A month and a half into the season and the Seattle Mariners are four games under .500 and third in the AL West. That’s the bad news. The good news is that this organization is incredibly top-heavy in the minors, and it’s top prospects could be coming to the rescue very soon.

But because Seattle’s roster is—for lack of a better word—bloated, finding the time and place for those prospects to make contributions is easier said than done.

Looking at Seattle’s five top prospects, we’re breaking down the best roles for those players throughout the current MLB season.

1. Mike Zunino – Catcher by July

Mike Zunino started his season at a torrid pace, and though he still has six home runs and 17 extra base hits, his average and OBP have since fallen to .222 and .299, respectively.

Despite his recent slump, Zunino is still Seattle’s No. 1 prospect by far. He is bound to make his Major League debut at some point this season, at which point he’s likely to take over as the M’s everyday catcher.

That’s why a takeover is doubtful until we get closer to July. At that point Seattle can trade someone—my money’s on Justin Smoak—allowing the proper position changes to make room at catcher.

2. Taijuan Walker – Minors

Hands down the best pitching prospect in Seattle’s system, Taijuan Walker is finally dominating Double-A after struggling at the level last season.

Through eight starts Walker has a 2.09 ERA and 9.9 K/9 in 47.1 innings pitched.

Despite his dominance, it’s doubtful we’ll see Walker before 2014. The electric armed prospect is still only 20 years old and has yet to play above the Double-A level. He’s bound to hit Triple-A by some point this season, but his meteoric rise won’t proceed beyond that.

Nick Franklin’s time is coming, and soon (Photo: AP)

3. Nick Franklin – Infielder no later than July

Of all the players on this list, it’s likely Nick Franklin will be the first to crack the Major League roster.

The M’s aren’t getting anything from their infielders offensively this season, and Franklin could be the answer. The 22-year-old is currently hitting .319/.446/.496 through 33 games with Triple-A Tacoma.

While a Franklin callup would require as many moving pieces as a Zunino callup, Seattle’s infield situation is less muddled than it’s catcher/DH/first base situation. That’s why we’ll see Franklin sooner than later.

4. Danny Hultzen – Major League Starter once healthy

The M’s aren’t getting anything out of their third, fourth and fifth starters, and it’s likely some help is on its way. Once healthy, that could mean a Danny Hultzen callup.

Before landing on the DL with a rotator cuff strain in April, it looked like Hultzen had returned to form after a rough go at Triple-A last season. Through four starts the left-hander has a 2.78 ERA and 4.17 K/BB with Tacoma.

As long as his rehab and return go okay there’s no doubt we’ll see Hultzen in a Seattle uniform upon his return from the DL.

5. James Paxton – September cup of coffee

James Paxton had the most consistent 2012 of any of Seattle’s Big Three, posting a 3.05 ERA through 21 starts with Double-A Jackson.

Paxton received a promotion to kick off 2013, starting the year at Tacoma. While the results have been good, they’re not great. Paxton has a solid 3.93 ERA and 10.8 K/9, but he’s also averaging less than 5.0 innings per start with a BB/9 of 4.4.

The 24-year-old has great stuff, but he continues to struggle with command. It’s likely he receives some kind of cup of coffee this season, but it won’t be until later in the season.

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Even though we’re only one month into the season, 2013 already looks like another tough year for the Mariners.

As usual Seattle’s pitching is its biggest strength, but the AL West is just too tough this year. But if the M’s rotation is good now, it’s going to be downright dominant in the years to come.

With Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma leading the group, backed up with a corp of top-prospects waiting in the wings, Seattle’s rotation is headed for greatness.

Looking towards the 2014 season, we’re breaking down what to expect from Seattle’s rotation come opening day of next year.

Luckily the King is here to stay. (Photo: NY Daily News)

1. Felix Hernandez

This winter King Felix inked a seven-year $175 million dollar extension with Seattle, so he will remain the ace of the staff for the foreseeable future—as it should be.

Hernandez pitched a perfect game last season, and is off to the best start of his career in 2013 (5-2, 1.53 ERA, 7.00 K/BB). As long as he’s the staff ace the M’s are in good hands.

2. Hisashi Iwakuma

The Mariner’s took a flyer on Iwakuma before the 2012 season, and so far it’s paid off. The Japanese import was 9-5 last year, and so far in 2013 he’s posting a 1.61 ERA, 0.761 WHIP and 5.25 K/BB in 44.2 innings pitched.

Signed through the 2015 season, Iwakuma is set to be a front line starter for the M’s next season.

3. Danny Hultzen

Hultzen is the most polished member of Seattle’s “Big Three,” and his time is coming.

