Ackley jewel of Mariners’ farm system

TACOMA – Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik adheres to two core rules in assembling a baseball roster.

Rule 1: Nothing is more crucial to the sustained health of a franchise than a farm system that consistently produces big-league-ready talent.

Rule 2: Never, ever waver from Rule 1.

The Mariners held their annual pre-spring training luncheon Thursday, which posed a convenient opportunity to address the state of a farm system rendered barren by the previous front office.

While several position players of potential impact are years away from reaching The Show, there’s one guy – drafted in June, signed in August, put to work in November – whose accelerated ascent through the minors could make up for the painstakingly laborious pace of everybody else.

His name is Dustin Ackley. His performance portfolio at the pro level – 20 games in the Arizona Fall League – belies his status as a difference-maker.

“A special, special, special talent,” Mariners director of pro scouting Carmen Fusco called Ackley. “I saw him a number of times, and I saw him on film, and he was as efficient a hitter as I’ve ever seen at the high school or college level.”

Ackley’s ability to hit for contact at the University of North Carolina was the foremost reason the Mariners made him the No. 2 overall selection of the 2009 amateur draft.

But it’s been Ackley’s remarkably seamless transition to a new position in the field that’s drawing raves. A college outfielder who was moved to first base after undergoing Tommy John elbow-tendon- replacement surgery before his junior season, Ackley has proven to be a quick study at second base.

The seed for the position switch was planted by Tar Heels baseball coach Mike Fox, who noted in the aftermath of the draft that Ackley had the speed and agility required of a middle infielder. The pieces certainly fit. Ackley had some high school experience at shortstop, but not the throwing range he’ll need in the majors. Third base wasn’t a destination, either, as he doesn’t pack the power of a prototypical corner infielder.

And though targeting Ackley for the outfield remains an option, his combination of skills at second base has transformed him into Seattle’s most intriguing non-pitching prospect since, uh, when? How long has it been since a position player raced through the Mariners’ minor league system? (I suspect it’s been this long: Since 1996, when shortstop Alex Rodriguez finally stuck around Seattle.)

“This guy is a premium bat, with speed, a left-handed hitting middle infielder,” Zduriencik said of Ackley. “That’s pretty special.”

Added Fusco: “From where he was on first to where he is today, you would’ve thought he’d been a middle infielder his entire career. … Sometimes we get caught up in that he’s a good athlete. He’s a good baseball player.”

Ackley’s versatility on defense will enable him to contribute his bat to manager Don Wakamatsu’s lineup sooner rather than later.

“In the minor leagues, you can experiment as much as you want,” said Mariners scouting director Tom McNamara. “Here’s a guy who’s a nice athlete. We thought it was the right time to experiment. So far, so good.”

McNamara personally scouted Ackley last season. He charted the tangibles – the kid’s strike-zone recognition, the speed of his bat, his ability to put wood (er, aluminum) on fastballs thrown by power pitchers who also were major league prospects – along with the intangibles.

“We got to the ballpark early,” McNamara recalled. “We wanted to see how he interacted with his teammates, and what his work habits were. One thing I did notice is that guys liked to hang around him. He wasn’t aloof. Teammates really like him.”

What awaits Ackley in 2010? Unless he forgets how to hit in spring training, he’ll likely be slotted for the Mariners’ Double-A affiliate in Jackson (Tenn.). If Ackley rakes in Jackson, a plausible promotion would be to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers – perhaps in August, perhaps earlier.

A late-season audition in the majors seems far-fetched. Or maybe not.

“Whatever he does,” Fusco said, “will not surprise me.”