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Dustin Ackley

Dustin Ackley is a former American professional baseball left fielder and second baseman who played six seasons in (MLB) for the Mariners and Yankees from 2011 to 2016. Born on February 26, 1988, in , Ackley attended the at Chapel Hill, where he established himself as one of the program's all-time greats. As a freshman in 2007, he batted .402 with 119 hits and 74 RBIs, earning Freshman of the Year and National Freshman of the Year honors. In 2009, his junior year, Ackley was named Player of the Year and National Player of the Year after hitting .417, leading the Tar Heels to the . Over his three college seasons, he set records for career hits (346), runs (227), (.412), and (544) in 207 games, becoming the first three-time All-American in school history. Selected second overall by the Mariners in the 2009 MLB Draft, Ackley signed for a $6 million bonus and quickly rose through the minors, debuting in the majors on June 17, 2011, at age 23. He initially played second base but transitioned to due to defensive and performance adjustments. In 635 MLB games, Ackley compiled a .241 with 512 hits, 46 , 216 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases, while posting a .671 . Traded to the Yankees in July 2015, he appeared in 75 games across two seasons there before being released in March 2016. Ackley attempted comebacks, including minor league deals with the (2017–2018) and the Mariners in 2019, but did not return to the majors. Notable moments included a spectacular game-saving catch robbing a in 2014 and a career-high 13-game in 2013.

Amateur career

High school

Dustin Ackley was born on February 26, 1988, in . His early interest in was shaped by his family's involvement in the sport, particularly his father, John Ackley, who played as a in the Red Sox system for seven years, reaching Class AAA, and set up a home to encourage his sons' development. Ackley's older brother also played , fostering a competitive environment that honed his skills from a young age. Ackley began his high school career at South Stokes High School in Walnut Cove, , playing there for his freshman, sophomore, and junior years. During this time, he contributed to the team's success, helping the Class 1-A program secure state championships in 2003 and 2004. He transferred to North Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem for his senior year in 2006, following the resignation of South Stokes' baseball coach. At North Forsyth, Ackley continued to excel as an and hitter. Throughout his high school tenure, Ackley earned significant recognition for his performance. He received preseason and postseason All-American honors from Baseball America and in both 2005 and 2006, highlighting his status as one of the top prospects in the nation. In his senior year at North Forsyth, Ackley posted impressive statistics, including a .500 and 15 home runs, while leading the team offensively. These accomplishments underscored his potential and led to an early commitment to play at the .

College

Ackley enrolled at the in 2006 and played for the from 2007 to 2009, emerging as one of the program's most dominant hitters. As a freshman in 2007, he set a single-season record with 119 hits while batting .402 with 10 home runs and 74 over 73 games, earning Freshman All-American honors, Freshman of the Year, and National Freshman of the Year honors from Collegiate Baseball. In 2008, his year, Ackley batted .417 with 116 hits, 7 home runs, and 51 in 68 games, receiving second-team All-American honors and co-winning the S.H. Basnight Award as 's most valuable position player. He repeated as Basnight Award winner in 2009, his junior season, where he hit .417 with 111 hits, a career-high 22 home runs, and 73 in 66 games, along with first-team All-American selection, Player of the Year, and National Player of the Year honors; over his career, Ackley posted a .412 with 346 hits (a school record), 39 home runs, and 198 in 207 games, becoming the first three-time All-American in school history. Ackley was a key contributor to the Tar Heels' postseason success during his tenure, helping UNC reach the in each of his three seasons. In 2007, he batted .500 in the Chapel Hill Super Regional and hit three home runs with eight in the , where UNC advanced to the finals before falling to Oregon State. The 2008 team, with Ackley hitting .368 in the postseason, won the Cary Super Regional to reach the but was eliminated in the semifinals by Fresno State. In 2009, Ackley led UNC to a Chapel Hill Regional title and a super regional victory over LSU, securing another berth, though the Tar Heels were knocked out early by ; his efforts helped extend UNC's streak of four consecutive appearances, an record. In recognition of his impact, Ackley's jersey number 13 was retired by in January 2017 during halftime of a men's game against Virginia Tech at the Dean E. Smith Center, making him the fourth player in program history to receive the honor.

