Michael Saunders
Encyclopedia
Michael Edward Saunders (born November 19, 1986 in Victoria, British Columbia
, Canada
) is a Canadian
Major League Baseball
left fielder
for the Seattle Mariners
. He is a left-handed
hitting, right-handed throwing outfielder
. He was nicknamed "The Condor" by Dave Sims
who attributed the origin of it to Lee Tinsley
.
. While attending Lambrick Park Secondary School
in Victoria, British Columbia
, Saunders played high school baseball for the Victoria Mariners of the B.C. Premier Baseball League
. He was selected by the Mariners in the 11th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
.
Before officially signing with the Mariners, Saunders spent the season playing for the Tallahassee Community College
Eagles. He then spent the season with the Everett AquaSox
of the Northwest League
, hitting .270 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs. In , he was promoted to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
of the Midwest League
, hitting .239 with four home runs and 39 RBIs. Despite struggling in 2006, for he was promoted to the high A High Desert Mavericks
of the California League
, where he excelled, hitting .299 with 14 home runs and 77 RBIs, before he was called up to the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx of the AA Southern League
, where he finished off the season hitting .288 with one home run and 7 RBIs in 15 games. Saunders started the season once again in West Tennessee, where he hit .290 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs in 67 games before being promoted to the AAA Tacoma Rainiers
of the Pacific Coast League
on June 17.
After beginning the season with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers where he hit .313 with 13 HRs and 32 RBIs in 243 at-bats, Saunders was promoted from Tacoma on July 25, 2009 when the Mariners designated Wladimir Balentien
for assignment. He made his MLB debut that day in a game against the Cleveland Indians
at Safeco Field
, where he went hitless against Jeremy Sowers
in the Mariners 10-3 loss. His first major league hit was a single off of Cliff Lee
on July 26, 2009.
On May 6, , Saunders was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma after the Mariners put Milton Bradley on the restricted list. Three days later, he hit his first Major League home run off Angels
pitcher Ervin Santana
.
at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing
, China
. Serving as Canada's primary right-fielder, Saunders had 8 hits in 28 at-bats out of the third spot in the lineup. He scored five runs and had four RBIs in seven games, while his two home runs led Canada to a 6th place finish.
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. He is a left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
hitting, right-handed throwing outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. He was nicknamed "The Condor" by Dave Sims
Dave Sims
Dave Sims is an American sportscaster. He currently is the television play-by-play commentator for the Seattle Mariners, the radio play-by-play man for Sunday Night Football on Westwood One, and the host of Basketball and Beyond with Coach K on Sirius XM Satellite Radio...
who attributed the origin of it to Lee Tinsley
Lee Tinsley
Lee Owen Tinsley is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Playing career:Lee had a 5-year Major League playing career that included stops with the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies...
.
Seattle Mariners
Mike Saunders started his baseball playing Little League at Gordon Head Baseball AssociationGordon Head Baseball Association
The Gordon Head Baseball Association is located in the municipality of Saanich in Victoria, British Columbia. The Gordon Head Baseball Association provides a comprehensive baseball program for players from 4 to 12 years old, in 5 separate divisions including Blastball, Initiation, Novice, Mosquito...
. While attending Lambrick Park Secondary School
Lambrick Park Secondary School
Lambrick Park Secondary School is a traditional six-year public secondary school located in Saanich, British Columbia, Canada....
in Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, Saunders played high school baseball for the Victoria Mariners of the B.C. Premier Baseball League
B.C. Premier Baseball League
The British Columbia Premier Baseball League, commonly referred to as the BCPBL or the PBL, is a competitive youth baseball league consisting of 13 teams located throughout British Columbia, Canada...
. He was selected by the Mariners in the 11th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
.
Before officially signing with the Mariners, Saunders spent the season playing for the Tallahassee Community College
Tallahassee Community College
Tallahassee Community College is a community college, located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. The institution was founded in 1966 by the Florida Legislature. The college is a member of the Florida College System....
Eagles. He then spent the season with the Everett AquaSox
Everett AquaSox
The Everett AquaSox are a minor league baseball team in Everett, Washington, USA. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League, of which they are the current defending champions...
of the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
, hitting .270 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs. In , he was promoted to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are a minor league baseball team of the Midwest League, and the Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, and are named for timber rattlesnakes. The team plays its home games at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium...
of the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
, hitting .239 with four home runs and 39 RBIs. Despite struggling in 2006, for he was promoted to the high A High Desert Mavericks
High Desert Mavericks
The High Desert Mavericks are a minor league baseball team in Adelanto, California, USA. Their Major League parent club is the Seattle Mariners. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League and had been a farm team of the Kansas City Royals since 2005 before the switch...
of the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
, where he excelled, hitting .299 with 14 home runs and 77 RBIs, before he was called up to the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx of the AA Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
, where he finished off the season hitting .288 with one home run and 7 RBIs in 15 games. Saunders started the season once again in West Tennessee, where he hit .290 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs in 67 games before being promoted to the AAA Tacoma Rainiers
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
on June 17.
After beginning the season with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers where he hit .313 with 13 HRs and 32 RBIs in 243 at-bats, Saunders was promoted from Tacoma on July 25, 2009 when the Mariners designated Wladimir Balentien
Wladimir Balentien
Wladimir Ramon Balentien is a Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.-Seattle Mariners:Balentien was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Mariners in...
for assignment. He made his MLB debut that day in a game against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
at Safeco Field
Safeco Field
Safeco Field is a retractable roof baseball stadium located in Seattle, Washington. The stadium, owned and operated by the Washington-King County Stadium Authority, is the home stadium of the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball and has a seating capacity of 47,878 for baseball...
, where he went hitless against Jeremy Sowers
Jeremy Sowers
Jeremy Bryan Sowers is an American professional baseball pitcher. Sowers grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, where he attended Ballard High School...
in the Mariners 10-3 loss. His first major league hit was a single off of Cliff Lee
Cliff Lee
Clifton Phifer "Cliff" Lee is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Lee has also played for the Cleveland Indians, the Seattle Mariners, and the Texas Rangers....
on July 26, 2009.
On May 6, , Saunders was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma after the Mariners put Milton Bradley on the restricted list. Three days later, he hit his first Major League home run off Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
pitcher Ervin Santana
Ervin Santana
Ervin Ramon Santana is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.-Name:...
.
Beijing Olympic Games
Saunders also represented CanadaCanada national baseball team
Canada has qualified for two Olympic games, in 2004 and 2008. Canadian teams also competed twice when baseball was a demonstration sport, in 1984 and 1988.-1984 Summer Olympics:...
at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Serving as Canada's primary right-fielder, Saunders had 8 hits in 28 at-bats out of the third spot in the lineup. He scored five runs and had four RBIs in seven games, while his two home runs led Canada to a 6th place finish.