25-year old lefty swinging outfielder Carlos Peguero is going to miss the next 4-6 weeks due to knee surgery. He played in 3 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he was 7 for 10 (.700 avg, 2.350 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 2 homers and 4 RBIs. Peguero played in 46 games last year for the Mariners as a rookie and he was 28 of 143 (.196 avg, .622 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 6 homers and 19 RBIs. He was a hacker in his first shot at the majors last year as he whiffed 54 times while walking 8 times. Peguero could get another shot with the Mariners later this year.

The Mariners have six rookies that will likely help them in the 2012 season and here is a look at them:

Jesus Montero: 22-year old righty swinging DH/C Jesus Montero was the Yankees’ #1 prospect according to Baseball America before the Mariners acquired him in the big Michael Pineda deal over the winter. Montero played in 18 games for the Yankees last year and he was 20 for 61 (.328 avg, .996 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 4 homers and 12 RBIs. He also played in 109 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 121 of 420 (.288 avg, .814 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 18 homers and 67 RBIs. Montero has now played in 489 games in his first five years in the minors and he is 570 of 1,852 (.308 avg, .867 OPS) with 262 runs scored, 76 homers, 318 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. The Mariners have high hopes for Montero who comes into the 2012 season as their starting DH.

Chance Ruffin: 23-year old righty reliever Chance Ruffin comes into this season as the Mariners’ #7 prospect according to Baseball America. He pitched in 15 games (0 starts) for the Mariners & Tigers last year and he was 1-0 with a 4.08 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. He also pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 3-3 with 19 saves, a 2.03 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. I look for Ruffin to be a big part of the Mariners’ bullpen in 2012.

Tom Wilhelmsen: 28-year old righty reliever Troy Wilhelmsen comes into this season as the Mariners’ #8 prospect according to Baseball America. He pitched in 25 games (0 starts) for the Mariners last year and he was 2-0 with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Wilhelmsen also pitched in 14 games (12 starts) in AA-ball last year and he was 4-5 with a 5.49 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. He has now pitched in 57 games (41 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 16-12 with 2 saves, a 3.47 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. The Mariners hope that Wilhelmsen can help them in the pen in 2012.

Alex Liddi: 23-year old righty swinging 3B Alex Liddi comes into the 2012 season as the Mariners’ #14 prospect according to Baseball America. Liddi played in 15 games for the Mariners last year and he was 9 for 40 (.225 avg, .820 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 3 homers, 6 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He also played in 138 games in AAA-ball last year in which he was 145 of 559 (.259 avg, .821 OPS) with 121 runs scored, 30 homers, 104 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Liddi also whiffed 170 times in the minors last year, so he has some holes in his swing along with his impressive power. Liddi has now played in 697 games in his first six years in the minors and he is 725 of 2,621 (.277 avg, .809 OPS) with 437 runs scored, 85 homers, 432 RBIs and 51 stolen bases. The Mariners could sure use Liddi’s power bat, so he might belp them in 2012 at some point.

Munenori Kawasaka: 30-year old lefty swinging SS/2B Munenori Kawasaka was signed over the winter by the Mariners. He played in 144 games in Japan last year and he was 161 of 603 (.267 avg, .636 OPS) with 71 runs scored, 1 homer, 37 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. Kawasaka played in 625 games in his last five years in Japan and he is 753 of 2,552 (.295 avg, .721 OPS) with 330 runs scored, 14 homers, 201 RBIs and 147 stolen bases. Kawasaka will likely backup Dustin Ackley and Brendan Ryan in 2012.

Hisashi Iwakuma: 30-year old righty starter Hisashi Iwakuma was signed over the winter with the idea of having him join the starting rotation in 2012, but, he will be a reliever when the year starts. He pitched in 17 games (all starts) in Japan last year and he was 6-7 with a 2.42 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. He has pitched in 113 games (all starts) in his five years in Japan and he was 55-31 with a 2.67 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.

19-year old righty swinging catcher Christian Carmichael has been suspended for 50 games for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. He played in only 5 games in Rookie-ball last year for the Mariners and he was 2 for 11 (.182 avg, .705 OPS). He has now played in 16 games in his first two years in the minors for the Mariners and he is 5 for 41 (.122 avg) with 1 run scored, 1 RBI and 1 stolen base. Hopefully Carmichael will learn from his mistake, so that he can keep playing baseball for a living.

Major League Baseball has suspended 25-year old righty reliever/starter Chaz Roe for the first 50 games of the 2012 season due to a positive test for amphetamines. Roe pitched in 33 games (10 starts) in AAA-ball for the Mariners last year and he was 0-7 with 2 saves, a 6.59 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP. He has now pitched in 159 games (136 starts) in his first 7 years in the minors and he is 42-45 with 2 saves, a 4.73 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. This is not much of a loss for the Mariners as Roe wasn’t expected to make their pitching staff in 2012.

The Mariners have released 25-year old righty swinging 3B Matt Tuiasosopo. He played in 116 games in AAA-ball this year and he was 99 for 439 (.226 avg, .735 OPS) with 73 runs scored, 14 homers, 77 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Tuiasosopo played in 71 games in parts of three years for the Mariners and he was 34 for 193 (.176 avg, .540 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 5 homers and 15 RBIs. He whiffed 70 times while only walking 13 times for the Mariners showing an utter lack of discipline. Tuiasosopo is still young, so maybe a change of scenery will do him some good down the road, but the Mariners got sick of waiting for him to come around.