Mariners promote last year's No. 2 overall pick Dustin Ackley to Triple-A
Jul 14, 2010, 3:48 PM EDT
It’s apparently “promote a former No. 2 overall pick to Triple-A” day.
First the Royals moved 2007 second pick Mike Moustakas to Triple-A and now the Mariners have done the same with 2009 second pick Dustin Ackley.
Moustakas pretty much forced the promotion by hitting .347 with 46 extra-base hits and a 1.100 OPS in 66 games at Double-A, but Ackley’s numbers are a whole lot less impressive. Selected out of the University of North Carolina one spot after Stephen Stasburg in last year’s draft, Ackley hit .263/.389/.384 in 82 games at Double-A.
Those numbers certainly don’t scream out promotion, particularly since this is Ackley’s first professional season and starting him at Double-A was plenty aggressive anyway, but it’s worth noting that he’s been very good since getting off to a brutally slow start.
Ackley hit just .147 in April while making the transition to second base, but has reportedly held his own at the new position defensively and is batting .304 with 22 extra-base hits and more walks (42) than strikeouts (27) since May 1.
As many people predicted would be the case for Ackley coming out of college he’s shown limited power with just two homers in 289 at-bats, but he’s also lived up to the expectations of a high-average left-handed hitter with outstanding on-base skills. If the Mariners can find a taker for Jose Lopez, the path could be cleared for Ackley to take over at second base next season with Chone Figgins sliding back to third base.
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- Steve C - Jul 14, 2010 at 4:25 PM
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In all likelihood the power should develop as he becomes used to using a wooden bat. It would really behoove MLB to get the NCAA to move to a wooden bat. It would allow for better scouting and projection of players.
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- Kung - Jul 14, 2010 at 4:30 PM
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I agree, but I think the issue is money – wooden bats break and over a season’s worth end up costing much more than buying one aluminum bat. Though it would be better both for projection, and for safety of college players.
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- RickyB - Jul 14, 2010 at 5:10 PM
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Replace the minimally harder line drives with flying splintered bats. Don’t think safety is the real issue. It always comes down to money and those lobbying for the money. The bat companies have too much invested in aluminum to go down without a big fight. Then the tree-huggers will get involved … it could get ugly.
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- JBerardi - Jul 14, 2010 at 8:59 PM
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Yeah yeah yeah. Somehow the Cape League can afford wooden bats, and they’re completely self funded.
Colleges have they money to spend on wooden bats. They don’t want to spend the money.
