Kyle Seager to AAA Tacoma, Nick Franklin to AA Jackson

marc w · June 22, 2011 at 11:36 pm · Filed Under Mariners 

Seager’s gone from being Dustin Ackley’s grade school opponent, to his college roommate, to his AAA replacement. (He may also be blocked at the big league level by his old friend, of course). The other lefty swinging 2B out of North Carolina will join Tacoma, who will no longer have to use Leury Bonilla or Sean Kazmar at 2B. The Rainiers have been struggling since Ackley joined the M’s, and Seager will help a line-up that lacks some consistency with Carp, Peguero, Ackley and Halman all with Seattle. Luis Rodriguez could help, but he’s been sidelined with an injury, hence experiments like Kazmar at 2B and Alex Liddi at SS, or Bonilla at 2B. Conor at Mariners Farm Review had a great interview with Seager this week – check it out.

To fill the gap at AA Jackson, the M’s have sent up last year’s breakout prospect, Nick Franklin. The SS/2B was enjoying a decent but ultimately disappointing season in the California League, with only 5 HRs despite playing in the offensive paradise of High Desert. His power surge in the midwest league hasn’t translated to higher levels thus far, but his struggles against left-handed pitching followed him (he’s slugging .301 vs. southpaws). He’s still a great talent, and he’ll get a lot of attention from Jackson hitting coach Cory Snyder. While Seager’s a gap-hitting, low-K guy, Franklin had a classic power year for Clinton in 2010, hitting 23 HRs in a pitcher’s league – and striking out 123 times. Despite the power outage, Franklin’s cut his K rate under 20% and increased his walk rate. He’ll need improved plate discipline in the Southern League, where he’ll play in a roughly neutral park.

Hat tip: Jason Churchill, confirmed by Kevin Martinez.

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8 Responses to “Kyle Seager to AAA Tacoma, Nick Franklin to AA Jackson”

  1. Ibuprofen on June 22nd, 2011 11:39 pm

    So what’s Seager’s future in the organization look like? Because to me it looks like he’ll just end up being a trade chip unless he learns a new position.

  2. Rboyle0628 on June 22nd, 2011 11:56 pm

    In his interview he said he can play multiple positions. If his bat can be MLB caliber any chance he turns into a super utility type of player with a decent stick?

  3. B13a on June 22nd, 2011 11:56 pm

    Wow, I was just thinking about what the M’s would do with Franklin earlier today. Sending him to AA was something I thought they would do (they wouldn’t demote him), but in the end it seemed like a crazy idea given his struggles this season. I guess they have a lot of faith in the guy. Hope he regains some of that power from last season.

  4. Bodhizefa on June 23rd, 2011 4:22 am

    If Seager can play a passable third base, he would seem to make a lot of sense there for the M’s both later this year as well as the for the future.

  5. bookbook on June 23rd, 2011 4:25 am

    Does this mean that the midseason promotions are likely done? I was hoping Paxton would move up, and maybe Vinnie Catricalca would get a chance to see if he could hit in a neutral environment…

  6. dnc on June 23rd, 2011 8:14 am

    Agreed boobook. I’d like to see Raben get out of HD too.

  7. maqman on June 23rd, 2011 8:22 am

    I’ve been a fan of Cat the Bat this season too but Conor Dowley has put up a post on him at http://marinersfarmreview.com/2011/06/mariners-prospect-profile-vincent-catricala/
    It seems Cat is all bat and not much else. That could have some value at DH.

  8. 2old2jump on June 23rd, 2011 9:11 am

    Snyder has done such a bang up job on the rest of the guys on the team, especially Poythress and Tenbrink, Franklin will be hitting 400 in no time.

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