A professional baseball career can be tenuous.
Last year, the Everett AquaSox won their first Northwest League title in 25 years. It was a team that was not blessed with many name prospects, but behind a strong performance from the pitching staff the Sox finished the regualr season with a lea
gue-best 48-27 record, then knocked off Vancouver and Spokane in the playoffs to lift the championship trophy.
Less than a year later many of that championship team’s key players not only are no longer in the Seattle Mariners organization, they’re out of affiliated baseball altogether. Here’s a look at where the primary contributors from the 2010 NWL champions are today.
Stats through Thursday
Position players (minimum 20 games)
ROBBIE ANSTON
Outfield
2010: A sparkplug at the top of Everett’s order, he batted .292 with two home runs, 24 RBI and 15 stolen bases.
Now: Receiving limited time at Clinton of the mid-Class A Midwest League. Batting .260 with a .387 on-base percentage and 10 stolen bases.
STEVEN BARON
Catcher
2010: Was named the league’s all-star catcher after batting .253 with three home runs and 22 RBI.
Now: Spent the first part of the season in Clinton, batting .197 with four homers and 20 RBI. Was promoted to High Desert of the high-Class A California League in late June. Placed on the disabled list after just two games.
FRED BELLO
Utilityman
2010: Batted .189, but made a name for himself by hitting inside-the-park home runs in back-to-back games.
Now: Released by the Mariners and out of affiliated baseball.
DWIGHT BRITTON
Outfielder
2010: Batted .216 with four homers, 10 RBI and nine steals in part-time duty.
Now: Released by the Mariners and out of affiliated baseball.
Hawkins Gebbers
Second baseman
2010: Batted .240 with three homers and 22 RBI in his second season with the Sox.
Now: Released by the Mariners and out of affiliated baseball.
JIMMY JACQUOT
Catcher
2010: Batted .208 with four homers and 19 RBI while splitting time between catching and DH.
Now: Released by the Mariners, signed by the Chicago White Sox and playing for Great Falls of the rookie Pioneer League, where he is batting .292 with four homers and 26 RBI.
KEVIN MAILLOUX
Third baseman
2010: Batted .296, led NWL in homers with 15 and drove in 52 runs. Named to the league’s all-star team.
Now: Released by the Mariners and out of affiliated baseball.
BILLY MARCOE
Catcher
2010: Batted .153 as Everett’s third catcher.
Now: Has kicked around three different levels, being used exclusively as a back-up. Currently at High Desert, where he’s batting .162.
ANTHONY PHILLIPS
Shortstop
2010: Batted just .204, but was a defensive whiz, committing just five errors in 53 games.
Now: Began the season with High Desert but was soon sent down to Clinton. Batting just .183, but had 21 steals. Still playing strong defense.
KEVIN RIVERS
Outfielder
2010: Everett’s top offensive threat, batting .332 with 11 homers, 48 RBI and 60 walks. Inexplicably left off the NWL all-star team.
Now: Part-time player for Clinton struggling to recreate last season’s success. Batting .247 with 10 HRs, 37 RBI.
RYAN ROYSTER
Outfielder
2010: Batted .237 with two homers, 12 RBI and eight steals, was unable to contribute down the stretch after aggravating a shoulder injury.
Now: Released by the Mariners and out of affiliated baseball.
KALIAN SAMS
Outfielder
2010: Batted just .193, but slugged five homers in 83 at bats before being promoted.
Now: Still hitting lots of homers, still striking out a lot. Has slugged 20 dingers between High Desert and Clinton, but was batting just .226.
TERRY SERRANO
Infielder
2010: A key bat at the top of Everett’s order, batting .307 with one homer, 19 RBI and 16 stolen bases while rotating around the infield.
Now: Released by the Mariners and out of affiliated baseball.
EVAN SHARPLEY
First baseman
2010: The former Notre Dame quarterback batted .231 with six homers and 42 RBI. He homered in the game that clinched the title for the Sox.
