SL1 Jackson Generals

Mariners' Unveil Diamond Jaxx Opening Day Roster

Published on April 5, 2010 under Southern League (SL1)
Jackson Generals News Release


JACKSON, TN. (April 5, 2010) - Nine of Seattle's top 20 prospects, according to Baseball America will be taking the field in a Diamond Jaxx jersey, including Mariners' first round pick (2nd overall) in 2009, Dustin Ackley. The 2010 roster combined to hit 149 homeruns during the 2009 season. The Diamond Jaxx will open up the 2010 Southern League Baseball season on Thursday at 6:05 CDT, in Jacksonville, FL, against the defending Southern League Champion, Jacksonville Suns. The Diamond Jaxx roster will be made up of 12 pitchers, 12 position players and two catchers.

2010 Pitching Staff:

RHP Dan Cortes: (#11 ranked player according to Baseball America) Dan started the 2009 season with NW Arkansas (AA) in the Royals organization. He was acquired by Seattle Mariners along with Derrick Saito (LHP) in exchange for Yuniesky Betancourt on July 10. He was assigned to the Diamond Jaxx. Dan went 6-6 with 3.92 ERA (35 ER, 80.1 IP) in 16 G/15 GS with NW Arkansas prior to trade. He went 6-2 over final 9 appearances after opening season 0-1. Cortes posted a 3.28 ERA (17 ER,46.2 IP) during that stretch. He went 1-5, 4.94 in 10 starts with the Diamond Jaxx in 2009. He averaged 9.05 K/9.0 IP. Dan also recorded 5 or more strikeouts in 7 of 10 starts, including 24 over final 3 starts. He had a strong finish to the season, posting a 2.70 ERA (9 ER, 30.0 IP) over his final 5 starts to lower ERA from 7.66 to 4.94.

RHP Josh Fields: (#16 ranked player according to Baseball America) Josh made his professional debut after signing on February 19th during spring training. He was the Mariners first selection (20th overall) in the 2008 draft. He spent the entire season with the Diamond Jaxx. Josh walked 4 and allowed 3 runs in pro debut April 9th at Montgomery to record the loss. He then bounced back to allow just 3 ER over his next 17 appearances. Fields earned his first save on April 25th vs. Mississippi He then missed the final month of the season with a strained left oblique. Josh played for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League and recorded a 1.64 ERA (2 ER, 11.0 IP) in 11 appearances He held opponents to a .154 batting average (6x39), 4th-lowest among AFL relievers.

RHP Steven Hensley: (#17 ranked player according to Baseball America) Steven led all Mariners farmhands in strikeouts (135), while finishing 2nd in wins (13), and 10th in ERA (3.95). Steve began the season with Clinton (Low-A) and recorded a win in all 4 starts, tossing 19.2 scoreless innings. Hensley was then promoted to the Diamond Jaxx on May 1st and made 3 starts before being transferred to High Desert (High-A) for the remainder of the season on May 18. He finished 2nd on the Mavericks roster in wins and tossed at least 5.0 innings in 15 of 20 appearances, while recording 10 quality starts. He struck out 10 or more batters in a game on 3 occasions, including striking out a season-high 11 batters on June 26 vs. Bakersfield. He fired a complete game shutout in Game 1 of the California League Finals, allowing only 3 hits; first CG shutout by a Maverick since 2005.

LHP Nick Hill: (#14 ranked player according to Baseball America) Nick spent the 2009 season with the Diamond Jaxx, appearing in 36 games, 9 starts and was named West Tenn's Most Valuable Pitcher by the Seattle Mariners. Nick was also named Southern League Pitcher of the Week, Aug. 10-16 (2-0, 1.69 ERA, 3 ER, 16.0 IP, 12 K). He started the season pitching in relief, before moving to the starting rotation on July 19; went 3-3 with a 3.20 ERA (20 ER, 56.1 IP) in 9 starts and 2-3 with 2 saves and a 2.97 ERA (13 ER, 39.1 IP) in 27 relief appearances. Hill recorded 3 consecutive complete games, Aug. 15-26 (1.64 ERA, 4 ER, 22.0 IP, 20 K); first Diamond Jaxx player to accoplish this. Nick is also a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army.

