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Mariners draft O'Neill in the third round

Tyler O'Neill has long been a fan of the Seattle Mariners, and apparently the Maple Ridge slugger got their attention too.
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Tyler O'Neill is again the most dangerous hitter in the Premier Baseball League.

Tyler O'Neill has long been a fan of the Seattle Mariners, and apparently the Maple Ridge slugger got their attention too.

On Friday morning, the Major League Baseball club made O'Neill their third-round pick in the 2013 draft, choosing him 85th overall.

"You've got to be excited," said O'Neill. "I grew up with them being my number one team. My family would drive down a couple times per year to see the Mariners.

"Now I want to be a player who makes other kids want to come to the ball park and fall in love with the game."

O'Neill is a Langley Blaze power hitter who has terrorized pitchers in the Premier Baseball League. He is currently a triple crown threat, hitting .576 with six home runs, and has run away with the RBI lead with 47 in only 57 at-bats. That follows up a first season where he was the rookie of the year and the league's offensive MVP.

He has drawn comparisons to Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie, and has already signed a letter of intent with Oregon State University.

Now, where he plays next year will be determined by the Mariners organization and his agent – he will likely be assigned to rookie ball, or single A.

O'Neill's agent called him at 7:30 a.m. on Friday morning, to talk with him about the Mariners, and their intention to take him in the third round. O'Neill said his agent liked the deal the Mariners offered, and the opportunity to take on a role in an organization rebuilding with young players.

"He was ecstatic about it – third round to the Mariners is a pretty good spot," said O'Neill.

His father Terry is a former bodybuilding champion who showed Tyler how to build a physique that has earned him the nickname Tank, and Terry and the rest of his family should be able to easily travel to watch Tyler play if he lands with the Everett Aquasox, who are their Class A short season team.

The draft list shows O'Neill as a right fielder, but he has been a catcher and shortstop with the Blaze. In any case, it will be his bat that drives his baseball career.

Nothing changes for O'Neill this summer.

"I keep doing what I'm doing – go to my ball game with my team."

But on Friday, which was also his graduation day from Garibaldi secondary, a longtime goal was fulfilled.

"It's one of the biggest days of my life."



Neil Corbett

About the Author: Neil Corbett

I have been a journalist for more than 30 years, the past decade with the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News.
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