Mariners Send Seven Players To Arizona Fall League

The 2014 Arizona Fall League gets underway on Tuesday and Seattle Mariners phenom Taijuan Walker gets the ball for the Surprise Saguaros as they take on the Peoria Javelinas.

Walker is among seven players in the Mariners organization that were sent to the AFL, regarded as a “finishing school” for top prospects.

The Mariners want Walker to pitch about 30 innings (probably five or six starts) to continue his progression after missing the first part of the season due to various shoulder ailments.

Walker finished his year in Seattle with a 2-3 record, but with a 2.61 ERA in eight games including five starts, one of them, a complete game.

Joining Walker on the Saguaros are players from five teams – Seattle, Boston, Cincinnati, San Diego and Texas. Other Mariners include D.J. Peterson – a third baseman who could be ready to make the jump to the big club in 2015, as a first baseman.

Peterson batted .297 in 123 games at Class-A High Desert and Double-A Jackson, while leading the organization with 31 homers and 111 RBI. He has been spending most of his time at 3rd base, but with Kyle Seager seemingly planted at third for the near future, the club wants him to get some time at first- a position he played in college.

Right-handed pitcher Matt Anderson is a starter who was moved to long relief after 20 starts in 2014. He was 6-8 overall with 4.91 ERA in 27 games.

Right-handed pitcher Matt Brazis was the Mariners organization reliever of the year after going 4-1 with six saves in 40 games between High Desert and Jackson. Brazis had 84 strikeouts in 72 1/3 IP and a .995 WHIP.

Infielder Patrick Kivlehan could be the right-handed hitter power bat the team needs, but probably not in 2015. He was the organization’s Unsung Hero Award after batting .295 with 20 homers and 103 RBI between High Desert and Jackson.

Catcher John Hicks is a strong defensive catcher who’s bat picked up some steam this year as well – (.290/.351/.403) in 81 games at Jackson and Tacoma. Hicks could compete for the backup spot to Mike Zunino this spring.

Right-handed pitcher Stephen Landazuri struggled this season, posting a 5.08 ERA in 15 starts at Jackson after re-joining the club in mid-June after a seven-week stint on the DL because of a strained oblique.

The manager of the Saguaros is former big leaguer Delino DeShields. He is joined on staff by hitting coach and former big league catcher Jody Davis, pitching coaches Andrew Lorraine and Jeff Andrews and coach Nelson Paulino.