RHP Aaron Jensen: Jensen was the Mariners 19th round selection in the 2003 draft. Aaron began the 2009 season on the disabled list, rehabbing an injury. He was reinstated from DL and assigned to High Desert (High-A) on April 30. Jensen held opponents scoreless in 22 of 24 games lowering ERA from 11.00 to 3.67, May 20-Aug. 2, including tossing 15.0 scoreless innings, May 20-June 15

RHP Wes Littleton: Littleton was acquired by the Mariners on March 1st, 2010 to minor league contract. He was originally by the drafted Texas Rangers in the 4th round of the 2003 draft. Littleton, who pitches with a sidearm delivery, made his major league debut on July 4, 2006 with the Texas Rangers against the Toronto Blue Jays. He was credited with saving the game between the Rangers and the Baltimore Orioles on August 22, 2007-a game in which Littleton pitched the final three scoreless innings in relief, after entering the game with a 14-3 lead, which he kept while his team scored another 16 runs. The award of a save in that situation is consistent with baseball rules. In addition, it was one of the longest outings for a save that year, and the 30 runs scored by the Rangers in the win was the most runs scored by one team in a game since 1897.

LHP Edward Parades: Edward spent majority of the 2009 season with High Desert (High A), but also appeared in 3 games with the Diamond Jaxx (Aug. 9-22). - Made 3 starts to begin the season, before being moved to the bullpen on April 29. Parades recorded his first career save on June 6 at Stockton (0.1,0,0,0,1,0). Averaged 8.11 K/9.0 IP (64 K, 71.0 IP) with High Desert. He made 3 appearances in the California League playoffs (3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K). He went 2-0 with a 0.68 ERA (1 ER, 13.1 IP) over 9 relief appearances, July 31-Sept. 4.

RHP Michael Pineda: (#7 ranked player according to Baseball America) Pineda was limited to 10 games for High Desert (High-A) in 2009 due to 2 stints on the disabled list with a right elbow strain (April 27-May 12, May 17-Aug. 17). He won 3 consecutive appearances, April 19-May 12 and struck out 48 batters in 44.1 innings, including a season-high 8 strikeouts on April 19 at Lancaster (W, 7.0,6,3,3,0,8,HR). In 2008, while with Wisconsin (Low-A) Pineda earned the honor of Seatle's Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

RHP Mumba Rivera: Mumba returns to the Diamond Jaxx after appearing with the Jaxx at some point during each of the last 3 years. In 2009, Rivera appeared in 42 games in 2009. He also dealt over 1.0 inning in 24 of 42 appearances, including tossing a season-high 3.0 innings twice, April 13 at Montgomery and June 23 at Mobile. Mumba tallied his only save of the season (2.0,1,0,0,2,2), May 28 (G1) vs. Chattanooga.

RHP Mauricio Robles: (#13 ranked player according to Baseball America) Robles began the 2009 season in the Tigers minor league system, appearing in games with West Michigan and Lakeland. He struck out 111 batters in 91.1 innings, but was traded to Seattle along with LHP Luke French for M's lefty Jarrod Washburn and assigned to High Desert (High-A) on July 31st. He won back-to-back games, Aug. 16 at Inland Empire and Aug. 23 vs. Inland Empire, striking out 17 batters in 14.0 scoreless innings...went 1-1 with 3.97 ERA (5 ER, 11.1 IP) in 2 starts in the California League playoffs...overall averaged 10.55 K/9.0 IP in 25 appearances.

LHP Robert Rohrbaugh: Robert returns to the Diamond Jaxx in 2010 after spending part of 2007 and 2009 in West Tennessee. Limited to only 9 starts with the Diamond Jaxx, due to injuries. He was placed on the disabled list with a left shoulder strain, April 29-Aug.6, including rehab assignment with Peoria July 9-Aug. 6.

