Tucson, AZ – Former Tucson Toros Righthanded Pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen has been signed by the Seattle Mariners.  The hard throwing Tucson native struck out an impressive 13 batters over 11 2/3 innings for the Toros last season and notched two saves, including the franchise’s first ever save on Opening Night.  Tom was previously signed last August by the Milwaukee Brewers, the organization that originally drafted him in the 7th round of the 2002 MLB Amateur Draft out of Tucson High School, but became a free agent once again after being shut down with a pinched nerve in his shoulder.  Fully healthy now, he is expected to report to the Mariners minor league spring training complex in Peoria, AZ.

Wilhelmsen is one of four Tucson Toros to be picked up by a Major League organization, joining fellow Righthanded Pitchers Andrew Romo who signed with the San Francisco Giants organization, Rene Garcia who is now in the Chicago White Sox farm system and First Baseman Dustin Yount who was picked up by the Los Angeles Dodgers in February and invited to minor league Spring Training.

The Toros will kickoff the 2010 season in defense of their South Division title on Wednesday, May 19^th when they take on the Edmonton Capitals at Hi Corbett Field at 7:00 p.m.