The 23-year-old put up abysmal numbers after his Triple A callup last season, but he looks back on track in 2013. Through four starts the left-hander’s 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA and 4.17 K/BB.

Near the end of April Hultzen was placed on the DL with a rotator cuff strain, but he should return to action soon. As long as he’s healthy Hultzen will get his cup of coffee this season, and be a regular member of the Mariner’s rotation in 2014.

4. James Paxton

Paxton turned in the best numbers of any Big Three member last year, posting a 3.05 ERA in 106.1 innings pitched at Double A. He’s started 2013 off at Triple A, and is currently 2-2 with a 4.35 ERA through seven starts.

The time for Hultzen is soon.

Paxton has some great stuff, but control remains an issue. He owns a career 4.3 BB/9 through four minor league seasons, and his WHIP currently sits at 1.516.

Even with his issues, it’s likely Paxton receives a callup at some point this season. Just like Hultzen, as long as that happens he should remain in the rotation for 2014.

5. Brandon Maurer / Erasmo Ramirez

Despite his impressive minor league stats, Brandon Maurer’s rookie campaign is off to a rough start. Through six starts Maurer has posted a 6.07 ERA and 1.449 WHIP.

The issue with Maurer is his splits, since his slider has only been effective against righties. 16 of his 18 Ks have come against right-handed batters, while lefties are batting .358 against him with four home runs.

Given his struggles, it’s likely that at some point this season Maurer will be demoted to Triple A. At that point his replacement could very well be Erasmo Ramirez.

Ramirez enjoyed a strong rookie campaign last season, posting a 3.64 ERA and 5.13 K/BB as a starter. He’s started his 2013 on the DL with a triceps injury, and there’s no timetable for his return.

This fifth spot will come down to whoever pitches better from now to the start of the 2014 season. If Maurer turns things around, or Ramirez gets healthy, this spot could go either way.

Odd Man Out

Some of you may have noticed that two of the Big Three were included, but not the third—and most promising—prospect: Taijuan Walker.

While Walker has huge upside, he’s still only 20 years old. It’s likely Seattle takes its time.

The young right-hander is currently dominating Double A, posting a 1.54 ERA and 10.0 K/9 through six starts. But even if a callup to Triple A is right around the corner, he’s likely to face some growing pains at that level.

While Walker is bound to make his Major League debut at some point in 2014, chances are it won’t be as a regular member of the rotation nor as a player on the opening day roster.

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The Beavers really turned things around last season, turning one of 2011′s worst offenses into one of 2012′s most efficient. While the improvements on the defensive side of the ball helped, Oregon State has it’s offense to thank for last season’s success.

Though the Beavs lose a major piece this season in Markus Wheaton, the offense should be better in 2013. Mike Riley’s pro-style system is as deep as ever in weapons.

With that said, no unit is perfect. The Beaver’s have a lot of great talent to build off of, but the 2012 team wasn’t without its flaws. And unless they fix those issues, 2013 is going to be a disappointing year.

Make a decision at QB and stick with it

Sean Mannion or Cody Vaz? This question plagued Mike Riley for much of last season, causing the quarterback controversy.

Heading into 2013, it’s time to put the controversy to rest. It was a major distraction last season, and the last thing any offense needs is a rotating door at QB.

Personally, my choice is for Mannion. He has the bigger arm, and makes much quicker decisions. And if you can look past the UW game—since he was brought back too soon for that game—he completed 66 percent of his passes with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Time for Riley to make a decision and stick with it (Photo: Greg Wahl-Stephens / AP)

While either one of these QBs can shred an opposing defense when hot, Mannion is often more consistent. Vaz was prone to epic cold patches last season, which were the culprits behind OSU’s second-half collapses to Stanford and Texas.

But once again, that’s just my opinion. The important thing is that Riley makes a choice and sticks to it for the remainder of the season. It’s time to move on.

Benchmarks to set in 2013: One quarterback starts all games; pass for over 4,000 yards

Continue to evolve the running game

After posting the Pac-12′s worst ground attack in 2011, Oregon State’s running game really turned things around last season. The Beavs rushed for over 1,000 yards on the season, while averaging 124 yards per game.

Storm Woods (940 yards) was a huge reason for the turnaround, but he didn’t do it alone. Terron Ward had himself a breakout year, averaging 6.10 yards per carry. Not to mention contributions from wideouts Markus Wheaton and Brandin Cooks, who combined for () yards on the ground.

Heading into 2013, it’s imperative that the Beavers continue to evolve the ground game.

Woods has to stay healthy, and if he can’t do that Riley needs to find a way to give him more rest. Given their talent at the position, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Beavers run a lot of two-back sets in 2012.

