Mariners like Virginia

SEATTLE – Two years ago, while they laid their eyes on every move Dustin Ackley made at the University of North Carolina, Seattle Mariners scouts also got a good look at a couple of other Tar Heels players they wound up drafting.

After Ackley with the second overall pick in 2009, the Mariners grabbed second baseman Kyle Seager with the 83rd overall pick and pitcher Brian Moran with the 203rd.

Like the draft that year, it was no coincidence Tuesday on Day 2 of baseball’s first-year player draft when the Mariners added to their collection from the University of Virginia.

One day after they drafted Virginia pitcher Danny Hultzen with the second overall pick, the Mariners selected Cavaliers catcher John Hicks in the fifth round and third baseman Steven Proscia in the eighth round.

“I was at the University of Virginia a lot this year, so I got a chance to see them play a lot,” M’s scouting director Tom McNamara said. “All of our scouts liked all three of the players.”

Of the 31 players the Mariners have drafted (the final 20 rounds will be held today), they’ve taken 12 right-handed pitchers, six catchers, three left-handed pitchers, two second basemen, two third basemen, two shortstops and four center fielders.

Among the players the Mariners picked Tuesday: Brad Miller, shortstop from Clemson, second round; Kevin Cron, catcher from Mountain Pointe High in Tempe, Ariz., third round; Carter Capps, right-handed pitcher from Mount Olive College, third round compensation pick; Tyler Marlette, catcher from Hagerty High School in Florida, fifth round; James Zamarripa, center fielder from Rancho Cucamonga High in California, sixth round; and Carson Smith, right-handed pitcher from Texas State, in the eighth round.