are senior signs. They can go right out and play and help out our short-season A-ball clubs.
“We take the last 20 rounds real serious,” McNamara said. “We like to think that we could get two, maybe three guys from 30 to 50 that get to the big leagues. Does that happen? Quite often no, but we keep optimistic.”
Among those drafted Wednesday was shortstop Jake Schlander of Stanford University, who the Mariners like because of his ability in the field. They took him in the 31st round.
“He’s a premium position player who can play defense,” McNamara said.
Also drafted Wednesday was pitcher Forrest Snow, who went 4-2 with a 6.30 earned run average as a junior this year at the University of Washington. Snow, a 6-foot-6 right-hander taken in the 36th round, went to Lakeside High School.
“He’s got good size and he’s got some arm strength,” McNamara said. “He’s got enough ability and talent for him to be drafted.”
There also were a couple of familiar names who the Mariners grabbed in the final two rounds.
They selected high school center fielder Colton Keough of Coto de Caza, Calif., in the 49th round and junior college right-handed pitcher David Holman of Goddard, Kan., in the 50th. Keough is the son of former big leaguer Matt Keough and Holman is the son of former Mariners pitcher Brian Holman. The Mariners also drafted David Holman in the 47th round last year.
It was a pitching-rich draft for the Mariners, who selected 30 pitchers, including nine left-handers. Of the 20 position players, four were catchers, two first basemen, one second baseman, four third basemen, four shortstops and five outfielders.
“You can’t really find out how good your draft is until three, five, sometimes seven years down the road,” McNamara said. “Some guys have a quicker path to the big leagues, some guys take time, and you’re always going to have a surprise here and there. Overall, I was very satisfied.”
Read Kirby Arnold’s blog on the Mariners at www.heraldnet.com/marinersblog
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