One year after being picked up in the 2015 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners, Ashland University Alum Art Warren has made his mark in the minor leagues by being promoted mid-season.

In his first full professional season for the Mariners, Warren was promoted from Class A in Clinton, Iowa to Class A-advanced in Bakersfield, California.

“It is very exciting to move from one level to the next in my first year,” said Warren. “It is a big accomplishment because it does not happen very often. I am so thankful.”

Warren proved he was ready to take the next step in his career during a start against the Burlington Bees. In his eighth start as a member of the LumberKings, Warren tossed seven scoreless innings while striking out seven and allowing only three hits.

On June 30, Warren got called into the coaches’ office where he was congratulated and told he would be moving up to the Bakersfield Blaze, High A affiliate of Seattle in the California League.

Only two days later in his first start for the Blaze, Warren allowed just one run while fanning five batters in five innings on the hill, in the Blaze’s 5-3, 15-inning win.

Before he was promoted to Advanced A ball, Warren spent half of the season in the Midwest League with Clinton, going 9-1 with a 2.19 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 74 innings and 14 starts.

“The biggest difference between the leagues are that the hitters are more advanced and will take advantage of your mistakes more often,” said Warren. “As a pitcher you need to have a different mental approach to deal with the fear of giving up hard contact by the hitters.”

Warren hopes to continue ascending through the minors at a fast pace in order to reach his ultimate goal of getting to the Major Leagues.

“My goal for the next couple years is to move up every half season,” said Warren. “I want to get in AA by next year and move forward in 2018 to AAA and make it to the league in next three or four years.

Warren spent one season with the Eagles, after transferring in from the University of Cincinnati. The Napoleon, Ohio native went 5-4 with a 3.88 ERA in 60 innings while punching out 52 batters in 12 starts for AU.

Warren used his successful season at AU, along with his raw talent on the mound, to entice the Mariners into selecting him in the 23rd round of the draft back in June 2015.

“At Ashland, the boys on my team were brothers,” said Warren. “It is still like that but there is a move competitive vibe. It is a job and we are all competing to get the promotion.”

With the LumberKings, Warren has been able to clinch a first half division championship and a playoff spot.

Now with Bakersfield, Warren hopes to lead the team back to the post-season.

“We popped bottles of champagne after we made playoffs,” said Warren. “I am looking forward to hopefully getting to do that again in August.”