RHP Anthony Varvaro: Varvaro began the 2009 season with High Desert (High-A), appearing in 8 games before being sent up to the Diamond Jaxx on May 1st. He combined to make a career-high 44 appearances, all in relief. Anthony was named to the Southern League All-Star team. He went 4-3 with 8 saves and 2.82 ERA (17 ER, 54.1 IP) in 36 games with the Diamond Jaxx. Varvaro held opponents scoreless in 26 of 36 appearances. He played for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League and went 1-0 with a 4.05 ERA (6ER, 13.1 IP) in 10 relief appearances. He also started the AFL Championship game, allowing 1 run and striking out 3 in 2.0 IP.

2010 Position Players:

INF Dustin Ackley: (#1 ranked player according to Baseball America) Dustin was drafted by the Mariners with the first round pick (2nd overall) out of North Carolina in the 2009 June draft. Signed to a five-year Major League contract on August 17, 2009 and added to the Mariners 40-man roster. Ackley is the first #2 pick to don the Diamond Jaxx jersey since Mark Prior in 2002. Dustin played for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League and hit .315 (23x73) with 13 runs, 5 doubles, 1 home run and 12 RBI in 20 games in the AFL. At North Carolina, he ended his career as the top hitter in North Carolina history with a .412 batting average (346x840)...helped lead Carolina to three consecutive trips to the College World Series and a 159-48 (.768) record. He also set a school record in career hits (346), runs (227) and total bases (544). He started every game of his college career (207) and posted multiple hits in 107 of 207 career games (52%). He was a career .410 (55x134) hitter in 31 postseason games and recorded at least one hit in 26 of 31 postseason games. He ended his career with a 22-game NCAA Tournament hitting streak dating back to the 2007 CWS (.505/50x99)...was a .412 (28x68) hitter in 15 career games at the College World Series. Dustin was the first player in College World Series history to be named to the all-tournament team three straight years He also set CWS record with 28 hits. As a junior at North Carolina, Ackley was named the ACC Player of the Year and first-team All-ACC. He was also named Rivals.com National Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American...batted .417 (111x266) with 18 doubles, 4 triples, 22 home runs and 73 RBI.

IF Leury Bonilla: Bonilla began the 2009 season with the Diamond Jaxx, appearing in games at catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, left field and right field He was placed on the disabled list May 19-June 4 with a right oblique muscle strain. He was then sent to High Desert (High-A) on July 9. Bonilla tossed 1.0 inning in first career relief appearance, July 30 at Lancaster (1.0,3,1,1,1,1,HR)...recorded 4 consecutive multi-hit games, Aug. 1-6 (.579/11x19, 4 R, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI).

INF Jeff Dominguez: Jeff began the 2009 season with the Diamond Jaxx, before being transferred to High Desert (High-A) on May 15. He hit a grand slam home run and a season-high 4 RBI, June 5 at Stockton (1x4, R, HR, 4 RBI). Dominguez recorded a hit in 9 out of 13 at-bats, including 6 doubles over a 3-game stretch, June 26-28 (9x13/.692, 4 R, 6 2B, 2 RBI.

OF Joe Dunigan: Dunigan spent season with High Desert, finishing tied for the organizational lead in RBI (104), while ranking 2nd in home runs (30). He recorded 6 multi-home run games, including 3 over a 4-game stretch, April 26-30(7x16/.438, 8 R, 6 HR, 10 RBI). Dunigan recorded a career-high 3 home runs and 7 RBI on May 6 vs. Inland Empire (4x7, 3 R, 3 HR, 7 RBI). He had 3 hitting streaks of 8 or more games, including a season-high 10-game hit streak, May 19-June 9 (13x34/.382, 4 R, 3 2B,HR, 10 RBI). Joe hit a grand slam home run (3x5, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI, BB), June 20 at Inland Empire. Last fall he played for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League.

INF Alex Liddi: (#5 ranked player according to Baseball America) Alex spent the 2009 season with High Desert, setting career-highs in nearly every offensive category. He led all minor league players in average (.345), while sharing the California League batting title with Colby Clemens. Liddi was among Mariners farmhands ranked T1st in RBI (104) and 5th in home runs (23). He was named the California League MVP. Alex was also named Mariners Minor League Player of the Year and High Desert's Most Valuable Player by the Seattle Mariners. He was named to the California All-Star and Post Season-All Star teams. He was named the California League Player of the Year by Topps. He recorded 53 multi-hit games, including 18 3-hit games and 3 season-high 4-hit games...hit .405 (67x166) vs. left-handed pitchers, compared to .315 (103x327) vs. righties.

