Mariners go for offense with their first pick
Jun 6, 2013, 5:37 PM | Updated: 7:58 pm
By Shannon Drayer
With the No. 12 pick in the 2013 draft, the Mariners selected third baseman DJ Peterson out of the University of New Mexico.
“DJ is one of the top college position players in the draft with tremendous athletic ability,” Mariners scouting director Tom McNamara said in a press release. “We look forward to having him in our organization and working his way towards being part of our Major League roster in the future.”
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound right-hander has been called by at least one draft analyst “the best pure hitter in the draft”. There is some question if he will stay at third, but you have to like what Baseball America national college writer Aaron Fitt tweeted shortly after the announcement:
“Mariners looking for their next Edgar Martinez? D.J. Peterson is in that mold, I think, offensively. I think it’s a can’t-miss bat.”
Peterson was named Mountain West co-player of the year for the second straight season in 2013. He won the conference’s overall triple crown for the second year in a row, batting .408 (89 for 218) with 68 runs scored, 25 doubles, four triples, 18 home runs, and 72 RBIs in 55 starts during his junior season. Peterson currently ranks third in the nation in home runs, while ranking fourth average (.408) and in RBIs (72).
The Mariners selected Peterson in the 33rd round of the 2010 draft, but he opted for college.
We are expecting to hear from general manager Jack Zduriencik and McNamara after the Mariners’ second pick. I will have more then.
