SEATTLE (AP) -The Seattle Mariners selected slugger Dustin Ackley of North Carolina with the second choice in baseball’s amateur draft Tuesday night, a move that was just about as expected as Stephen Strasburg going No. 1 overall.
Ackley is a speedy, left-handed hitter who played first base for the Tar Heels this season, after ligament-replacement surgery in his elbow. Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik made it clear, though, that drafted Ackley to be an outfielder.
“We’re very excited about this. We think this kid is the best hitter in the draft. This is a guy we thought could be here in a short period of time,” Zduriencik said from Safeco Field, moments after Seattle made its highest pick since it took Alex Rodriguez first overall in 1993.
“The only reason he played first base this year is Tommy John surgery last year,” Zduriencik said. “We think this kid’s got a really nice future for him in Seattle.”
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The junior is a three-time All-American and one of five finalists for the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s top amateur player this season. His three-run homer on Sunday led North Carolina into the College World Series beginning this weekend.
The 6-foot-1, 184-pound Ackley is the first outfielder the Mariners have drafted with their initial pick in a draft since Jose Cruz Jr. in 1995. The only other outfielder the Mariners have taken first in the last 23 years is Ken Griffey Jr.
How soon do the Mariners expect Ackley, the top hitter in UNC history with a .410 career average, to soar through the minor leagues?
“Those are tough things to predict. But it’s not going to be far away,” Zduriencik said. “We think it’s going to be a short time until he’s a major leaguer.”
The Mariners also had the 27th pick in the first round, plus the 33rd overall choice as a compensatory pick after the first round for losing free-agent outfielder Raul Ibanez to Philadelphia following last season.
They also have the 51st overall pick in the second round and the 82nd overall choice in the third round.
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