Vets helping Seager

SEATTLE — When Kyle Seager walked into the Seattle Mariners’ clubhouse early this month to become their new third baseman, the man waiting to mentor him wasn’t who you’d expect.

Chone Figgins.

The former starting third baseman.

The veteran who’d played his way out of that job a

nd a man who a lot of people might think would have lukewarm interest in his rookie replacement.

But, in the name of helping the team and a 23-year-old being thrust into the biggest challenge of his pro career, Figgins was there for Seager on July 6 before his major league debut against the L.A. Angels in Anaheim.

“The first game I was here, he pulled me to the side and went through the Angels’ lineup with me, telling me what certain guys were going to try to do,” Seager said. “He’d say, ‘If they do this, watch out for this. If they do that, watch out for that.’

“That’s stuff he doesn’t have to do. His locker is next to mine, and he jokes with me and cuts up with me. He’s been great through all of this. There is no hostility or anything.”

The big-league lessons haven’t been easy on Seager in six games since he was called up from the Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers. He’s batting .111 (2-for-18) and getting accustomed to a game that’s faster and more powerful than what he experienced in the minor leagues.

Considering where he has played in the past year — at Class A High Desert (Calif.) in 2010, Class AA Jackson (Tenn.) to start this season and Tacoma for only a dozen games before the Mariners called him up — Seager knew there would be an adjustment.

He’s thankful for the veterans who’ve helped him, particularly catcher Josh Bard, infielder Adam Kennedy and second baseman Jack Wilson.

“Bard has been amazing. My locker is between Figgins and Jack Wilson, and they’ve done a lot to help me settle in,” Seager said. “It’s such a good mix of younger guys and veterans who are helpful.”

Seager, the Mariners’ third-round draft pick in 2009, has adapted well to every level he has played.

He was the North Carolina high school player of the year in 2006, an all-ACC pick in 2009 with the University of North Carolina, the California League batting champion with a .345 average in his first full pro season last year at High Desert, .312 in 66 games early this season at Class AA Jackson, then .455 with 12 RBI in 12 games at Class AAA Tacoma.

It has been a fast trip to the majors, especially the day Seager learned he was being called up. Darrin Brown, Tacoma’s manager, called Seager into his office July 6 and told him to pack a sportcoat for a trip to Anaheim.

“He asked if I had any questions, and I couldn’t think of anything,” Seager said. “I was speechless.”

Less than 24 hours later, he was in awe, starting at third base against the Angels.

“From the time I found out, it was just go, go, go, go, go,” he said. “It’s probably better that way because I didn’t have to sit there and think about it and try to put it all into words.”

Seager said he doesn’t remember breathing in his first game until he fielded his first ground ball.

“The first game at any new level, you’re going to have nerves,” he said. “My first game in college I had a lot of nerves, first game in Omaha (at the College World Series), first game in pro ball. But that game in Anaheim definitely beats them all. It was a whole new magnitude.”

That happens when a player reaches the level he’s dreamed about since childhood.

“I remember sitting in my living room when I was little, watching the games on TV, saying to myself, ‘I want to do that,'” he said. “It’s been so much more than I imagined. When you get here, it’s a whole new level. The game does speed up; these are the best players in the world.”

But, after six games, Seager believes he is settling in.

“It’s the same game,” he said. “It’s a much bigger atmosphere, obviously. Everything gets better the higher you get. Everything is crisper, everything moves at a better pace. It’s all been a notch above where we were before.

“But I’m starting to relax and do more of what I’ve done in the past.”

He showed it in his most recent game, Saturday night against the Texas Rangers. Seager, a left-handed hitter facing Rangers All-Star lefty C.J. Wilson, went 1-for-3 and drew a walk. He also made his first error, on a grounder that the Rangers’ Adrian Beltre smoked to third base, but overall felt more at-ease than in any of his big-league games.

“I was facing a good lefty in Wilson, battling and having a couple of good at-bats,” Seager said. “That was definitely a good one. We lost, so it wasn’t a particularly good feeling. But I just want to get all the nerves out of the way, get settled in and start playing like I feel like I can.”

Read Kirby Arnold’s blog on the Mariners at www.heraldnet.com/marinersblog and follow his Twitter updates at @kirbyarnold.