Dustin Ackley Signs Five-Year Deal with Seattle Mariners

Dustin Ackley, the No. 2 pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, has agreed to a five-year, $7.5 million deal with the Seattle Mariners, just before the midnight deadline on Monday.

If there had not been an agreement, Seattle would have lost rights to the star hitter from the University of North Carolina. Instead, Ackley has now become a key focal point for the Mariners future.

Ackley, the star center fielder from North Carolina, agreed to the contract just 15 minutes before midnight.

Over his career, Ackley was a three-time All-American at North Carolina, the first in school history, and had a .410 career batting average. Last season he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year and first-team Louisville Slugger All-America, while batting .412 with 22 home runs and 70 RBIs.

Ackley holds school records for most hits (338), most runs scored (225) and total bases (535). He also has hit 39 home runs during his college career.

Ackley was among 16 of 32 first-round picks without announced agreements heading into the final day. Only three first-round picks apparently failed to sign, but the deadline didn't apply to one of them.

Scott Boras, Ackley’s agent, represented six of the unsigned picks, including the top three picks. No. 1 pick Stephen Strasburg set a draft record by signing a four-year, $15.1 million deal with the Washington Nationals.

In June, Ackley became only the third outfielder in 22 years selected first by the Mariners. The other outfielders: Jose Cruz Jr. in 1995 and Ken Griffey Jr., their first overall pick in 1987.

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