Midseason Prospect Update: Mariners
The Midseason Top 10 Prospect lists are compiled from conversations with front office officials and scouts from all 30 teams. Players who have exhausted prospect eligibility or were in the Major Leagues as of June 22 are not eligible. Draftees from the 2016 draft and July 2, 2016 signees are also not eligible.
SEE ALSO: Midseason Top 100
Jerry Dipoto took over as the Mariners general manager last September and immediately began making moves, orchestrating 12 trades in his first offseason and bringing Scott Servais—who he worked with in Anaheim—to manage the club, even though he had no previous managerial experience at any level. Dipoto also reorganized the front office, putting former pro scouting director Tom Allison in charge of both pro and amateur scouting and hiring Andy McKay away from the Rockies to replace Chris Gwynn as farm director.
| 2019 PROJECTED LINEUP |
| C Mike Zunino |
| 1B D.J. Peterson |
| 2B Robinson Cano |
| SS Ketel Marte |
| 3B Kyle Seager |
| LF Drew Jackson |
| CF Leonys Martin |
| RF Tyler O’Neill |
| DH Nelson Cruz |
| No. 1 Starter Felix Hernandez |
| No. 2 Starter Taijuan Walker |
| No. 3 Starter James Paxton |
| No. 4 Starter Nate Karns |
| No. 5 Starter Andrew Moore |
| Closer Edwin Diaz |
The early returns on the Dipoto era have been positive, with the Mariners on pace for just their second winning season in seven years and in the hunt for a wild-card berth in the American League. That’s despite an absence from ace Felix Hernandez, who has been on the disabled list since early June with a calf strain.
Dipoto’s signing of South Korean slugger Dae Ho Lee has been one of the offseason’s best moves, while offseason acquisitions Nate Karns, Steve Cishek and Nick Vincent have shored up the pitching staff. Perennially touted righthander Taijuan Walker continues to develop into a frontline starting pitcher, while Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager and Nelson Cruz have formed one American League’s of the most fearsome middle-of-the-order trios.
The farm system also has moved forward in Dipoto’s first year, with outfielders Tyler O’Neill and Braden Bishop, pitchers Nick Neidert, Luiz Gohara and Andrew Moore, and first baseman D.J. Peterson all showing improvement in 2016 and brightening the franchise’s future. An organization-wide emphasis on tamping down strikeouts has created a more disciplined atmosphere and allowed many of their power hitters to flourish as their pitch selection improves dramatically.
The Mariners have a half-dozen other teams to contend with for the final wild card spot in the AL, but the fact they are even in the conversation at this point represents progress over previous years. Even if they fall short this year, the steps forward taken by many of their top prospects have improved their outlook for coming years as well.
MIDSEASON TOP 10
1. Tyler O’Neill, of
The muscular Canadian has long had power but strikeouts were a concern, as evidenced by his 32 home runs and 30.5 percent strikeout rate last year in high Class A. O’Neill improved his plate discipline and has cut his strikeout rate down nearly seven percentage points with Double-A Jackson, and is now seeing increases across the board because of better pitch selection. O’Neill is on pace for career highs in batting average, on-base percentage, doubles, runs and RBIs, all while maintaining his lightning-quick bat speed and 70-grade power against tougher and older competition in the pitcher-friendly Southern League.
2. Nick Neidert, rhp
The Mariners’ top draft pick in 2015 began the year in extended spring training but has flashed dominance since moving up to low Class A Clinton in May, mixing his 92-94 mph fastball, deceptive changeup and developing slider with exceptional command. His makeup, maturity, and competitiveness earn raves as well.
3. Drew Jackson, ss
Jackson jumped from short-season ball to high Class A Bakersfield, where he has been an effective leadoff hitter with controlled at-bats and a knack for getting on base. His stolen bases are down with opponents paying close attention to him on the basepaths, but his speed and arm at short earn consistent 65-70 grades.
4. Luiz Gohara, lhp
The 19-year-old Brazilian dropped almost 30 pounds from last year to shake off conditioning questions and improve his athleticism. Refined command amid a more athletic delivery led to a 21-3 strikeout-to walk ratio at short-season Everett and a promotion to low Class A Clinton, where he continues flash a fastball into the upper 90s.
5. Andrew Moore, rhp
The cerebral righthander overmatched opponents in the Cal League to earn quick a promotion to Double-A Jackson in May, where he has kept up his elite command with only seven walks in his first 47 innings. He keeps opponents off balance using a well-rounded four-pitch mix.
