Padres official Kingston hired to replace Pelekoudas

Sep. 18--The Seattle Mariners filled their assistant general manager opening on Thursday with general manager Jack Zduriencik announcing the hiring of Jeff Kingston.

Kingston comes to the Mariners from the San Diego Padres, where he was working as the director of baseball operations.

Kingston

"I am excited to add Jeff to our front- office staff," Zduriencik said in a press release. "He assisted in several capacities with San Diego and his skill set and diversity will aid this organization as we move forward."

The diversity Zduriencik spoke of stems from the variety of positions Kingston held and the numerous baseball people he worked under in his nine years with the Padres.

Kingston, 32, graduated with an economics degree from Dickinson University in Pennsylvania in 1999. He worked for the Padres as an intern in corporate development and then spent a year working as a sports producer for an Internet company.

He returned to the Padres in 2001 as an assistant to current Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, who was then San Diego's director of baseball operations. Kingston worked with Epstein in the areas of statistical analysis and research the Padres were doing at the time. In 2002, he took over as director of baseball operations after Epstein left to become assistant GM for the Red Sox.

Besides overseeing statistical analysis and video scouting, Kingston worked extensively with general manager Kevin Towers and assistant GM Fred Uhlman Jr. in all player acquisitions, roster payroll and budget management.

Wilson's season over?

After reports that shortstop Jack Wilson's heel bruise was just a minor injury, manager Don Wakamatsu admitted Wednesday that the injury is more serious that first thought.

Wilson was injured late in Tuesday night's game while running out a ground ball. He showed up Wednesday on crutches, and he still needed them on Thursday.

"I think it is going to be a little bit longer than we thought," Wakamatsu said. "We're going to end up getting it checked out. I don't know if they are going to do a scan or an X-ray or what."

It does put the remainder of Wilson's season in jeopardy. Since being acquired in trade, Wilson has been hampered by injuries -- missing 10 games with hamstring issues -- and sickness.

In 31 games with the Mariners, he's hitting .221 with five doubles, a homer and eight RBI.

Wakamatsu admits Wilson isn't the player the Mariners traded for yet, because of the injuries.

"The thing is that he knows we're not seeing everything that he can bring to the table and that's frustrating," Wakamatsu said.

Burke traded to Nationals

Seattle sent catcher Jamie Burke to the Washington Nationals for cash.

The 37-year-old Burke is a career .282 hitter with three home runs and 38 RBI in 184 games over seven seasons. He played in 13 games with the Mariners this season.

Burke spent most of the season with the Tacoma Rainiers. He batted .284 with seven doubles and 11 RBI in 22 games for the Triple-A club.

On tap

The Mariners open a three-game series with the New York Yankees, owners of the best record in baseball. Tonight's pitching matchup features two premier right-handers as Seattle sends Felix Hernandez (15-5, 2.52 ERA) to the mound, while New York counters with A.J. Burnett (11-9, 4.33). First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. The game will be broadcast on FSN and 710-AM.

Ryan Divish: 253-597-8483

ryan.divish@thenewstribune.com

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