Mariners, Ackley reach deal

Padres sign two-sport star Tate, who had signed to play football at UNC

By: By Bill Cole | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: August 18, 2009

Dustin Ackley, the No. 2 pick in Major League baseball's first-year draft, agreed to terms with the Seattle Mariners late last night.

Ackley, a former North Carolina first baseman and a Walnut Cove resident, accepted the Mariners' contract offer and signed a five-year deal minutes before the midnight EDT signing deadline, according to the Associated Press. Ackley is in California and could not be reached.

Ackley batted .417 this season as a junior in helping UNC reach the College World Series for the fourth consecutive season. He had 111 hits, 22 home runs, 73 RBIs, and scored 75 runs.

He is UNC's career leader in batting average, hits, runs and total bases. He won consensus All-America honors this season.

A second player with UNC connections, Donavan Tate, reached agreement with the San Diego Padres late last night. Tate, an outfielder, was a UNC football recruit who played quarterback.

The Padres drafted him with the No. 3 pick. Baseball America reported late last night that Tate's contract is worth $6.25 million.

Tate batted .525 and had 10 home runs as a high-school senior in Cartersville, Ga., this season. He had 32 home runs in high school.

Kevin Towers, the Padres' general manager, said that Tate was the ideal pick for the team's plans for the outfield.

"We have identified a need for athleticism, particularly in the outfield, when playing at PETCO Park," Towers said in a prepared statement released by the Padres.

"In signing Donavan Tate, we have acquired an excellent ballplayer and one of the premier athletes available in this year's draft."

In his last high-school football season Tate played the first six games at receiver and defensive back and the last six at quarterback. He passed for 1,197 yards and 17 touchdowns and SuperPrep recruiting magazine named him All-America.

He reported to UNC for football practice, but left after three days to return home and talk to his family about the Padres' offer.

Grady Fuson, the Padres' vice president for scouting and player development, said that Tate and team officials reached agreement before Tate left Chapel Hill.

"We knew all along that football was not where his heart was," Fuson told the AP. "We had it done (before Tate returned home). There were some administrative things that had to be done to make them comfortable."

■ Bill Cole can be reached at bcole@wsjournal.com.