Pirkl, The Times’ Player of the Year From Los Alamitos, Signs With Seattle

Greg Pirkl, a senior at Los Alamitos High School, signed a contract with the Seattle Mariners Monday and will report Sunday to the Mariners’ Rookie League team in Billingham, Wash.

Pirkl, a catcher who was The Times’ Orange County player of the year, was selected in the second round of baseball’s amateur draft. He was the 40th player selected overall.

Pirkl signed after he met twice with Mariner officials. He declined to reveal the terms of the contract, but he did say it provided for college tuition.

“They (the Mariners) came down once and we couldn’t reach an agreement,” Pirkl said. “They came down a second time and it was perfect.”

After Billingham’s season is over, Pirkl plans to play in the Instructional League, which starts in September.

Pirkl, who took up catching last summer after playing first and third base, hit .540 with 10 home runs, 13 doubles and 40 RBIs during the 1988 season.