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Preview: Young talent a refreshing change for Mariners

Newly signed Mariners Brad Miller, right, and Danny Hultzen, left, walk to the mound to throw out ceremonial first pitches prior Wednesday’s game between the Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays at Safeco Field.
Ted S. Warren
/
AP Photo
Newly signed Mariners Brad Miller, right, and Danny Hultzen, left, walk to the mound to throw out ceremonial first pitches prior Wednesday’s game between the Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays at Safeco Field.

The Mariners locker room is full of young faces these days. And KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says that's a good thing.The Mariners' two newest young players – 21-year-old pitcher Danny Hultzen and 21-year-old shortstop Brad Miller – were the team's top picks in this year's amateur draft. The Mariners also got a lot of young players in their trades with Boston and Detroit.

In Monday's game, the Mariners played eight rookies, the most since a game in their first year, 1977. But Art says it's better than wasting money on expensive free agents who break down, like Carlos Silva.

Find out more about what Art has to say on this issue, tomorrow morning at 5:35 and 7:35 on 88.5 KPLU. And check back here tomorrow for a blog of our conversation.

Kirsten Kendrick hosts Morning Edition on KNKX and the sports interview series "Going Deep," talking with folks tied to sports in our region about what drives them — as professionals and people.
Art Thiel is a co-founder and writer for the rising sports website Sportspress Northwest. In 2003 Thiel wrote the definitive book about the Seattle Mariners, “Out of Left Field,” which became a regional bestseller. In 2009, along with Steve Rudman and KJR 950 afternoon host Mike Gastineau, Thiel authored “The Great Book of Seattle Sports Lists,” a cross between historylink.org and Mad Magazine that has become mandatory reading for any sports fan who has an indoor bathroom.