Now: Released by the Mariners and out of affiliated baseball.
Starting pitchers
(minimum five starts)
ANTHONY FERNANDEZ
2010: Stalwart of Everett’s staff with 8-3 record, 2.59 ERA. Named to the league’s all-star team and earned the win in the championship clincher.
Now: He’s yo-yoed between Clinton and High Desert. Currently at Clinton where he’s 5-3 with a 2.84 ERA.
AUSTIN HUDSON
2010: Moved into the rotation midseason after impressing in the bullpen. Went 4-2 with a 2.92 ERA and was an important long reliever in the playoffs.
Now: In High Desert’s bullpen with 3-4 record, 5.98 ERA, four saves.
YOERVIS MEDINA
2010: Everett’s opening-night starter showed promise, going 3-2 with a 4.20 ERA before being promoted after the Sox clinched first place in the first half.
Now: Having an awful time in High Desert, going 1-13 with a 6.50 ERA.
EDLANDO SECO
2010: Ever present in the rotation, he overcame control issues to go 3-3 with a 2.48 ERA.
Now: Bounced between the rotation and bullpen in Clinton, going 1-0 with a 5.59 ERA before hitting the disabled list in July.
CHRIS SORCE
2010: A six-inning start machine, he went 8-2 with a 3.64 ERA and finished second to Fernandez on the team in innings pitched.
Now: At High Desert with 7-10 record, 4.79 ERA.
ERIC THOMAS
2010: Began and ended the season in the rotation, but spent time in between in the bullpen. Went 2-2 with a 4.22 ERA.
Now: Released by the Mariners and out of affiliated baseball.
Relief pitchers (minimum 10 appearances)
JONATHAN ARIAS
2010: Joined the team after the season began, went 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA, then was part of the mass pitching exodus to Clinton.
Now: Pitching well at Clinton with 4-3 record, 2.72 ERA, six saves and 86 strikeouts in 53 innings.
TYLER BURGOON
2010: Went 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA in eight games as a late-season addition, then had two saves during the playoffs and was on the mound for the final out of the title clincher.
Now: Clinton’s saves leader with 13. He’s 5-5 with a 2.47 ERA.
OGUI DIAZ
2010: Back for his third season in Everett, this time as a pitcher instead of a shortstop. Went 4-3 with a 5.12 ERA, including four starts, before being called up to Clinton.
Now: Released by the Mariners after 22 relief appearances at High Desert and now out of affiliated baseball.
WILLY KESLER
2010: Carried the heaviest load in Everett’s bullpen, going 3-2 with a 1.47 ERA and four saves.
Now: Is 5-2 with a 3.66 ERA and seven saves at High Desert.
JASON MARKOVITZ
2010: Went 2-2 with a 3.20 ERA before being called up to Clinton.
Now: Has struggled at High Desert, going 3-2 with a 5.90 ERA.
Fray Martinez
2010: Another member of the Clinton shuttle, went 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA during his time with Everett.
Now: Began the season with Clinton, but hit the disabled list after just three appearances and hasn’t pitched since.
JORDEN MERRY
2010: Went 2-0 with a 3.93 ERA after joining the team midseason.
Now: Released by the Mariners and out of affiliated baseball.
STEPHEN PRYOR
2010: Began the season as Everett’s primary closer and was lights out, with a 0.49 ERA and four saves before being summoned by Clinton.
Now: Perhaps the team’s best prospect, he’s been fast-tracked to Class AA Jackson, where in 12 games he is 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA and three saves.
FORREST SNOW
2010: Lightly-regarded draft pick was nearly perfect for Everett, not allowing a run in 251/3 innings before being promoted to Clinton.
Now: Spent much of the season as a starter at Clinton and High Desert with mixed results, but he’s spent the past few weeks filling in for injuries at Class AAA Tacoma, where he is 0-2 with a 5.76 ERA.
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