The third pick in the 2012 draft, Zunino batted .199. But he hit for some power (22 homers) and some of the criticism from scouts about him -- a dead body and a lack of athleticism -- drifted away in 2014, when he was among the highest-rated catchers in pitch-framing.
The Mariners thought Zunino would be a good defensive catcher when they drafted him, says GM Jack Zduriencik. “But he was in the ML less [than] one year from his signing day,” Zduriencik noted. “He also missed six weeks in 2013 with a hamate surgery. It's been a quick rise and learning curve, and most of it at the major league level.
“The best part is that this is a tough staff to catch with Felix Hernandez's movement, [Hisashi] Iwakuma's split, the heaviness of [James] Paxton's fastball, and a power pen. He'll continue to grow and develop overall, [and] he should even improve. Think how much more he'll improve when learning and developing the little nuances of the game.
“The next step is offensively, as he needs to be more selective and understand exactly who he is. That’s understandable for such a young player in his first full season. ... A lot to be excited about for this kid’s future. He is also a very strong individual with a ideal frame for this position.”