It’s also important to keep the wideouts as part of the attack. OSU has tons of speed at the wings, and Riley is a master at using

Caleb Smith needs to contribute to the offense in 2013 (Photo: Doug Beghtel / The Oregonian)

that in the ground game.

Benchmarks to set in 2013: Woods rush for 1,000 yards; team rush for 1,750 yards

Work the flats

OSU’s passing attack was one of the best in the Pac-12 last season, and they were led by a duo of deadly receivers. But now one of those receivers is headed for the NFL.

The thing about Wheaton was that he was versatile. He could stretch the field vertically, or make short catches in the flats (which he often turned into huge gains with his speed). Now that he’s gone, OSU has to find new ways to stretch the field.

Heading into 2013, I’d like to see OSU use it’s tight ends more. Riley has always ran a pro-style offense, and nowadays tight ends are an integral part to any NFL passing scheme. He needs to adopt that mentality in 2013.

Using the team’s TEs more often opens up whole new realms of possibility. The offense gets better in the redzone, it spreads the defense and it allows the quarterback to make more conservative throws.

The real difference maker will be Caleb Smith. Smith was a freshman last year, and he’s been the talk of the program since being recruited. If he can be a big contributor in 2013, the Beavers offense will be unstoppable.

Benchmarks to set in 2013: TEs combine for 750 receiving yards; have one TE with at least 50 catches

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Before the regular season we took a look at the best positional prospects in the Mariners farm system. Today we take a look at Seattle’s crown jewel: the pitching prospects.

It’s well known that the M’s have three of the best pitching prospects in baseball. That trio has been dubbed “the big three,” and consists of starters James Paxton, Taijuan Walker and Danny Hultzen.

But there’s way more depth to this system than those three stars. With a look toward the 2013 season, here’s the best Seattle has to offer on the mound this season.

5. Brandon Maurer, RHP

Drafted in the 23rd round of the 2008 draft, Maurer’s name has been on the rise for some time in Seattle. He has posted an 8.4 K/9 and 3.05 K/BB across five minor league seasons, with his highest stop coming last season at Double A Jackson.

Despite his lack of higher-level experience, Maurer’s impressive spring (1.50 ERA, 24 innings pitched, 25 Ks) was enough to earn him a spot as the Mariner’s fifth starter.

It could be time Maurer heads back to the farm.

Things haven’t gone so well since then. Maurer has managed only 6.2 innings pitched in his first two starts, giving up 12 runs on 15 hits.

Even though a demotion may be around the corner, it doesn’t mean Maurer is a bust. He’s a 21-year-old rookie who has never pitched above Double A, and despite his Major League struggles he’s only given up one walk—proving his control is for real.

With a mid-90s fastball and a wide arsenal of pitches, the best is yet to come from Maurer.

4. James Paxton, LHP

This is a low ranking, especially given that Paxton had the best 2012 out of any of the big three.

Paxton has very good stuff. His mid-90s fastball and big curve is very reminiscent of a Josh Beckett caliber pitcher—that kind of comp used to be a compliment.

His ceiling showed last year, as he racked up 110 Ks and a 3.05 ERA and 106.1 innings of work at Double A.

The troubling thing with Paxton is that he’s always been a bit wild. His 4.6 BB/9 and 1.411 WHIP last year were the highest of his minor league career. Things didn’t look much better in spring training, where Paxton walked four and surrendered six hits in 3.2 innings.

Keep in mind, he’s also the oldest of the big three—currently 24 years old.

With a very dangerous repertoire Paxton has the upside of a fringe ace, and he should be making his Seattle debut at some point this season. But, unless he can get his control to a more consistent level the results might not be pretty.

3. Carter Capps, RHP

I’m not usually big on closers, but I’ve always liked Carter Capps.

Capps got his first taste of Major League action last season, firing 25 innings out of the bullpen. In that time he had his growing pains (11 walks), while flashing wicked stuff (28 Ks).

Capps has everything you’d want from your closer of the future:high-90s fastball, good control and some solid secondary offerings.

The other option here would have been Stephen Pryor, but I like Capps more. He’s younger, has shown better control in the minors and his fastball is just a tick better.

So far in 2013, Capps has worked 4.1 innings out of the bullpen, walking one batter while striking out seven.

Tom Wilhelmsen has a hold on the closer role now, but he’s someone Seattle could get a return from around the trade deadline. If that’s the case, expect Capps to step into the 9th-inning role in his stead.

2. Danny Hultzen, LHP

This is a ranking based purely on upside, and it could change drastically as the season goes on.

Hultzen was a big name in Seattle last year, and for a while he was earning it. The then 22-year-old started his minor league career at Double A, where he pitched to the tune of a 1.19 ERA and 9.4 K/9. After 13 starts he was promoted to Triple A.

