MILB.com got around to the Mariners for their 2006 organizational review. There is a link of the rotating banner ads off www.timberrattlers.com. Now there is a link to the story HERE. And a link to the Photo gallery: Seattle prospects
Some of the segments of the story include Five Faves, (Five Faves? Are they serious?). These were five players that MILB.com picked at the start of the 2006 season as players in the Seattle system to watch. They were:
Adam Jones (WI '04)
Shin-Soo Choo (WI '02)
Matt Tuiasosopo (WI '05)
Rob Johnson (WI '05)
Travis Blackley
The story says what they thought before the season and how that season turned out. For example:
The Jones train kept on running on the express track in 2006. He didn't turn 21 until August and by that time, he had 47 big-league at-bats under his belt. In his first taste of Triple-A, where he spent most of the year, Jones continued to flash all of his tools, setting career highs in homers (16) and tying his high in steals (13). In his first year of playing the outfield, the Mariners trusted him enough to get some playing time in the big leagues in center, though his at-bats dwindled and he mostly watched in September. He could be ready for a full-time gig next spring.
Breakout Year:
Daniel Santin
Asdrubal Cabrera (WI '05)
Cabrera started the year as the 20-year-old shortstop for Triple-A Tacoma and finished it as the 20-year-old shortstop for Triple-A Buffalo. After hitting .236 through 60 games in the PCL, Cabrera was sent to the Indians (these two teams liked to do business in 2006) in return for Eduardo Perez. He seemed to enjoy the International League more, as he hit .263 in 52 games for Buffalo.
The first five draft picks of the 2006 draft (All pitchers) are recapped...recapped is that a word?
Brandon Morrow
Chris Tillman
Tony Butler (Oak Creek, Wisconsin's own Tony Butler)
Ricky Orta
Nathan Adcock
On Butler:
The tall, lanky lefty (6-foot-7, 205 pounds) taken out of high school in Wisconsin was very impressive in two stops during his first pro year. Between the AZL and the Northwest League, Butler had a 2.72 ERA over 56 1/3 innings. He allowed just 28 hits for a .150 batting average against while striking out 77. His command will have to improve, typical for a young pitcher, as he walked 34 in 14 games.
No word on where any of those picks might end up in 2007.
Final segment was the first five picks of the 2005 draft
Jeff Clement (WI '05)
Justin Thomas (WI '06)
Stephen Kahn (WI '05)
On Clement:
The No. 3 overall pick had a strange first full season with the organization. The lefty-swinging catcher did make it to Triple-A, but injuries resulted in just 304 total at-bats for the season. He hit .263 with six combined homers and 42 RBIs. In 82 games between San Antonio and Tacoma, the USC product had a .334 on-base percentage and .382 slugging percentage. Granted, knee and elbow surgeries clearly slowed him and it was just his first full season. He went to Hawaii to get some extra playing time and struggled in the early going, so next year could be a big one to determine just what kind of prospect he is.
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