Seasoned prospects, young arms developing at mini camps

After bringing in a new front office regime late last season, including a new director of player development in Andy McKay, the Mariners, as a system, took a step in the right direction in 2016.

As a whole, the Mariners’ stateside teams led organized baseball with a cumulative .572 winning percentage, and two of those teams, the Rookie-level AZL Mariners and Double-A Jackson, won their league’s titles. In fact, all Seattle’s qualified for the postseason.

In the wake of their system-wide success, the Mariners have decided not to field a team in the fall instructional league in Arizona this year and will instead host a series of mini-camps throughout the offseason. Beginning next Monday, players will report to the team’s facility in Peoria, Ariz., and continue to do so once per month for small group work that covers everything from the cultural and mental sides of the game to bunting and baserunning.

“We spent about a week last offseason doing something similar with our guys, laying out to our hitters what their goals should be and what we want them to accomplish each time they’re in the batter’s box, and everyone just ran with it this year,” McKay said. “We want to expand on that this year, and this will allow us to work with all our players and get everyone on the same page.”

Former first-rounders back on track

Mariners No. 8 prospect and 2013 No. 12 overall Draft pick D.J. Peterson put himself on the fast track to the Major Leagues by hitting 31 homers with 111 RBIs in his first full season, only to take a considerable step back in his return to the Southern League in 2015. He finally righted the ship this year with a strong showing back at Double-A Jackson — in his third straight year at the level — and then continued to make strides following a promotion to Triple-A.

“He’s a guy who’s in the best spot he’s ever been in for his career,” said McKay of the 24-year-old Peterson, who posted a .745 OPS and slugged eight homers in 46 Triple-A contests before a broken left finger ended his season in late August.

On the other side of the ball, it may not be long until Peterson, who began his pro career as a third baseman before shifting to first base on a full-time basis this year, can add “outfielder” to his defensive resume.

“He had a few reps out there, and I think you’ll see us continue to try to increase his versatility and give him as many pathways to the Major Leagues as possible,” said McKay. “He’s at that point where you have to …

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