Hultzen and Walker, the future of Mariner pitching (Photo: AP).

That’s where Hultzen hit a wall. His walk rate rose to 8.0 BB/9, and hitters were suddenly averaging 9.1 H/9. Oddly enough his K-rate did rise at the same time, to 10.5 K/9.

Hultzen posted a horrid 5.92 ERA in 12 Triple A starts, averaging 4.0 innings per start—compared to 6.0 at Double A.

Hultzen doesn’t have wicked stuff, but his control and ability to mix pitches makes it devestating. His fastball sits in the low-90s with good movement, and his changeup is arguably his best offering. His slider is developing.

Hultzen is polished and has a great repertoire. As long as he refines his control issues, he has all the upside of an ace at the Major League level. Here’s hoping 2013 is a new start for the youngster, who could see time in Seattle very soon.

1. Taijuan Walker, RHP

Walker saw his fair share of struggles at Double A last season, but as the youngest pitcher in the Southern League (19 years old) that’s understandable.

While Walker has the longest to go of any of the big three, he has the most upside as well.

Featuring a mid-90s fastball with late movement and a developing changeup, Walker has his one-two punch. He also features a curve, which could give him a solid three-pitch mix at the Major League level.

Walker posted a 4.69 ERA last season at Jackson, but a lot of that came from an ugly June. Overall he pitched well for such a young player, posting an 8.4 K/9 while showing good control (3.6 BB/9) and averaging around 5.0 innings per start.

Now a 20-year-old at Double A, Walker will most likely remain in the minors this season (a strong showing could have him in Triple A by mid-season). That leaves a mid-2014 call up in the realm of possibilities.

With a long way to go, Walker remains the biggest risk/reward player in Seattle’s system. But given his maturity and athleticism—and at such a young age—the upside to develop into an ace is there.

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The minor league season is only a few games-young, but even so it’s impossible to ignore what Mike Zunino is doing down at Triple A Tacoma.

It always seemed like a fact that Zunino would make his Mariner debut at some point this season. The real question was when. Would it be a mid-season call up in June, or a September cup of coffee?

I will admit I originally planned for the latter, but now I’m second guessing myself.

In four games (19 at bats) Zunino is hitting .500/.526/1.375 with three home runs, 12 RBI and 22 total bases for the Rainiers. Of his eight hits, seven have been for extra bases.

It won’t be long until this dream is reality (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Turns out the 2012 MLB draft’s most polished college player truly was the draft’s most polished college player. Given his torrid start, he could be the first prospect from that draft class to make their MLB debut.

Of course, it is still early and expectations need to be tempered. Zunino is off to a hot start, but it hasn’t exactly been against “elite” competition.

The best starter Tacoma has faced so far was Fresno’s Michael Kickham—a top prospect in the San Francisco Giant’s organization—and Zunino didn’t even play in that game.

For all we know, Zunino is about to hit a slump or could get injured. Even though the start has been incredibly impressive, to talk about a call up now is a tad bit premature.

Another thing to consider is logistics.

Zunino is a catcher, and a much better one than Jesus Montero. That means any Zunino call up would have to coincide with a permanent move of Montero to DH—something Seattle was gun-shy about last season, despite how well John Jaso was playing.

If those two moves happened, then the Mariners are faced with figuring out what to do with Kendrys Morales—who has served mainly as the team’s DH. Given how well he’s played, he would make a move to his natural position of first base.

Which in turn displaces Justin Smoak. See how complicated this gets?

That’s why it makes sense that Seattle would wait on a call up of Zunino until further into the season. Once players have a time to flush out their stats, the Mariners can decide who stays and who goes in the long-run.

The odd man out (*cough* Justin Smoak *cough*) would either be released or traded. If Seattle wants to trade said player, the team would most likely wait until at least late-May or early-June, which is when things go in motion leading up the July trade deadline.

If by that time Zunino is still destroying Triple A pitching—which I suspect he will be—it’s very likely Seattle makes the transition.

The thing to remember is that these things are hard to predict. Buster Posey hit .349 with 21 extra base hits in 47 Triple A games before the Giants called him up in 2010. And Bryce Harper had a .690 OPS at Triple A last year, but it only took 21 games before he was in a National’s uniform.

For now, just remember the things that count. Seattle just won it’s home opener, the team is at .500 and playing well and the organization’s top prospects look great in the early goings.

Time to sit back, relax and let the season play out.

Last Call (Tuesday Night)

Mike Zunino grand slam. Rainiers up 9-4. The kid has serious power.

— Mike Curto (@CurtoWorld) April 10, 2013

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The NCAA tournament is coming to a close, and with it another disappointing Beavers hoops season will officially be behind us—granted it was over a long time ago.

