With the second pick in the MLB Draft, the Mariners select Danny Hultzen, a left handed pitcher from Virginia.
This came as a shock to many as Anthony Rendon was penciled in as the Mariners' pick by virtually every mock draft. Hultzen is 31-5 with a 2.18 ERA in his career at Virginia and this year has posted an 11-3 record with a 1.57 ERA in 15 starts. He limited opponents batting average to .189.
At first, I felt disappointed that the Mariners and Jack Z did not select Rendon who was the best hitter in the draft and that is clearly a need for the M's. However, considering there were issues medically, and apparently the reports were kept secret until a week before the draft, along with the fact that Safeco is truly a pitcher's park, the Mariners are solidifying a great pitching staff with Hultzen. He's a guy that could also be in the rotation starting in 2012 meaning a possible Felix, Hultzen, Pineda, Fister, Vargas/Bedard? rotation that could be really nice. Hultzen is a left-handed pitcher too, so he could break up the rotation with Pineda and Hernandez being right-handed.
Lastly, great pitching is harder to get or find than hitting. The M's can get hitting through trades and free agency to get this team's batting average up.
Notes:
Greg Halman had a great debut on June 5th going 3 for 4 with a triple. He's continuing his hot start against the White Sox as he is 2 for 2 so far in the 6th inning.
Miguel Olivo has a homerun in 3 consecutive games
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