INF Johan Limonta: Limonta returns to the Diamond Jaxx after spending part of 2008 and all of the 2009 in West Tenn. Limonta hit .214 (15x70) in April, but rebounded to hit .313 (115x368) from May-September. Limonta hit 2 triples on June 7 (G1) vs. Huntsville (4x4, 2 R, 2 3B, 4 RBI) and recorded season-high 9 game hit streak (.364/12x33, 7 R, 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI). Johan tied career-high with 5 hits, Aug. 7 vs. Carolina (5x5, 3R, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, BB)...hit .329 (101x307) vs. righties, compared to .221 (29x131) vs. lefties.

OF Kuo Hui Lo: Lo participated for Chinese Taipei in the 2005 World Cup in Holland and was on the provisional roster for Chinese Taipei for the inaugural 2006 World Baseball Classic. He also played on team Chinese Taipei in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games and was on the provisional roster for Team Chinese Taipei for the 2009 World Baseball Classic. In 2009, Lo appeared in a career-high 104 games with High Desert and was named California League Player of the Week, April 20-26 (.429/9x21, 7R, 2 3B, 4 HR, 9 RBI). He recorded two 2-home run game, April 26 vs. San Jose (3x5, 2 R, 2 HR, 3 RBI) and June 28 vs. Lake Elsinore (4x6, 4 R, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI) Lo was a single away from hitting for the cycle on May 25 at Lancaster (3x5, 3 R, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI).

C Luis Oliveros: Oliveros injured his left knee during spring training in 2009 and had surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. Oliveros missed the entire 2009 season. Oliveros appeared in games for the Diamond Jaxx in 2007 and 2008.

OF Carlos Peguero: Carlos spent the 2009 season with High Desert and led all Mariners farmhands with 31 home runs, while ranking 3rd in RBI (98). Peguero was named California League Player of the Week, May 18-24 (.464/13x28, 12 R, 4 2B, 4 HR, 6RBI), June 8-14 (.400/10x25, 6 R, 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 8 RBI), Aug. 17-23 (.409/9x22, 9 R, 3 2B, 4HR, 13 RBI). He recorded 2 season-high 10-game hit streaks, June 4-14 (.326/15x46, 10 R, 22B, 3B, 4 HR, 10 RBI) and June 26-July 5 (.405/17x42, 13 R, 3 2B, 5 3B, 16 RBI). Carlos recorded4 multi-home run games, May 13 at Rancho Cucamonga, May 24 at Lancaster, June 30 vs. Lake Elsinore and Aug. 24 vs. Lancaster. He hit home runs in 3 consecutive games twice,June 28-30 (4 HR) and Aug. 20-22 (3 HR).

INF Carlos Triunfel: (#6 ranked player according to Baseball America) Carlos fractured his left tibia 2 games into the season while playing for the Diamond Jaxx on April 11 at Montgomery. He was placed on the disable list April 11-Aug. 31, including rehab assignment with Peoria Aug. 25-31 He returned to play in final 5 games of the season. Triunfel played second season for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League.

OF Mike Wilson: Mike returns to the Diamond Jaxx after spending the entire 2008 season with the Jaxx and part of the 2009 season in West Tenn. In 2009, Wilson was originally on the Mariners 40-man roster, but released when Ken Griffey Jr. signed on Feb. 21. Then he was re-signed with Seattle as a minor league free agent on Feb. 23 and was a nonroster invitee. Wilson set a Mariners spring training record with 8 home runs, leading the Cactus League.

C Jose Yepez: Jose returns to the Diamond Jaxx roster after spending parts of the 2008 and 2009 seasons in West Tennessee. Yepez combined to hit .314 between High Desert (High-A) and West Tenn in 2009.

2010 Coaching Staff:

Tim Laker enters his first season as Manager of the Diamond Jaxx and first in the Mariners organization. Andy Fox enters his first season as the teams hitting coach and first in the Mariners system as well. Lance Painter will be the new Jaxx pitching coach and enters his 5th season within the M's system.

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