MLB  >>  Seattle Mariners
Sign up for Yardbarker's daily Top 10 newsletter, the Morning Bark! Customize to get news on your favorite sports and teams.
Rice
The most controversial NFL suspensions
Schilling
Best, worst in-season trades for each team from last 20 years
Mattingly
12 managers who are on the hot seat
Tyree
25 most memorable plays in NFL history
Stamkos
10 NHL players who will bounce back in 2014-15

Mariners prospect watch: Zunino signs, Franklin adjusts

Found July 17, 2012 on NorthWest Sports Beat:
PLAYERS: Francisco Martinez,  Nick Franklin,  Jack Zduriencik
TEAMS: Seattle Mariners
Zunino Officially An M’s Prospect

Prospect Watch: A look at bats on the rise for the Seattle Mariners

Like their pitchers, the Mariner hitting prospects have seen their ups and downs.

The most exciting news this month came with the signing of 2012 first rounder Mike Zunino.

The catcher from Florida is officially a Seattle Mariners prospect and could be seeing time with the Big League club as soon as next year.

Here’s a look at the current state of affairs for Mariner prospects who know how to swing a bat.

Francisco Martinez

Martinez was injured through much of June and is currently making rehab starts for the Arizona League Mariners.

Before his injury, Martinez seemed stuck in neutral. He was hitting a mere .257 with very little power—though he did flash quite a bit of speed. In 8 rehab games, Martinez is hitting .286 with an .823 OPS and 1 stolen base.

Marinez’s .664 OPS at AA Jackson is not what one expects from a top prospect.

Mariners prospect watch: Zunino signs, Franklin adjusts

AquaSox Mike Zunino is doing a good job behind the plate. (Photo Tri-CityHerald.com)

Hopefully once he returns from his rehab assignments he’ll flash more of the hitting ability he showed last season.

Nick Franklin

Franklin is making the best of his callup to AAA Tacoma.

At first he looks pedestrian, with a .253/.337/.460 triple slash line and a pair of home runs and stolen bases.

However, he’s been on a torrid pace over his last 10 games, hitting .325 with a .976 OPS—sporting 4 doubles, 1 triple and 1 home run.

Franklin is still missing the home run power that put him on the prospect map, but he’s showing great standing at the plate. He’s hitting for average and showing great doubles power.

If he keeps his steady hitting going Franklin could see starts at short with the Mariners in no time.

Mike Zunino

Not a whole lot to report here since last time.

The biggest news is that Zunino has now officially signed with the Seattle Mariners. The M’s dropped a $4 million bonus on their first rounder, which was actually well below the recommended figure—so the M’s certainly got a steal.

Since signing Zunino has been designated to low A Everett AquaSox.

He’s only played in two games, but he’s already amassed 2 hits—one of which was a double.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE MARINERS BLOG IN OUR CLUBHOUSE TODAY AT NWSB!

© Jonathan Irwin for North West Sports Beat, 2012. | Permalink | No comment |

Follow NWSB on Twitter or join US on Facebook for real-time updates OR... | Share This on Twitter | Share NWSportsBeat.com on Facebook

Post tags: A, AA, AAA, Arizona League Mariners, Everett AquaSox, Farm System, Francisco Martinez, Jack Zduriencik, Jackson Generals, Mariners, Mariners blog, Mariners prospects, Mike Zunino, MLB, MLB Draft, MLB Prospects, Nick Franklin, Seattle Mariners, Seattle Mariners Blog, Seattle Mariners farm system, Tacoma Rainiers, Top prospects

Original Story: http://www.nwsportsbeat.com/mariners/...
THE BACKYARD
BEST OF MAXIM
RELATED ARTICLES
RESIST THE URGE TO HURL

Buhner: I'd 'vomit' over new Ichiro deal

Via Larry Brown Sports  |  July 18, 2012

Former Seattle Mariners great Jay Buhner recently indicated he would have quite the visceral reaction should the team sign Ichiro to a new, lucrative contract.

The Seattle Mariners Must Trade Felix Hernandez

Via Midwest Sports Fans  |  July 18, 2012
I have been a Mariners fan my entire life, and Felix Hernandez is one of the best individual players to suit up for the franchise in its history. It would be sad to see him go, but now is the time to trade King Felix. I grew up in Spokane, Washington and cheered the Mariners every season. I saw some great seasons with the likes of Ken Griffey Jr., Jay Buhner, Edgar Martinez, John...

Mariners put lefty Furbush on 15-day disabled list

Via AP on Fox  |  July 18, 2012
The Seattle Mariners placed left-handed reliever Charlie Furbush on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday because of a strained left triceps. Furbush left the game Tuesday night in the seventh inning after retiring the only Kansas City batter he faced. He is 4-2 with a 2.17 ERA in 34 relief appearances this season, with 47 strikeouts in 37 1-3 innings. The Mariners recalled right...

Seattle Mariners Need to Think Long-Term, Bite the Bullet and Trade Felix Hernandez

Via NESN.com  |  July 18, 2012
Jack Zduriencik has made it quite clear that the Seattle Mariners will not be trading their superstar ace, Felix Hernandez, this season. This is where Mariners fans should probably avert their eyes, because -- with all due respect to their team's general manager -- King Felix has to be traded. The idea seems preposterous on the surface, and not only because Hernandez is a former...

