The Mariners Friday extended the affiliation with the Everett AquaSox, their Short A franchise in the Northwest League. The contract between the clubs would have run out at the end of the season, but now will run through the end of the 2016 season.
“It is wonderful for the Seattle Mariners organization to have a Northwest affiliate so close to Seattle,” said Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik. “We have a great relationship with the Everett AquaSox ownership and everyone involved with the entire operation. It is great that the AquaSox and the Mariners can share such a strong fan base in the Northwest. We enjoy working closely with the AquaSox franchise as we develop major league talent.”
The AquaSox of the Northwest League have been affiliated with the Mariners since Sept. 12, 1994. The AquaSox play home games at Everett Memorial Stadium, less than 30 miles north of Seattle.
“We are pleased to extend our partnership with the Mariners,” said AquaSox Executive Vice President Tom Backemeyer, “And we are excited that future Mariners will continue to get their start here in Everett.”
The AquaSox franchise has helped develop current Mariners Willie Bloomquist, Felix Hernandez, James Jones, Dominic Leone, Yoervis Medina, Michael Saunders, Tom Wilhelmsen and Mike Zunino.
2 Comments
One of the things the Mariners have gotten right is to have minor league affiliates in both Tacoma and Everett. It’s much easier for the MLB guys to track players when they’re less than an hour away because you don’t have to rely on a manager’s report when you can see for yourself who’s doing what. In the case of Tacoma, call-ups can go a lot easier too.
Shouldn’t Ken Griffey Jr’s name be on that list? There’s a plaque across the street North of the park where his first professional homerun ball landed.