The present collided with the future Thursday night at the corner of Edgar Martinez Drive and Dave Niehaus Way. As Seattle readied to face Cleveland in the finale of a four-game series at Safeco Field, members of the Mariners baseball operations department gathered in the Ellis Pavilion – just steps away from the field – for day one of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft. Countless hours of scouting and preparation culminated with the Mariners 1st round pick and will continue over the next two days through the 40th and final round on Saturday.
The Mariners selected 6-foot-4 outfielder Kyle Lewis from Mercer University with the 11th overall pick in the Draft.