SEATTLE — Finally, Tom McNamara has finished his first draft as a major league scouting director.

Since taking the job in the Mariners' new regime under first-time general manager Jack Zduriencik last fall, McNamara has spent eight months watching, checking and cross-checking players from Maine (28th-round pick Regan Flaherty) to Hawaii (10th-round selection Vincent Catricala). He then spent three more days making 52 picks, starting with No. 2 overall choice Dustin Ackley and ending Thursday when 19 of Seattle's final 33 picks were pitchers.

So what is he going to do now?

"Get a haircut," McNamara said.

He better get it buzzed short. It may be a while before he has time for another one.

"It was fun. I feel a sense of pride and accomplishment," McNamara said. "But we've got to get them signed."

Major league teams have until Aug. 17 to get draft choices' names on contracts, or else they go back into the pool for the 2010 draft.

The Mariners' top priority is getting Ackley signed soon, so he can begin a minor-league career that Zduriencik has said may not last long before the slugger arrives in Seattle. But the three-time All-America and career batting leader at the University of North Carolina, taken minutes after Stephen Strasburg went first overall to Washington on Tuesday, is first headed to the College World Series that begins this weekend in Omaha, Neb.

Plus, Ackley's agent is Scott Boras. Not only is Boras a notoriously hard bargainer, he will also be engrossed in getting Strasburg a mammoth signing bonus in excess of $15 million from the Nationals over the coming weeks.

The Mariners cannot negotiate on a deal for Ackley, the two UNC teammates Seattle drafted — second baseman Kyle Seager (third round) or pitcher Brian Moran (seventh round) — and two other college players in the national finals until their seasons are completed. The powerful Tar Heels, who begin play Sunday against Arizona State, could be there through June 24 if they make it to the championship round.

Pitcher Andrew Carraway of Virgina, Seattle's 12th-round pick, and Kyle Witten, another pitcher from Cal State-Fullerton taken in the 41st round, are also playing in the nationally televised College World Series.

Not that McNamara is antsy or anything.

"Hey, this is a big time for these guys," he said, adding he intends to call his draftees at the event to wish them well. "We're going to be watching it with pride."

Among all the pitchers the Mariners took Thursday was Pasco native Jordan Merry from the University of Washington, selected in the 40th round.

Seattle also drafted second baseman Hawkins Gebbers from Brewster, Wash., third baseman Stephen Hagen of Lakebay, Wash., and pitcher David Holman, son of popular former Mariners pitcher Brian Holman.

"Obviously, he's got good genes," McNamara said of Holman, a 19-year-old right-hander taken in the 47th round out of Hutchinson Community College in Kansas.

While Ackley will likely get a signing bonus of many millions, guys taken in the lower rounds, if they sign, would get ... how much, exactly?

"Those guys, basically, you sign for pocket change and a plane ticket," McNamara said.