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Notes: Australian is a big hit, but ...

By Bob Finnigan
Seattle Times staff reporter

PEORIA, Ariz. — The question was obvious, but before any of the media gathered around Lou Piniella had a chance to ask it, he issued his own statement.

"Chris Snelling is the best-looking hitting prospect I've seen in Arizona," the Mariners' manager said yesterday after his club smacked San Diego 10-6. "He's not on our 40-man roster and he may be going to San Antonio, but if we needed an outfielder sometime this year, if we had an injury, he'd be my choice."

Ironically, it was the Australian outfielder who wound up injured yesterday, after he had tripled and singled, scored a run and drove home another. While making a nice diving catch to rob the Padres' Trenidad Hubbard of a hit in the seventh inning, he sprained his right thumb.

Piniella's praise is no shock. Snelling, who has started three games in a week for the major-league club, is recognized as the top position prospect in the farm system after hitting .306, .305 and .336 after he signed as a free agent out of New South Wales in 1999.

The surprise is the quick impact he has made, hits in all three games for a .385 mark. "He's aggressive," Piniella said. "He drives the ball."

As one National League scout said watching the game, "Most young players in Snelling's situation go to bat just looking to make contact, thinking defensive. This kid goes up looking to hit."


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