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

The Seattle Mariners selected Dustin Ackley with the second overall pick in the , immediately behind pitcher of . His outstanding college performance at the , including a .412 over three seasons and three All-American honors, positioned him as one of the top amateur talents available. Ackley signed a five-year contract with the Mariners worth $7.5 million, featuring a $6 million that set a record for a college position player at the time. Following the signing in August 2009, Ackley was assigned to the High-A of the , where he adapted quickly to professional pitching in a hitter-friendly environment. In 32 games, he batted .288 with 4 home runs, 21 , and a .361 , demonstrating strong plate discipline with 12 walks against 17 s. Ackley opened the season at Double-A with the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx of the Southern League, transitioning to second base full-time as part of his development. Over 82 games, he hit .263 with 2 home runs, 28 , and 10 stolen bases, showing improved speed and baserunning while maintaining a low 11.7% strikeout rate. Later that year, he earned a promotion to Triple-A of the for a brief late-season stint, appearing in 52 games and batting .274 with 5 home runs and 23 , helping solidify his readiness for the majors. After the regular season, Ackley excelled in the with the , earning league honors (Joe Black Award) after batting .423 with 4 home runs, 19 , and 5 stolen bases in 20 games. His dominant performance, which included a .581 , underscored his offensive potential and leadership. Baseball America ranked Ackley as the Mariners' top prospect entering both the 2010 and 2011 seasons, praising his hit tool, plate discipline, and versatility. Ackley's rapid progression through the minors culminated in a strong 2011 , where he hit .345 in 17 Cactus League games, paving the way for his debut with the Mariners in June.

Seattle Mariners (2011–2015)

Ackley made his debut with the Seattle Mariners on June 17, 2011, starting at second base against the Toronto Blue Jays at Safeco Field. In his rookie season, he appeared in 90 games, primarily at second base, batting .273 with 6 home runs, 24 , and 8 stolen bases while showcasing solid plate discipline with a .348 . Entering 2012 as the full-time starter at second base, Ackley played in 153 but experienced a , hitting .226 with 12 home runs and 50 amid struggles with power production and a high rate of 124 in 607 at-bats. His defensive performance at second base remained strong, contributing to a 6.7 Ultimate Zone Rating that ranked third among second basemen. Ackley's challenges continued in 2013, where he batted .253 overall in 113 games but started the season slowly with a .219 average through late May, prompting the Mariners to demote him to Triple-A Tacoma on May 27 to refine his swing. He was recalled on June 25 after batting .319 in 21 games with Tacoma, finishing the year with 4 home runs and 25 while splitting time between second base and the outfield. In 2014, due to ongoing defensive metrics at second base and the emergence of Nick Franklin, Ackley transitioned primarily to left field under manager , a move that allowed him to leverage his athleticism in the outfield. He responded with a career-high 14 home runs and 14 stolen bases in 143 games, batting .245 with 39 and improving his slugging percentage to .416. Ackley's 2015 season with was limited to 85 games before his trade to the Yankees on July 31, during which he hit .215 with 6 home runs and 17 while platooning in left field. Over his initial tenure with the Mariners from 2011 to 2015, Ackley appeared in 584 games, compiling a .245 , 38 home runs, 155 , and 31 stolen bases, demonstrating versatility across infield and outfield positions despite inconsistent offensive output.

New York Yankees (2015–2016)

On July 31, 2015, the Yankees acquired Dustin Ackley from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Ramón Flores and right-handed José Ramírez, who was designated as the . The trade came amid Ackley's transition from primarily second base to during his Mariners tenure, a shift that continued in New York where he provided versatile depth. In 23 games with the Yankees following the trade, Ackley batted .288 with 4 home runs and 11 , offering a spark to the outfield lineup during the stretch run. His performance included a .987 , helping to stabilize the roster as pushed for a playoff spot. Ackley opened the 2016 season as a left fielder but struggled offensively, hitting .148 over his first 23 games before suffering a torn labrum in his right shoulder on May 29 against the . He underwent season-ending surgery shortly thereafter, limiting him to 28 total games that year with a .148 average, no home runs, and 4 . Over his 51 games with the Yankees across both seasons, Ackley posted a .212 , 4 home runs, and 15 , but persistent injuries prevented a sustained role. The team released him on November 18, 2016, as he failed to regain his prior form.