Oregon State seemed to be back on track last season, winning over 20 games and getting to the CBI’s semifinals. Entering 2012-13 with arguably his most talented squad with the program, Craig Robinson had all he needed to lead the Beavs back into prominence.

But once again the Oregon State coach failed to deliver. And even though the University might not admit it, something’s got to give.

Love em

Emphasis on hard work and the fundamentals

If Craig Robinson has instilled anything into OSU, it’s the value of hard work and fundamentals.

In the 2007-08 season, the Beavers shot just 37.3 percent from the field, 29 percent from three-point range while allowing opponents 70.8 points per game.

The next season—in Robinson’s first year as coach with virtually the same roster—the Beavers posted a 46.7 field-goal percentage, 35.6 three-point percentage and allowed opponents 63.3 points a game.

Every Robinson-led Beaver team has shot well above 40 percent from the field, and defense remains an improving part of OSU’s game.

Unfortunately, Robinson wasn’t all smiles in 2012-13.

Coach Robinson knows how to build a winning team, and he does everything he can to make sure his players know the fundamentals.

Connections

You can’t talk Craig Robinson and not discuss his connections. It’s hard to ignore the fact that he’s the brother-in-law of the President of the United States.

Obviously it’s given a boost to recruiting, helping the school to build more notoriety. It’s also helped get Oregon State on the national stage, and paved the way for exciting events such as the First Lady giving a speech at last year’s graduation ceremony.

Probably the best thing Robinson’s done since joining OSU is up the recruiting game. The program still isn’t bringing in five-star recruits, but it’s better off now than it was a few years ago.

Hate em

Inability to win in conference

The Beavers opened their 2012-13 season 10-4. After navigating a tough out of conference schedule, they looked poised for a possible NIT or NCAA run with strong Pac-12 play.

Then conference play began, and the Beavers went 4-14 the rest of the way.

Coach Robinson has never posted a winning record in conference play. That’s almost understandable, since the Pac-12 is tough on rebuilding programs such as Oregon State.

Can Robinson find a way to save his job? (Don Ryan / AP)

But the Beavers haven’t even come close under Robinson. The closest they’ve come to a winning record in conference over the last five seasons was 2009-10′s 8-10.

Those struggles have continued into the postseason as well. Oregon State has lost in the first or second round of the Pac-12 tournament in four of the last five seasons. The furthest it has gotten was the semifinals in 2012.

Struggles to adapt

Coach Robinson has never reacted well to change, and that could be why a coaching change is just what Oregon State needs.

The inability to adapt has been present on the court. The Beavers have had countless games over the last five seasons where they either:

A) Fall behind early and fail to battle back. They can’t adjust to what the opponent is throwing their way.

B) Take an early lead, causing the opposing team to make adjustments. The Beavers then fail to adapt to those changes, and lose the lead late in the game.

There’s also been an inability to adjust to changes out of games. Robinson has had problems working around injuries, which is a huge reason this year’s team struggled.

A good coach knows how to wade through those injury filled waters, and he doesn’t let the loss of one player finish off his team’s season. Coach Robinson has failed to do that time and time again.

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Adios No. 11!

The Oregon State Beavers basketball team will see the departure of just one senior at the end of the 2012-13 academic year, but boy is it a big departure—in both the literal and metaphorical sense.

Heading off to bigger and better things this year is senior Joe Burton, whose name has become a mainstay in Gill Coliseum over the last four years.

Burton began his Beaver career in 2009, and was the first recruit of current head coach Craig Robinson—which also made him the first Native American male to receive a scholarship to play in the conference.

Good luck on your future endeavors Joe! (Mamta Popat/Arizona Daily Star)

At 6’7, 295 pounds, Burton was the strangest sight on the court at times. His frame was too stout for someone playing the enforcer role, and it certainly contradicted the finesse he had on the court.

Burton played a combination of center and forward for OSU, but at times you’d think he was a point guard.

In his four years with the program, Burton was the best facilitator on the team. Sure, he was sporadic and you didn’t always know where the ball was going, but when he was on the top of his game his passes were a thing of beauty.

All it takes is a quick Google of “Joe Burton pass” to find a plethora of highlights devoted to the big man’s skills.

While he was obviously the best passer on the Beavers, some may say his skills went beyond the team. When asked about Burton’s skills, Utah coach Larry Krsytowiak was quoted by The Oregonian’s John Hunt as saying:

If there’s a better passer – passer, period – in our league, I’d like to know who it is. I can’t think of anybody you can compare him to. Usually you can come up with an old-tine NBA guy or somebody and say, ‘Oh yeah, he’s like him,’ but he’s unique.