6. Alex Jackson, of
Strikeouts continue to plague the 2014 No. 6 overall pick, who began the year in extended spring training and now is striking out in 26 percent of his plate appearances at Clinton. His exceptional raw power remains, as his eight homers led the LumberKings, and there is hope a correction to his bat path is beginning to bear fruit.
7. D.J. Peterson, 1b
Peterson put a rough 2015 behind him with an .805 OPS at Double-A Jackson before earning a promotion to Triple-A Tacoma, and visibly appears more confident at the plate. He has moved off third base and plays first exclusively now, taking away some of his positional value.
8. Braden Bishop, of
Bishop continued to demonstrate contact and on-base ability in his second pro season with .290 batting average and .345 on-base percentage at Clinton before being promoted to high Class A Bakersfield. Power has yet to develop, but his speed and athleticism combine with his contact skills to make him an intriguing long-term center field possibility.
9. Luis Liberato, of
The talented-but-raw outfielder has improved both his power and patience, recording a career high in doubles and walks already for low class A Clinton. The 20-year old Dominican also increased his versatility, spending time at all three outfield positions this season.
10. Ryan Yarbrough, lhp
The 2014 fourth-rounder has successfully made the jump to Double-A, where he is 7-3, 3.15 with a 1.23 WHIP for Jackson. His low-90s fastball has natural sink has helped him keep balls largely on the ground, with only four home runs allowed in 91 1/3 innings helping keep any damage to a minimum.
RISING
Outfielder Brayan Hernandez is shaking off a disappointing debut last year after signing for $1.85 million as a 17-year old. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Venezuelan hit five doubles and five homers in his first 25 games with the Mariners’ Dominican Summer League team, with nine stolen bases in 10 chances to boot . . . Righthander Dan Altavilla moved from the rotation to the bullpen and became an all-star closer at Double-A Jackson . . . Righthander Art Warren is back after missing most of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery and flashed a mid-90s fastball and power overhand curve at low Class A Clinton before being promoted to high Class A Bakersfield . . . Brazilian righthander Thyago Vieira is throwing 100 mph out of the bullpen for Bakersfield and hasn’t allowed an earned run in a month and a half.
FALLING
Outfielder Boog Powell was suspended in late May for 80 games after testing positive for the anabolic steroid dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, a drug popularized by East German athletes in the 1960s and’ 70s used to increase speed and strength. It is his second suspension after previously serving a 50-game ban in 2014 after testing positive for amphetamines as a member of the Rays organization . . . Righthander Kyle Wilcox got off to a rough start as a starter and hasn’t straightened things out much in a shift to the Clinton bullpen, as he had more walks (50) than strikeouts (48).
HURTING
Lefthander Nick Wells has been out the last month with an oblique strain but is expected to return for low class A Clinton by the end of the month. Righthander Mayckol Guaipe went on the disabled list in early June with a right forearm strain and does not have a timetable to return. He is not expected to need surgery but is being brought along slowly in his rehab.
GRADUATING
The Mariners called up electric righthander Edwin Diaz and put him in the bullpen, where he had a 2.55 ERA and 34 strikeouts in his first 17 2/3 innings. Righthander Tony Zych has been on the Mariners roster since Opening Day and posted a 3.00 ERA in 10 relief appearances before going on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis.
COMING ABOARD (Check Draft Database for all picks)
The Mariners’ first five picks of the 2016 draft: (s-supplemental round)
1. Kyle Lewis, of, Mercer. The Mariners were overjoyed when BA’s College Player of the Year surprisingly fell to them at No. 11, with his plus power, arm strength and athleticism all giving him a chance to be a dynamic outfielder for a long time.
2. Joe Rizzo, 3b, Oakton HS, Vienna, Va. A stocky 5-foot-11, 215-pounder, Rizzo possesses an excellent feel for hitting from the left side. His long-term position is in question, but the Mariners will start him playing third.
3. Bryson Brigman, ss, San Diego. A versatile defender expected to end up at second base thanks to arm strength concerns, Brigman nonetheless brings speed and a contact-oriented approach that make him an intriguing potential second baseman.
4. Thomas Burrows, lhp, Alabama. The Crimson Tide’s all-time saves leader pairs a 94 mph fastball with a hard slider and could rise quickly to the Mariners bullpen.
5. Donnie Walton, ss, Oklahoma State. A switch-hitter whose father Rob is an associate head coach at OSU, Walton doesn’t have a carrying tool but is solid across the board, with his contact ability and defensive versatility his best assets.
Comments are closed.