By Doug Petrowski

Aaron Brooks is coming home to Mountlake Terrace after his first season as a professional baseball player with a confident attitude and the title of 2012 Arizona Rookie League saves leader.

As a member of the AZL Mariners, Brooks led the 13-team league with ten saves. The 6-6 right-hander appeared in 16 games and ended the season with 21 strikeouts, walking just three, and a 4.00 ERA.

“I felt great about this season,” Brooks said. “It was one of the greatest seasons of my career; it was a coming out season for me.” He added that he’s hopeful this is the start “for many more great seasons.”

Brooks isn’t taking this year’s performance for granted. “I feel like I still have some things to work on, but this season was a great confidence booster for me,” he said.

So what is next for the 2010 Mountlake Terrace High School graduate? “In this offseason I will be working out at Safeco Field with some of the training staff there,” Brooks said. “I hope this will get me stronger and more prepared for next season to hopefully make it to the Everett Aquasox (in 2013).”

Brooks was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in June and assigned to the organization’s summer rookie squad in Peoria, Ariz. The AZL Mariners finished the 56-game league schedule at 31-25.