Kyle Seager makes MLB debut

Former Northwest Cabarrus and North Carolina baseball standout Kyle Seager made his Major League Baseball debut for the Seattle Mariners Thursday.

The 23-year-old Kannapolis native, who started his first game at third base against the L.A. Angels, was called up by the Mariners after spending less than two weeks at Class AAA Tacoma (Wash.) Rainiers.

He batted .455 and hit two home runs and 12 RBIs for the team after being bumped up from Class AA Jackson (Tenn.) Generals June 23.

Seager hit .312 and recorded 37 RBIs and 25 doubles in 66 games for the Generals, being named to the Southern League All-Star Game.

Seager, who was drafted in 2009, led UNC to three consecutive NCAA College World Series.

Seager went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in his MLB debut. Seager, his former Tar Heel teammate Dustin Ackley, Seattle's second baseman, and the rest of the Mariners will again take on the Angels tonight.

Kannapolis native Kyle Seager (left), who was just called up to the majors, can't make the tag on time as L.A. Angels shortstop Erick Aybar slides at third base. AP photo

Kyle Seager was an All-American standout at Northwest Cabarrus. File photo - John W. Adkisson