Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik, who oversaw the amateur drafts that helped spark the franchise's recent rise from doormat to contender, was named vice president and general manager of the Seattle Mariners today.

"Today is a very exciting day for the Mariners," Mariners president Chuck Armstrong said in a news release issued by the team. "We have spent the past several months looking at a very complete list of potential candidates to become our new general manager. The individuals we interviewed for the position were excellent. We believe Jack is the best person to provide a new approach and to lead our baseball operations. He has a proven track record of recognizing talent, both on the field and in the front office."

Zduriencik, 57, was hired by then-general manager Dean Taylor in 1999 pent the past nine seasons with the Brewers. He was promoted to vice president -- special assistant to the GM for player personnel on Jan. 15, following a season in which he was the first non-GM to be named Executive of the Year by Baseball America.

"I am very excited by this opportunity," Zduriencik said in a news release. "Seattle is an outstanding organization with great fans, a great ballpark and an ownership group committed to the goal of bringing a World Series to the Northwest. I believe that working together, we can make the Mariners a model franchise. I am looking forward to getting to work immediately, and developing a plan to reach our goal."

Milwaukee's opening day lineup this season had eight starting players that came up through the Brewers minor league system. The Brewers farm system was recognized nationally in 2003 when it was named the Topps' Organization of the Year.