Top Seattle Mariners Prospects Showing Off Skills in Everett

The Everett AquaSox have seen an infusion of exciting players early in 2013 with several of the Seattle Mariners' top selections in the June First-Year Player Draft being assigned to Everett. The newcomers include 12^th overall pick DJ Peterson, second round selection Austin Wilson, and 12^th rounder Justin Seager, brother of Mariners' third baseman Kyle Seager, as well as fourth round pick Ryan Horstman, fifth round selection Jack Reinheimer, and seventh rounder, and Spokane, WA native, Tyler Olson. Rounding out the 2013 draft class on the AquaSox roster is the Mariners' 26^th round selection, Tyler Wright.

Peterson was taken with the twelfth overall pick out of the University of New Mexico after putting up monster numbers in his collegiate career. The two-time co-Player of the Year in the Mountain West Conference and semifinalist for the Golden Spikes and Dick Howser awards hit .408 with 18 home runs and 72 RBIs for the Lobos as a junior in 2013. It was the second time Peterson has been drafted by the Mariners: Seattle took him in the 33^rd round out of high school in 2010. In six games with the 'Sox this season (as of June 25th) Peterson has hit two home runs, including a grand slam (June 23rd vs. Hillsboro) and has eight RBIs.

Wilson, an outfielder from Stanford University, was selected in the second round by Seattle. Standing an impressive 6'4" and weighing in at 240 pounds, Wilson is as physically intimidating as they come. Despite missing the first half of the season in 2013 with an injury, Wilson returned to hit .288 in 31 games, totalling 34 hits, five home runs, and 26 RBIs, and scoring 26 runs. Wilson made his AquaSox debut June 24th against the Hillsboro Hops, going 1-2 with an RBI in the Frogs' 3-2 win.

Seager, a 12^th round selection by the Mariners from UNC-Charlotte, is the third Seager brother to make his professional debut. Justin's older brother, Kyle, plays third base for the Mariners after being taken in the 2009 MLB Draft out of North Carolina, and his younger brother, Corey, was a first-round pick (18^th overall) by the Dodgers in the 2012 June Draft and is currently playing for the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League (Single-A). Justin Seager was named Atlantic-10 co-Player of the Year in 2013 after batting .351 with two home runs and 40 RBIs. In five games with the AquaSox (as of June 25th) Seager is batting .368.

Olson is one of three pitchers taken by the Mariners in the 2013 MLB Draft to begin their pro careers in Everett. A seventh round pick in 2013, Olson returned to Gonzaga University for a fifth season after getting drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 17^th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He went 9-4 with a 2.48 ERA for the Bulldogs in 2013, throwing 101.2 innings and leading the Zags in wins and ERA en route to being named the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year. Olson has made two starts for the 'Sox in 2013, and is 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA and eight strikeouts in 8.0 innings pitched. In his last start (June 22nd vs. Hillsboro), Olson tossed five hitless innings.

The next chance to see these top new players in action is Friday, June 28^th when the AquaSox take on the Spokane Indians at Everett Memorial Stadium. First pitch is at 7:05 PM. Tickets are available here. For more information about upcoming games and promotions, call (425) 258-3673, or visit us online at www.aquasox.com.