Los Angeles Angels (2017–2018)

On February 4, 2017, Ackley signed a minor league contract with the that included an invitation to . Despite showing promise with a .776 in 22 spring training at-bats, he did not earn a spot on the roster and was assigned to the Angels' Triple-A affiliate, the , on April 5. This opportunity came after a season-ending torn in his right from his time with the Yankees, which had limited his play and contributed to his release. Ackley spent the entire 2017 season with the Bees, appearing in 116 games primarily as an and . He batted .261 with 6 home runs, 59 , and a .716 , reflecting a solid but power-limited performance in the hitter-friendly . On November 6, 2017, he elected agency after the season concluded without any appearances. Ackley re-signed with the Angels on a minor league contract on April 6, 2018, and was assigned to the Bees the following day. He played in 72 games that year, posting a .286 with 4 home runs, 39 , and a .776 before being placed on the disabled list in August due to an undisclosed injury; he was activated on August 23 but saw limited action thereafter. Ackley received no call-up during the 2018 season and elected agency on November 2. Across his two seasons in the Angels' organization, Ackley's output—averaging under 10 home runs per year with batting averages in the .260s—highlighted a decline in power and overall production from his earlier and days, where he had shown greater on-base skills and versatility.

Seattle Mariners (2019)

On January 9, 2019, Dustin Ackley signed a contract with the Seattle Mariners organization, which included an invitation to camp as a non-roster invitee. This agreement marked his return to the team that had selected him second overall in the MLB , offering a chance to revive his career after stints with other clubs. The signing was reported by multiple outlets, with the official transaction logged on January 24, 2019. During the 2019 Cactus League , Ackley competed primarily for an outfield roster spot, drawing on his versatility as a left fielder and . He appeared in 11 games, recording 3 hits in 12 at-bats for a .250 , along with a walk and a , but struggled with limited power and defensive opportunities in a crowded Mariners . Despite the modest performance, his familiarity with the organization provided motivation, though it was insufficient to secure a position. On March 12, 2019, the Mariners released Ackley as part of spring training roster reductions, ending his bid for a comeback with the team. Following the release, he did not report to the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers, nor did he sign with any other professional organization. This effectively concluded Ackley's 10-year professional baseball career, spanning from his 2009 draft to his final attempts in 2019, without a formal retirement announcement.

Personal life

Family

Ackley is the middle child of three siblings, born to parents and Joy Ackley in . His father, , was a who played seven seasons in the Red Sox minor league system, reaching as high as Triple-A after being selected in the third round of the 1979 MLB . Ackley's older brother, Jordan, played at , while his younger sister, Malia, supported the family during his early professional milestones. The family's longstanding connection to fostered Ackley's passion for the sport from a young age. Ackley met his wife, , while attending the , and they married in the offseason after his 2011 major league debut. The couple welcomed their first child, son Parson Bennett Ackley, on February 19, 2015, approximately six weeks premature; the infant required brief neonatal oxygen support but recovered fully. Their second child, daughter Percy Ackley, was born in 2016. During Ackley's time with the Seattle Mariners from 2011 to 2015, the family made their home in the area.

Post-retirement activities

Following his release by the Mariners in 2019, Dustin Ackley has not appeared in any games, effectively ending his playing career without a formal retirement announcement. In April 2025, Ackley made his first return to the University of North Carolina's Boshamer Stadium since leading the Tar Heels to the 2009 , visiting with his family during a game against and receiving honors as a program legend. Ackley has maintained limited public engagements since retiring, with no reported roles in coaching, broadcasting, or business ventures related to baseball as of late 2025. He resides in , prioritizing family and privacy outside the major media spotlight.

References

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