Burton finishes his career in Corvallis with over 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 300 assists. He’s the first Beaver to ever reach such feats. Just for posterity’s sake, he also accumulated 131 steals in his time at OSU.

No. 11 shot 50.5 percent from the field for his career, which included a career-high 55.9 percent in 2011-12.

But Burton wasn’t just a star on the court. He has been a huge part in the Corvallis community, while being a role model for Native American youths hoping to follow their own athletic pursuits.

With his production on and off the court, you’d be hard pressed to find someone in Corvallis who hasn’t heard of Joe Burton. And if you walked into Gill Coliseum on a game day and asked a fan who their favorite Beaver was, you could almost be sure he’d be their answer.

Unfortunately, the program was unable to get back on track in Burton’s time there, but it never seemed to have an effect on his disposition—it was hard to find a time when he isn’t smiling.

While it’s a tough thing to see Burton go, it’s fitting that he got to enjoy the spot light of being OSU’s lone graduate this season. Center Angus Brandt would have joined him, but his early season injury has paved the way for a medically eligible return in 2013-14.

Heading off towards graduation with a bang, Burton saved his best play for last. In his final year with the Beavers, he averaged career highs in points (11.0), rebounds (6.4) and assists (3.4) per game.

There will never be another Joe Burton who dons the orange and black. He’s one of a kind. For all his contributions on and off the court, he will surely be missed.

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A lot is made of the arms in Seattle’s system, but that doesn’t mean you should overlook the bats.

The system isn’t nearly as strong in this department, but still has some exceptional young players. The top level players are definitely Top 100 prospects in the MLB, and the others could be cracking that list sometime soon.

Taking a look around the diamond, here’s a breakdown of Seattle’s top positional prospects heading into 2013.

5. Gabriel Guerrero, OF

The nephew of Vladimir Guerrero, Gabriel Guerrero is a name to start watching (if you aren’t already).

Signed as an international free agent two years ago, Guerrero tore up the lower level leagues last season as an 18-year-old. He hit .349/.393/.593 with 15 home runs between the Dominican Summer League and rookie level ball last year.

It’s a little early to judge Gerrero’s tools, but the return looks promising. He’s got a big body, a lot of raw power and an arm perfect for a corner outfield spot.

If he can develop some speed, comparisons to his uncle will be inevitable.

4. Stefen Romero, 2B

Romero isn’t a name many people talk about, but man can this kid hit.

Keep your eye on Stefen Romero this year. (Photo: Jesse Skoubo, Gazette-Times)

A product of Oregon State University, Romero hit a ridiculous .352/.391/.599 last year between High-A and Double-A. Enjoying his first Spring Training, he’s hitting .500/.500/1.000 in seven preseason games.

Romero isn’t the most toolsy guy out there, but he has a mature and smooth swing. The ball flys off his bat, and he could be an ideal leadoff hitter with a high average and 15-15 potential.

If Dustin Ackley continues to struggle—or gets moved across the diamond—Romero could crack the Major League roster sometime in 2013.

3. Brad Miller, SS

Miller is a little underrated in the system, but has caught a lot of people’s attention after his .334/.410/.512 season between High-A and Double-A last season.

Offensively Miller has good doubles potential (he hit 40 last season) and could knock out the occasional long ball. He might not be a .300 hitter year in and year out, but could hover around that range.

The thing Miller needs to improve on is the mental side of the game. He’s a slick defender, but forces plays which causes unnecessary errors. On the base paths he’s got speed, but gets caught too often. If he can get smarter, it’ll take him a long ways.

2. Nick Franklin, SS

Franklin struggled to adjust at Triple-A last season, but that doesn’t dismiss his .322/.394/.502 line at Double-A to start the year.

Zunino should crack the Big League roster in 2013 (Photo: Seattle Times)

The young shortstop is definitely toolsy, with a solid swing and fluid mechanics. The big department he needs to work on is discipline . He owns a .351 OBP in the minors, and had eight strikeouts in 14 games this spring.

Franklin’s power has diminished a bit, but he’s still capable of producing 30-40 doubles a season with a handful of home runs. If he can refine his pitch selection, he should hit for a strong average as well. That makes him an ideal two-hole hitter.

The only question mark is defense. Is he a pure shortstop, or better suited for a corner infield spot? We could find out our answer midway through this season if Franklin can produce at Triple A.

1. Mike Zunino, C

No one has made more noise in such a short time with the Mariner’s organization than Zunino.

The former Gator was drafted by the M’s in the first round of last year’s draft (No. 3 overall). and is already considered the top prospect in Seattle’s system.

As a catcher, Zunino has huge offensive upside. He has a smooth swing and great mechanics, not to mention his discipline at the plate. He can generate a lot of power with his bat, and should hit for a decent average year-to-year as well.

