Ackley to begin season in the Minors

Dustin Ackley, the former Diamond Heel picked second in last year’s MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners, will not start the season in the Big Leagues. In an online article by The Seattle Post Globe it says that Ackley will begin this year with Double A West Tennessee. However, from the sounds of it, no one would be surprised if the Heel made it to Triple A and then back to Seattle before the season is over. Ackley, who arrived in Chapel Hill as an outfielder, had to turn into a first baseman do to an arm injury, is now being worked out as a second baseman. From the sounds of it he is doing a very good job at whatever he is asked to do for his pro club:

“I’m very proud of what he’s done so far,’’ general manager Jack Zduriencik said. “He’s worked very hard on his defense, and he wants to be a good second baseman. It’s a position that’s good for him. He can run, he can hit and he can play defense. He will continue to get better.’’

But Zduriencik isn’t the only one giving the ex Diamond Heel compliments:

Manager Don Wakamatsu said Ackley is a “special talent,’’ and said that all he needs is experience.

“To see him at second base, you’d think he’d always been a second baseman,’’ Wakamatsu said. “There are things he has to learn, but he looks like a natural.’’

Having followed for as much as I could Dustin Ackley, who was named top collegiate hitter of the 2000s by Rivals.com and was the 2009 Rivals.com National Player of the Year, I truly believe will be back in the Majors soon enough. He has the talent on offense, the skills on defense and most of all he has the work habits of someone that is going to make it. And while I wish all the best to Ackley as I do to all the Tar Heels for anyone that is a youngster looking to become a pro in any sport this should show you how much time, effort and maybe luck it takes to make it all the way to the top of the mountain. Hard work and dedication is a must, not that junk that some of the stars have used in the past!