For these prospects, it will be another year till they get their shot
On Sunday, the Seattle Mariners made the first of many moves to trim their roster to the mandatory 25 men for their opening day trip to Japan. The number of players left in camp now is 47, after 15 were sent to the minor league part of the Peoria Sports Complex.
Among the players cut were top draft pick Danny Hultzen, and top pitching prospect stud Taijuan Walker.
Not many expected Hultzen to make the big league squad this season, but for Walker, I think Mariners manager Eric Wedge is just biding his time till a mid season call up.
Another player getting the axe on Sunday was CF prospect Darren Ford, who many thought would give a hell of a battle for the injury replacement of Franklin Gutierrez to start the season.
But for now, that battle will be played out between Trayvon Robinson and Michael Saunders.
The remaining players cut were:
Pitchers
Yoervis Medina, Forrest Snow, Mauricio Robles, Scott Patterson.
Infielders
Nick Franklin, Carlos Triunfel, Francisco Martinez
Outfielders
Johermyn Chavez, Chih-Hsien Chiang
Mauricio Robles was sent down to the minors this week by the M's
Catchers and Utility
Catcher Ralph Henriquez, and DH Luis Jimenez
From the looks at this list, High Desert, Jackson, and Tacoma will have some mighty fine players starting out the season.
The Mariners have been likened to the Tampa Bay Rays of the west, so all we can do is hope that these players continue to progress at a high level, and hope to see them on the field at Safeco one day.
With all the trades that GM Jack Zduriencik has been making since taking over in Seattle, the M’s have been stock piling young talent. Now for the impatient Mariners fan like myself, I haven’t been too happy with the moves that he has made so far.
But with the plans put in play, the M’s will have a very bright future, and hopefully Jack Z’s plans will come to fruition before too long.
Because afterall, we are in dire need of a winner in Seattle again.
About Clinton Bell
