MiLB: Northwest League Can't Handle M's Prospect Mike Zunino

Mike Zunino has had a summer to remember. After playing in the College World Series, Zunino swiftly shifted his career to the professional ranks.

Safe to say he's doing well.

Zunino has played in just four games for the Mariners Class-A Everett AquaSox in the Northwest League, though the stats may not show that he's played for four games.

Tuesday was the gem of the quartet of games. Zunino went 3-for-4 against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, and two of those hits were home runs.

It's nice to be playing again.," Zunino told MiLB.com. "I thought I swung the bat well and I was just trying to stay inside the ball."

Including his two-homer game on Tuesday, the Golden Spikes winner is 7-for-15 in his four games with three home runs and three RBI.

It's not the same as what Mike Trout is doing at the big league level, but Zunino is still making a strong start to his professional career.

In fact, Zunino's first four games are better than Trout's first five games that closed out the 2009 season with the Midwest League's Cedar Rapids Kernels.

Trout went 4-for-15 with no home runs, and he did not bring in any runs. He struck out six times and forced four walks.

Zunino, however, has only struck out three times and has had one walk.

If Zunino maintains these numbers, his Northwest League days will be short and sweet.