Mariners recall Beavan, option Delabar

Via Pro Sports Daily  |  July 17, 2012
Right-handed pitcher Blake Beavan was recalled by the Mariners from Class AAA Tacoma and will start Tuesday night's game at Kansas City. Right-handed reliever Steve Delabar was optioned to Tacoma. Beavan, 23, began the season with the Mariners, but was sent down June 13 after posting a 3-6 record with a 5.92 ERA in 12 starts. In six starts with the Rainers, Beavan went 4...

Mariners' Beavan shows improvement in return from minors

Via Pro Sports Daily  |  July 18, 2012
The last time the Seattle Mariners saw Blake Beavan, he was saying his goodbyes after having given up 17 runs over the space of three starts in late May and early June. Beavan was sent down after that to work on his game. He returned Tuesday, and despite giving up five runs in six innings in a 9-6 win over the Kansas City Royals, he showed signs of the progress the Mariners had...

Mariners 9, Royals 6

Via AP on Fox  |  July 18, 2012
The Seattle Mariners' quick-strike offense has scored 13 runs in the first two innings in winning their first two games at Kansas City. Justin Smoak and Michael Saunders each hit two-run homers and the Mariners beat the Royals 9-6 Tuesday night. Every Mariners starter had at least one hit. Jesus Montero went 3 for 4 and drove in two runs. Smoak homered with Montero aboard...

Felix Hernandez and Ichiro Suzuki aren’t going anywhere

Via PRO Rumors  |  July 16, 2012
According to Mariners' GM Jack Zduriencik (via Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports), the team plans to keep both Felix Hernandez and Ichiru Suzuki beyond the Trade deadline. He adds that they also plan to bring Ichiro back in 2013 even though he could be a free agent at the end of the season. “He's a big part of this team,” said Zduriencik. “He's a franchise player here...

Jonathan Sanchez is the next Oliver Perez

Via MyTeamRivals.com  |  July 18, 2012
Jonathan Sanchez is the next Oliver Perez

Red Sox Unlikely to Trade for Mariners' Felix Hernandez Despite Need for Pitching

Via NESN.com  |  July 18, 2012
With the July 31 MLB trade deadline rapidly approaching, rumors have begun flying around the league. This is the time of the year when teams must decide whether to be buyers or sellers and identify their weaknesses. As strong as the Red Sox bullpen has been, it has been clear that starting pitching has not lived up to expectations. There are plenty of big name pitchers involved in...

The Seattle Mariners Work Out Of Rut

Via Oregon Sports News  |  July 18, 2012
The Mariners got back to work after the all-star break this week, facing their AL West opponent, the Texas Rangers. The Rangers lead the American league in scoring, but against the Mariners, they didn’t do too much damage. The Mariners would lose 2 out of 3 games to them, but would actually walk away with more runs, outscoring Texas, 9-7. The first game was handled by starter...

Honoring Ichiro

Via Fangraphs  |  July 17, 2012
For his first ten seasons, Ichiro Suzuki frustrated opposing pitchers as much as any other hitter in Major League Baseball. He was impossible to strike out, he could turn ugly slap-hits into singles, and despite (or because of) his disinterest in walking, he would still take a ball off his shoelaces and gap it for a double. He possessed a Rod Carew-like uncanny ability to square...

Verdugo struggles in MLB debut

Via Fox Sports Kansas City  |  July 18, 2012
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Justin Smoak and Michael Saunders each hit two-run homers and the Seattle Mariners beat the Kansas City Royals 9-6 Tuesday night. Every Mariners starter had at least one hit. Jesus Montero went 3 for 4 and drove in two runs. Smoak homered with Montero aboard in the three-run first inning. It was the second straight game Smoak homered in the first. Montero...

Mariners-Royals Preview

Via Fox Sports Kansas City  |  July 17, 2012
(AP) -- The Seattle Mariners' offense has been quite a mystery over the last week, piling up runs one game and failing to produce the next. The biggest unknown for the Mariners' game in Kansas City on Tuesday night, however, is the Royals' stating pitcher. Seattle (38-53) has split its last six games, combining for 23 runs in the wins while scoring three in the defeats...

Royals-Mariners preview

Via Fox Sports Kansas City  |  July 16, 2012
(AP) -- The Seattle Mariners have had their issues lately but Jason Vargas' recent efforts haven't been one. Vargas will try to produce another such outing while continuing his success against another struggling club, the Kansas City Royals, on Monday night. Seattle (37-53) is batting .186 over its last 17 games and once again struggled to produce runs consistently this...
Mariners News
Delivered to your inbox
You'll also receive Yardbarker's daily Top 10, featuring the best sports stories from around the web. Customize your newsletter to get articles on your favorite sports and teams. And the best part? It's free!

Today's Best Stuff
For Bloggers

Join the Yardbarker Network for more promotion, traffic, and money.
Company Info
Help
What is Yardbarker?

Yardbarker is the largest network of sports blogs and pro athlete blogs on the web. This site is the hub of the Yardbarker Network, where our editors and algorithms curate the best sports content from our network and beyond.