Seattle Mariners 2024 MLB Draft Review

Draft Theme: Old College Performers

Seattle grabbed two pitchers with first-round talent with their first two picks in RHPs Jurrangelo Cijntje (No. 24) and Ryan Sloan (No. 26), and it sounds like Sloan is going to be a costly sign as a second rounder. In order to create savings for that pick, the Mariners began targeting college seniors before most other teams, something they did a year ago, as well, with Ben Williamson in the second round. This year, the team selected six college seniors in the first 10 rounds of the draft, though many are priority senior types with real tools, stuff or upside. RHP Hunter Cranton has a fastball that gets to 100 mph, while TWP Grant Knipp also has a big fastball and raw power at the plate. RHP Brock Moore is a reliever with a fastball up to 101 and RHP Charlie Beilenson has a four-pitch mix and dominated this spring with Duke. 

Most Interesting Day 2 Pick: C/RHP Grant Knipp, 6th round

Knipp was a notable pop-up name in the 2024 draft class thanks to his excellent offensive performance and huge arm strength. A catcher and righthander with a 6-foot-2, 230-pound frame, Knipp slashed .446/.583/.1.133 with 16 home runs through his first 24 games with Campbell after two fairly pedestrian efforts in 2022 and 2023. Scouts are skeptical about the true hitting ability that Knipp offers considering his lack of track record outside of this spring, but analytically inclined teams will be excited about his performance as a junior as well as his loud batted ball data. If he is a hitter he might have to move to first base. Many scouts prefer Knipp as a pitcher. He hasn’t thrown much but he has a mid-90s fastball that gets up to 97-98 and throws a slurvy breaking ball in the low 80s.

Most Interesting Day 3 Pick: RHP Christian Little, 11th round

Little has been a well-known pitching prospect since he established himself as one of the most talented arms in the 2021 high school class. Before that draft he enrolled early at Vanderbilt where he pitched for two seasons before transferring to LSU in 2023. Little has flashed impressive pure arm talent at times throughout his four-year college career but never quite put things together as expected. The Mets drafted him in the 19th round in 2023 but he didn’t sign and instead went back to LSU where he pitched exclusively out of the bullpen for the first time in his career. Little has a five-pitch mix of quality offerings starting with a riding fastball that averaged 94-95 mph and has been up to 99. He developed an upper-80s cutter in college that has become a large part of his arsenal and accounted for nearly a third of his pitch usage in 2024. Little also throws an upper 70s curveball, mid-80s slider and mid-80s changeup. He’s consistently been a below-average strike thrower so he most likely fits as a reliever, though given the depth of his pitch mix some clubs might give him a chance to start in pro ball. Little has an unusual profile given his quality stuff and age for a senior—he turns 21 just before the draft—but there’s exciting upside potential still for a team who can help him gain more consistency.