Wladimir Balentien showed this year that he is more than just a power hitter.

The Mariners’ farm system has been quite productive of late. The King, Felix Hernandez, has certainly paid dividends. Adam Jones looks like he will be a five-tool stud for years in the Mariners’ outfield. Jose Lopez and Yuniesky Betancourt, the club’s middle infield duo for the rest of the decade, came up through the ranks, and stud closer J.J. Putz kicked off his pro career as a sixth rounder by the Mariners in 1999. While the system might not get a lot of publicity, it has clearly been doing some good.

While not stocked as deeply as some of the contenders in terms of stud prospects, there is still quality left to come.

1. Jeff Clement, Catcher

The signing of Kenji Johjima worked out well for the first two seasons, but now it is more of a hindrance than an asset. Why? Because the top prospect in the system, Jeff Clement, just happens to also be a catcher, and he is both quite good and quite ready. The 2005 first rounder is coming off a season that saw him hit .275 with 20 home runs, 80 RBI, and 76 runs scored in 455 at-bats in Triple-A, and he even picked up six hits in 16 major league at-bats. Clement is ready to take over the catching duties full-time, and he will shortly, just not this year due to Johjima.

2. Wladimir Balentien, Outfielder

In 2006, Balentien demonstrated that he could hit for power, with 22 home runs and 82 RBI in the Texas League, but he did so in a league where everyone hits for power and his average was just .230, leaving doubt as to whether he was a legit threat or not. His season this year in the Pacific Coast League ended those doubts. In 477 at-bats, Balentien hit .291 with 24 home runs, 84 RBI, 77 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases. Despite 33 more at-bats in 2007, Balentien struck out 35 fewer times. Balentien might have difficulty cracking the lineup to open the season, but he will soon enough.

3. Phillipe Aumont, Starting Pitcher

He is a high school pitcher that has yet to make his professional debut, and, further slowing down his timetable, he, as his name would imply, is French-Canadian, so his innings are less than your average high school pick. Still, we cannot ignore that he is huge – 6-7 and 225 pounds – and his dominating potential. This pick will pay off any time soon, but it will pay off.

4. Carlos Triunfel, Shortstop

His calling card is his defense, where he has one of the best arms at his position in the minors. However, he is not all glove / no bat, as he can hit, at least for average, as well. Triunfel played at three levels in 2007, finishing the year in High A, and between the three stops, he would finish with a .296 batting average. Triunfel was extremely young for the league, as he is still just 17 years old (he will turn 18 in February). The Mariners should be conservative here and return him to the Carolina League, but they might want to push him further, and starting out in Double-A would not be a surprise.

5. Michael Saunders, Outfield

Saunders is coming off an excellent season in High A, where the then-20-year-old Canadian hit .299 with fourteen homers, 77 RBI, and 91 runs scored in 431 at-bats, and his solid eye at the plate saw him post an OPB of almost .400. On the basepaths, Saunders swiped 27 bases. Promoted to Double-A to end the season, Saunders would hit .288 for the Diamond Jaxx, with one more homer, seven RBI, eight runs, two steals, and a .373 OBP in 15 games. Look for Saunders to return to Double-A to open the season, but he will not stay long.

6. Matt Tuiasosopo, Third Base

The 2004 third round selection of the Mariners, Tuiasosopo put together a solid season in Double-A in 2007, hitting .260 with 9 homers, 57 RBI, and a .371 OBP. He followed that up with a solid stint in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .293 with a home run, fifteen RBI, seventeen runs, and a .396 OBP. Look for Tuiasosopo to open the season in Triple-A, with an appearance in the majors before 2008 ends.

7. Chris Tillman, Starting Pitcher

Tillman celebrated his 19th birthday in the Midwest League, but he would not stay there for long after going 1-4 with a 3.55 ERA in eight starts, with 34 strikeouts and just 13 walks in 33 innings. He would finish the year with 20 starts in the California League, where his ERA would take a pounding – 5.26 – but his strikeout per nine and strikeout to walk ratios would both remain high, with 105 strikeouts and 48 walks in 102 2/3 innings. A lot of that ERA damage came early in his Cali League stint, as he was 4-2 with a 3.15 ERA in his last ten starts, with 65 strikeouts and just 24 walks in 54 1/3 innings. Look for Tillman to celebrate his 20th birthday in Double-A come next April.

8. Gregory Halman, Outfield

Halman struggled when he moved up to the Midwest League, but he would return to short-season when the Northwest League opened up, and he went back to raking there, as he hit .307 with 16 home runs, 37 RBI, 37 runs scored, and 16 stolen bases in 62 games for the Everett AquaSox. Halman just barely turned 20 in August, and he will get another shot at the Midwest League this year.

9. Matt Mangini, Third Base

A 2007 sandwich pick out of Oklahoma State, Mangini made his debut in Everett in the Northwest League, hitting .291 with two homers, nine RBI, and twelve runs in 22 games. Promoted to High A, Mangini would struggle early, leading to him finishing with a .226 batting average in 17 games, but he did hit .282 in his last ten. Mangini is a polished college player and he should open up in Double-A in 2008.

10. Adam Moore, Catcher

Another solid-hitting catcher, Moore hit .307 with 22 home runs, 102 RBI, and 74 runs scored in 433 at-bats in High A this year. Moore showed a solid eye at the plate, with only 84 strikeouts and he drew 41 walks, and the Mariners probably should have promoted him to Double-A at some point during the season. He will get his chance there to open 2008, however.