For a team that won 85 games and believes it can contend in 2010, the Seattle Mariners have as many holes to fill as any team in baseball – uncertainties at third base, left field and catcher, for starters.

Can Seattle fill any of those spots or others from within using players from the minor league system?

There are rookies the Mariners and their fans saw last year, players such as Adam Moore, Michael Saunders and Matt Tuiasosopo, who will come to spring training with the opportunity to win jobs.

But what of the players Seattle hasn’t auditioned yet? Are there possible surprises next spring who could – like pitchers Shawn Kelley and Chris Jakubauskas did last spring – come to camp as long shots and emerge on the opening day roster?

The team says yes, with reservations.

“When you’re putting your team together in the offseason, you don’t count on them, you consider them potential big league

players,” general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “Until they’re established, you have to view them with caution. You might like what you think they’ll be, but they’re unproven.

“No one is going to be handed a job. They have to be earned.”

Zduriencik won’t be building the 2010 Mariners then, with the assumption that catcher Moore, outfielder Saunders and infielder Tuiasosopo will not only make the team but improve it.

Still, director of minor league operations Pedro Grifol and his right hand man, Roger Hansen, see the potential of those three and a handful of others making an impact next spring and beyond.

“You’re asking a lot of a kid to have an impact on a big-league team, especially if you’re expecting to contend,” Grifol said. “But we have some kids with the potential to do that.”

Like who?

Like right-handed reliever Phillippe Aumont, left-hander Nick Hill, outfielders Greg Halman, Tyson Gillies and Ezequiel Carrera and infielder Carlos Triunfel.

“These guys are close, and if they come to camp prepared to do what they’re capable of doing, they can win jobs,” Hansen said. “If a guy comes to camp and doesn’t win a job, then be prepared to be the first guy called up during the season. We tell them, ‘When you’re ready to play, they can’t stop you. Your job is to prove you’re ready.’ ”

Here’s a closer look at the rookies with the potential to break through next spring:

 • Moore, age 25: “He’s matured, he understands the priority of a catcher. He knows he has to understand the 12 to 13 pitchers he has to have a daily relationship with,” Grifol said. “Offense comes after catching.

“Adam can be a team leader, he can hit and I think he can compete for the starting job next spring – no matter who we might bring in ahead of him.”

 • Halman, 22: If Mariners fans have heard of him, it’s likely they’ve heard of the strikeouts he piled up early last season, and with good reason – 183 of them in 457 at-bats. Still, the potential is there.

“Greg can be a huge impact guy. Things come easy to him. We developed a routine for him, and he has to stay in it every day, every game, every at-bat,” Hansen said. “He has all the tools – holy cow – he reminds me of Junior … when Kenny was real young. He’s got speed, he can throw and run, has bat speed and power. What he needs is consistency. When he matures, look out.”

 • Hill, 24: “Nick’s a left-handed pitcher who’s versatile, and he can get lefties out,” Grifol said. “The need for that is always huge, on any team. He has the opportunity to open eyes, and he’s performed.”

 • Aumont, 20: “With that kind of ability, he could wow everybody in camp,” Grifol said. “He’s there to become consistent, not just to control the strike zone, but command the strike zone. The better your stuff, the less you need command, but you still need it.”

“You watch Phillippe pitch, what you see more than anything is movement,” Hansen said. “Velocity and movement? Command that and you’re ready.”

 • Saunders, 22: A lanky outfielder called up from Tacoma after posting solid numbers and coming back from major shoulder surgery, Saunders didn’t hit much for Seattle, and not at all for power.

Still, the little things – his speed and ability to bunt – impressed.

Saunders is playing winter ball after spending a few weeks in Arizona this fall working with hitting coach Alan Cockrell.

“He’s earned the right to compete for the job in left field,” Zduriencik said.

 • Gillies, 20: Known as much for his status as a hearing impaired player as his skills last spring, he won the admiration – and notice – of manager Don Wakamatsu and his staff. Then he had a marvelous minor league season.

“Tyson’s not afraid of anything, he’s hungry, and those are the players you want,” Wakamatsu said.

“He had a great year, his on-base percentage was off the wall, and he just spent two weeks in Arizona working specifically on base-stealing,” Grifol said. “He’s one of those guys who has two tools you can’t teach: Hand-eye coordination and speed. His defense is special.”

 • Tuiasosopo, 23: Drafted as a shortstop, he’s now played third base and second base, and this winter wants to add outfield to his résumé.

“When you talk about ‘Tui,’ you think about perseverance,” Grifol said. “All he’s gone through – from injuries, hitting .180 – every time he didn’t do well, he bounced back with a good year. No one works harder.

“His presence, no matter what he’s hitting, is always confident. He’s driven. Nothing would surprise me with Tuiasosopo.”

 • Triunfel, 19: Lost all but 11 games last season to a broken ankle, gained weight and needed Arizona Fall League time to get back into shape. He’s now headed for winter ball.

“He’s on (a) strict diet, and he’s taken ownership of his career at 19,” Grifol said. “He’s hired his own nutritionist, he’s working his butt off and learning three infield positions instead of just playing shortstop. He won’t be afraid, I can tell you that. He’s one of those kids who could really come on and, if not out of camp, be brought up somewhere during the year.”

 • Carrera, 22: Part of the J.J. Putz trade a year ago, Carrera is a speedy, spectacular defensive outfielder with small-ball tools.

“He’s one of those kids who doesn’t have pure power, but he gets on base, he steals bases, he scores runs,” Grifol said. “He’s a player.”

Wakamatsu said it’s his job and that of his staff to bring out the most from these prospects.

“You keep watching them, keep working with them,” Wakamatsu said. “You can find filler guys for a roster anywhere, but guys with above-average tools? That’s something else – and our job is to maximize what’s there.”

larry.larue@thenewstribune.com

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