Mariners add Chiang, Martinez, Triunfel to 40-man roster

SEATTLE, Wash. -- Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik announced today that club has made the following roster moves:

Selected to 40-man roster:

• OF Chih-Hsien Chiang
• INF Francisco Martinez
• INF Carlos Triunfel

With these transactions, the Mariners Major League, 40-man roster is now at 38 players.

Chiang, 21, who recently completed the Arizona Fall League season with the Peoria Javelinas, hit .302 with 69 runs scored, 44 doubles, 4 triples, 18 home runs and 86 RBI in 120 games combined between AA Portland and AA Jackson in 2011. He was named the Eastern League Player of the Year in the annual George M. Trautman Awards and was named the Eastern League Player of the Month for June and July. Chiang participated in the MLB Futures Game, the Eastern League All-Star Game and was selected to the 2011 Eastern League season-ending All-Star Team. Seattle acquired Chiang on July 31st from the Red Sox in the deal that sent Erik Bedard to Boston. At the time of the trade, Chiang was leading the Eastern League in average (.340/109x321), RBI (76), doubles (37), extra-base hits (59), runs scored (68) and slugging percentage (.648).

Martinez, 21, who is currently playing for Navegantes del Magallanes the Venezuelan Winter League, hit .289 (138x477) with 83 runs scored, 21 doubles, 7 triples, 10 home run and 69 RBI in 124 games combined between AA Erie and AA Jackson. He played for the World squad in the 2011 All-Star Futures Game and was rated by Baseball America as the 16-best prospect in the Southern League following 2011 season. Martinez was acquired by the Mariners, along with OF Casper Wells, LH Charlie Furbush and RH Chance Ruffin, from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for right-handed pitchers Doug Fister and David Pauley on July 30.

Triunfel, 21, who is currently playing for Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Winter League, hit .281 (142x506) with 52 runs scored, 28 doubles, 3 triples, 6 home runs and 45 RBI in 130 games combined between AA Jackson and AAA Tacoma in 2011. He had one of his most productive seasons, setting career-highs in games played, at-bats and doubles. Triunfel recorded a season-high 10-game hit streak, July 26-Aug. 4, batting .415 (17x41) with 5 runs scored, 1 home run and 5 RBI with High Desert. He was promoted to Tacoma on Aug. 9 and hit safely in 20 of 27 games in which he appeared. Triunfel recorded all 6 of his doubles with the Rainiers during a 7-game stretch, Aug. 22-28 (.438/14x32, 4 R, 6 2B, 3B, 6 RBI).

Triunfel was originally signed by the Mariners as a non-drafted free agent on September 23, 2006.  In five minor league seasons, he has combined to hit .278 (508x1825) with 230 runs scored, 80 doubles, 12 triples, 21 home runs and 183 RBI in 476 games. Triunfel missed most of the 2009 season after suffering a fractured left tibia on April 11, 2009.