Zunino makes Major League debut against Astros

SEATTLE -- Rookie catcher Mike Zunino made his Major League debut in Wednesday's series finale against the Astros as the Mariners got their first look at the 2012 first-round Draft pick out of Florida.

"Being able to play and just get your feet wet here is just pure excitement," Zunino said before the game after seeing his name on the lineup card for the first time. "I'm ready to get out there and play and hopefully help the team win."

Zunino was matched with veteran right-hander Jeremy Bonderman, who he caught in Triple-A Tacoma the first two months of the season. That familiarity should help, the 22-year-old said.

"You definitely have an idea of what he wants to do, which is the biggest step," Zunino said. "As long as we can be on the same page, or close to it, that's going to help him out. Hopefully, we can have some success. It's definitely going to help that I've caught him throughout the season so far."

Zunino was called up Tuesday and worked in the bullpen with some of the relievers during that night's game, but otherwise just absorbed his first Major League game from the bench.

"It was awesome," he said. "It was one of those things where you get called up, it's excitement in itself. But having a night to be able soak it in and see how everything works and sit and watch, it was a lot of fun. It was one of those things I'll never forget. I think tonight will be the same thing."