The x-factor with Zunino is that he plays good defense. His arm is strong, and he’s fearless with defending the plate. The only thing he could touch up on his game calling ability, but he’s still an upgrade over Jesus Montero in that department.

Topping out at Double-A last season, Zunino should be considered a lock for a September callup. As long as his development continues, expect full playing time in 2014.

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Everybody likes to talk hitting and pitching in the preseason, overshadowing one of the most important components of a championship caliber team. As the title gives away, that’s defense.

For a team like Seattle, defense is imperative. The team enters 2013 with an improved lineup, but pitching remains the biggest competitive advantage; meaning it needs a good defense.

The best of defense can make a measly rotation look like the 1998 Atlanta Braves. But with enough gloves of lead, they’ll look like the 1996 Detroit Tigers.

Here’s our preview of the 2013 Seattle Mariner’s defensive lineup.

C: Jesus Montero

Despite the promising bat, Montero plays horrid defense. The 23-year-old caught a whopping 17 percent of base runners last year. He allowed 59 steals, while catching just 11 runners. It’s hard to get much worse than that, and in fact 73 other players sported better numbers in 2012.

According to ESPN, Montero had a catcher’s ERA of 3.82 last season. Not too shabby, but more a product of Seattle’s staff than Montero’s skill as a game caller. Not to mention, John Jaso’s cERA was 3.45.

Seattle seems committed to Montero at catcher in 2013, and with a plenty of bodies clogging up DH, it’s likely he sees more action there than in 2012. Here’s hoping he’s made some big strides in the offseason…

1B: Justin Smoak

For the time being, it looks like Smoak will be the Mariner’s opening day first baseman. Defensively, that’s okay.

Smoak has been more or less average at firstbase in his career. He sports a .994 fielding percentage, and a career UZR of 2.5. He hasn’t been a liability, but he won’t be winning any gold gloves any time soon.

And at the game’s least important defensive position, being average is pretty good.

2B: Dustin Ackley

While Ackley has been a disappointment offensively, he’s been solid defensively.

Ackley was once expected to play outfield long-term, but he’s made the transition to second stick. He sported a 6.7 UZR at second last season, and has been worth 21 saved runs in his career.

Brendan Ryan is a wizard at short (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

With speed, good range, soft hands and a smooth transition, Ackley has more than proved his value in the infield.

SS: Brendan Ryan

The only reason Ryan remains on this team is that he’s Seattle’s crown jewel of defense.

Ryan’s quick instincts and smooth fielding helped him post the team’s second best UZR last season at 14.7—the only player with a higher number was the now departed Ichiro Suzuki. He also led the team in defensive runs saved with 27, 14 more than second place.

His bat may stink, but there’s no doubt about the value of his glove. It’s a travesty that he’s yet to win a gold glove in his career.

3B: Kyle Seager

Overall, Seager was slightly above average on defense in 2012. He posted a combined UZR of 2.2.

But, a big reason for that is that Seager had a 4.1 UZR at secondbase—a position he only played 140.2 innings at, and normally occupied by Dustin Ackley. At third, Seager was underwhelming with a negative UZR and minus seven defensive runs saved.

The third baseman may have enjoyed a breakout season with the bat last year, but his defense remains shaky.

RF: Michael Saunders

A lot was made of Saunders’ defense last season, and even though the fleet-footed 26-year-old made some dazzling catches his glove was overrated.

Splitting time at all three outfield positions last season, Saunders posted a combined UZR of minus 8.2 and a fielding percentage of .988. He struggled the most in center, costing the team minus 13 runs saved.

Saunders has a lot of speed, and a very good first step, so he can cover ground quickly. But his instincts are still developing, causing him to be out of position and make bad reads.

He’ll most likely be playing in right this year, which isn’t exactly an upgrade for Seattle. He’ll hopefully be less of a defensive liability, but Saunders lacks the big, accurate, are you hope from a rightfielder.

CF: Franklin Gutierrez

Outside of Brendan Ryan, there’s no better glove on the Mariner’s roster than that of Gutierrez.

The speedy outfielder has made a career off his stellar defense, and won a gold glove in 2010. Guti is one of those guys who plays his position so well that he’s almost boring to watch at times—though he still makes the occasional spectacular catch.

Here’s hoping for a healthy Guti in 2013.

Despite a consistent career, Gutierrez actually had a lackluster 2012 defensively. That could easily be contributed to his injury issues, and as long as he’s healthy expect a return to normalcy in 2013.

LF: Michael Morse

Morse has split the majority of his career between first and leftfield. As long as Justin Smoak is still a regular, Morse will be spending his days in left.

