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The Mariners took just their second infielder of the day in the ninth round with SS Mike Salvatore out of Florida State, alma mater of 2018 third-rounder Cal Raleigh. A senior sign, Salvatore should free up some signing money for the prep arms the Mariners took in the sixth and seventh rounds. Salvatore was selected in the 19th round out of high school in the 2015 draft, but opted to attend a JUCO before transferring to FSU.
Salvatore put himself on the draft radar after a strong summer on the Cape that he carried into a career-best season at FSU, slashing .341/.430/.549. Salvatore has a quick, line-drive swing that can occasionally result in some pop:
Mike Salvatore slams a homer out to left field to bring in 2 runs for the Noles!
— FSU Baseball (@FSUBaseball) February 16, 2019
T7 | Maine 3, FSU 14 pic.twitter.com/dGntYCTWP9
He’s a tough at-bat who will foul off a lot of pitches and is very hard to strike out, and makes a lot of contact. Able to play all over the infield, Salvatore’s floor is a utility infielder if the bat doesn’t carry over into pro ball. He’s an above-average shortstop.
Learn a little more about Salvatore here: