Jamal Najar Strong ... resides in Altadena, Calif. ... graduated from Pasadena (Calif.) High School in 1996 ... attended Citrus Community College in Glendora, Calif., where he compiled a .441 average in two seasons ... transferred to the University of Nebraska in 1999 ... hit .301 in 2000 and was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
2005
Promoted on July 30 from Triple-A Tacoma. Had five hits, including a triple, in 20 at-bats for the Mariners. Suffered season-ending injury on Sept. 11 when hit by a pitch, breaking a bone in his left hand.
2004
Spent entire season with Tacoma.
Had a pair of seven-game hitting streaks in first two months of the season and was
hitting .345 on June 7.
Placed on disabled list June 27 after severely bruising his right knee; re-instated July 15.
Played in 10 games before returning to DL Aug. 1.
Underwent surgery on Aug. 11 to repair cartilage damage in his right knee (the result of
the original injury); surgery was performed in Seattle by Dr. Larry Pedegana.
Spent remainder of season re-habilitating knee following surgery.
Second on Rainers club in on-base percentage (.421 / Jacobsen .422).
Walked 38 times while only striking out 28 times.
Swiped 19 bases in 25 attempts.
2003
Started season on disabled list after dislocating left shoulder during Spring Training...Hit .714 (5-for-7) with a triple, five runs and four RBI in two rehab games with Peoria, June
22-23...Reinstated from the disabled list and sent to Tacoma, June 25...Stole 26 bases in 56 games, including a season-high three stolen bases on July 5 at Salt
Lake...Hit two home runs and a career-high five RBI on July 22 at Omaha...Had 20 multi-hit games including four three-hit games...Hit .352 (38x108) with 23 runs and 11 stolen bases in 28 games in August...Hit .340 with runners in scoring position...Recalled to Seattle, Sept. 2, making his ML debut that night as a pinch runner...Appeared in 12 games with Seattle, mostly as a pinch runner...Participated in the Arizona Fall League.
2002
Played with San Antonio and led Mariners organization for third consecutive season with 46 stolen bases, also tops in the Texas League ... had 13 outfield assists ... had eight hitting streaks of 6 or more games, including three, nine-game streaks ... placed on the disabled list May 17-May 24 with a right hamstring strain ... went 5-for-6 on July 23 against Round Rock ... stole a base in four straight games from July 21-24 ... named a top prospect in the Texas League by Sportsticker at season's end.
Acquired:
Mariners' 6th round selection in the June 2000 First-Year Player Draft; signed by Mariners scout Mark Lummus.
2001
Was named the Mariners' Minor League Player of the Year, splitting time between Wisconsin and San Bernardino ... his .326 average was tied for third highest among Mariners farmhands while his 82 stolen bases was tops in the Mariners organization ... batted .392 (49-for-125) with RISP ... batted .353 in 51 games with Wisconsin which included a .408 average (42-for-103) on the road ... had 12-game hitting streak from April 18-30, batting .373 during that span ... drove in at least one run in six consecutive games from May 8-14 ... elected to Midwest League All-Star Team ... transferred to San Bernardino June 1 ... had a 7-game multihit streak and won Player of the Week honors for June 4-10 after batting .657 (23-for-35) with 12 runs, 2 doubles, a triple and 5 RBIs ... batted .304 during a 13-game hitting streak from June 25-July 11 ... was a member of the United States Team for the 2001 Futures Game at SAFECO Field ... finished second in the California League with 47 stolen bases, third with a .411 on base percentage and was fifth with a .311 average ... named to the league's postseason All-Star Team ... went 7-for-14 in three postseason games ... participated in the Mariners Arizona Instructional League.
2000...
Began his pro career with Everett ... named Northwest League MVP, Team MVP, and a Mariners Minor League Team MVP after batting .314 with a club-record 60 stolen bases ... led Everett and was second in the Northwest League in hits (93), runs (63) and on base percentage (.422) ... his batting average led the AquaSox and was the second highest in the Mariners organization, as well as third in the league ... had a .988 fielding percentage in 74 games in center field ... had 28 multihit games ... named to the Northwest League postseason All-Star Team and honored as the fifth-best prospect in the league by Baseball America.