Slow and clunky, Morse is worth as much as most other power hitters defensively—which equated to minus four runs saved in 2012. The only nice thing is that his ability to play both corners and first adds some versatility to the lineup.

Needless to say, the Mariners acquired Morse for one reason: his bat. When it comes to defense, there’s not much here.

Final Word

All-in-all, the Mariner’s will keep the diamond well protected this season. The middle infield is one of the best in the league defensively, with the vacuum-esque Brendan Ryan anchoring things up the middle.

The outfield could definitely use some upgrades, but a healthy Franklin Gutierrez helps a lot.

The subtraction of Ichiro Suzuki will hurt this team’s defense compared to years past, but overall it’s a solid group that will provide plenty of support to the pitching staff in 2013.

Defensive metrics provided by FanGraphs

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In 2012, the Mariners saw breakout seasons from guys like Kyle Seager, Hisashi Iwakuma and Tom Wilhelmsen. It also saw the departure of guys like Brandon League and Jason Vargas.

With the plethora of players brought in this offseason, the front office has proven that they are not afraid to bring in fresh faces to replace the old.

Looking forward to the upcoming 2013 season, here are some players facing make-or-break situations for the Mariners. A good year could keep these guys Mariners for a long time, and a bad one could see them released or shipped off.

Michael Saunders, OF

At 26 years old, Michael Saunders is entering his fourth season with the Mariners since first being called up during the 2009 season.

Saunders has to be more consistent in 2013.

A fleet-footed defender, Saunders has played all across the outfield for Seattle, and he’s done it quite well. But it’s with the bat that he continues to come up short.

Saunders did enjoy a breakout year last season, coming within one home run of a 20-20 season.

But while the left-hander enjoyed a strong start to the season he fizzled out down the stretch, hitting just .233/.287/.445 in the second half.

The big concern with Saunders is patience. His OBP was a putrid .306 by season’s end, and sadly enough that’s his career high.

Seattle wasn’t shy about their intentions to upgrade the outfield this offseason. It brought in Michael Morse, Jason Bay and Raul Ibanez, while attempting a trade for Arizona’s Justin Upton.

Saunders will be a starter come opening day, but unless he can turn things around he may be the Mariner’s next piece of trade bait.

Justin Smoak

There’s always been so much potential in Justin Smoak. Acquired as the center piece in the Cliff Lee trade, Smoak was supposed to be the future offensive catalyst of the Mariners.

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

In 285 games with Seattle, Smoak has just 39 home runs, 120 RBI and an OPS of .686. At times he’s been a defensive liability, and his overall disappointing play has caused several demotions to the minors.

Yet he continues to flash promise, especially at the beginning and end of the year. Smoak has a career .932 OPS in September, and he’s currently hitting .345 with two home runs in Spring Training.

Despite the flashes, Seattle looks ready to move on if Smoak doesn’t pan out this year. It tried to get the ball rolling last year, making a run at Prince Fielder, and this year has brought in Morse (who can play first) and Kendrys Morales.

The message to Smoak has to be clear: your days are numbered, so make the best of them or be gone.

Dustin Ackley

Despite all the hype, Dustin Ackley has been far from advertised after the Mariners selected him No. 2 overall in the 2009 amateur draft.

The 25-year-old enters his third season as the M’s starting second baseman, and it could be his last.

Despite a meteoric rise to the Majors, Ackley has produced a mere .243/.314/.360 slash line with the Big League club. In 243 games he has just 18 home runs and 19 stolen bases.

Last year was a disaster for the left-hander. He finished the year with a .622 OPS, with no development in the second half of the season. In fact, he hit just .217 with a .606 OPS after the All Star Break.

With younger options lining up, Wilhelmsen has to prove himself invaluable in 2013.

With prospect Stefan Romero on his way up, and Kyle Seager capable of a move to second, it’s time for Ackley to prove his ceiling is still there.

Tom Wilhelmsen

It seems strange to have Tom Wilhelmsen’s name on this list. He was arguably Seattle’s best reliever last season, posting a 2.50 ERA, 9.9 K/9 and 29 saves in 73 appearances. But at 28 years young, Wilhelmsen is one of the older members of Seattle’s stacked bullpen.

Two of its younger members, are Stephen Pryor and Carter Capps. Pryor and Capps are your prototypical flamethrowers, and both can be considered the front-runner for the closer of the future.

That’s tough news for Wilhelmsen, especially given the Mariner’s willingness to depart with established closers. One of Jack-Z’s first moves as GM was trading J.J. Putz in 2008, and just last year saw the departure of Brandon League to the Dodgers.

If Wilhelmsen can net Seattle a reasonable return, it might not be long until we see his name on the trade block. That’s why it’s imperative that he proves how valuable he is to the team this season.

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