A big, strong middle infielder with soft hands, Gabriel Noriega came to Seattle by way of his native Venezuela and childhood Mexico. He looked great in rookie ball, but has falled down the charts as the Mariners test him at higher levels of play. Despite the ups and downs, scouts remain impressed by his exceptional hand-eye coordination, and most expect him to hit for a high average someday even if he never develops real power. His defensive chops, already good as a teenager, have continued to improbe, and it's the combination of soft hands, quick feet and a strong arm that suggests he could very well stick at shortstop. His contact is still less-than-square too often, and he still needs to learn to take a walk sooner or later, but once he sees a couple more years of pro pitching, he'll be ready to help out in MLB, even if it's only from the bench.