For Immediate Release

Saturday, June 11, 2016

MARINERS SIGN FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK OUTFIELDER KYLE LEWIS

Lewis was named Baseball Americas College Player of the Year.
SEATTLE, Wash. The Seattle Mariners today signed outfielder Kyle Lewis, the clubs first round selection out of
Mercer University (11th overall pick) in the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Director of Amateur Scouting Tom
McNamara made the announcement this afternoon.
Lewis, 20 (turns 21 on July 13), was named Baseball Americas College Player of the Year, is a two-time Southern
Conference Player of the Year and was selected as a First Team All-America by Baseball America following his recently
completed junior season. The Mercer centerfielder is a semifinalist for USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award and the
National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Dick Howser Trophy. Both awards honor the nation's top player, as
selected by the respective organizations.
Lewis will work out with the Mariners during batting practice today at Safeco Field, prior to the game against the Texas
Rangers.
During his just completed junior season at Mercer University, he hit .395 (88x223) with 70 runs, 11 doubles, 2 triples, 20
home runs, 72 RBI, 66 walks, 48 strikeouts, a .535 on-base percentage and a .731 slugging mark. Lewis ranked second
nationally with a program-record 66 walks and while ranking top-15 nationally in batting average (.395) and top-six
nationally in on-base percentage (.535) and runs (70). He compiled a 48-game on-base streak and 27 multi-hit
performances this season.
The 6-foot-4 outfielder played for the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod League last summer and was named to the
Perfect Game Summer Collegiate Second Team All-America after hitting .300 (45x150) with 19 runs, 7 doubles, 1 triple,
7 home runs, 24 RBI and 11 walks in 39 games. He ranked among the league leaders with 7 home runs and 24 RBI.
In three seasons at Mercer, he combined to hit .364 (196x539) with 137 runs, 33 doubles, 2 triples, 39 home runs, 145
RBI and 94 walks in 147 games. Following his sophomore season in 2015, he received the following honors: Perfect
Game Summer Collegiate Second Team All-America, Cape Cod League All-Star, TD Ameritrade College Home Run
Derby Participant, Gregg Olson Breakout Player of the Year Award Winner, National Collegiate Baseball Writers
Association Second Team All-America, Louisville Slugger All-America Second Team, Rawlings/ABCA Second Team AllRegion, SoCon Player of the Year, All-SoCon First Team.
He was a two-sport start at Shiloh High School in Snellville, GA, lettering in baseball and basketball. In baseball, he was
named a 2012 Max Preps Region 8AAAAA second team selection and a 2013 Rawlings/Perfect Game High School Senior
Preseason All-America honorable mention. He was also named a Gwinnett Dugout Club All-County team honorable
mention selection as a junior and named an All-County and All-State selection as a senior.
LEWIS MERCER STATISTICS
YEAR
2014
2015
2016
Totals

SCHOOL
Mercer
Mercer
Mercer

AVG
.281
.367
.395

G
33
53
61

AB
89
227
223

R
18
49
70

H
25
83
88

TB
34
153
163

2B
3
19
11

3B
0
0
2

HR
2
17
20

RBI
17
56
72

SH
3
1
0

SF
2
3
5

HBP
0
5
7

BB
9
19
66

SO
17
42
48

SB
2
3
6

CS
3
5
5

SLG
.382
.674
.731

OBP
.340
.421
.535

.364

147

539

137

196

350

33

39

145

10

12

94

107

11

13

.649

.461

For more information, please contact the Seattle Mariners baseball information department at (206) 346-4000. More
information on Seattles roster is also available online at www.mariners.com. All Mariners news releases, game notes,
statistics and multimedia files are also available by visiting the Mariners Virtual Press Box at www.MarinersMedia.com.