O’Neill Powers Way Up Mariners’ List

BEST PLAYER: Double-A Jackson corner outfielder Tyler O’Neill has been the best player in the organization, and the next best isn’t that close.

The 5-foot-11, 210-pound package of muscle and power, who just turned 21, has been dominant and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Through 73 games, O’Neill hit .310/.371/.532 with 13 home runs, 20 doubles and 59 RBIs. The 2013 third-rounder from high school in British Columbia even had an eight-RBI game.

But more importantly is his willingness to embrace the Mariners’ mantra of controlling the zone, getting deep into counts, finding premium pitches to hit and reaching base.

O’Neill had drawn 28 walks this season after drawing just 29 for the entire 2015 season. At one point he recorded a 28-game on-base streak.

BIGGEST LEAP FORWARD: Jackson lefthander Ryan Yarbrough, a fourth-round pick in 2014 out of Old Dominion, was a senior sign who received a meager $40,000 bonus. He has proven to be more than money-saver in pro ball, however.

Yarbrough embodies the teachings of scouting director Tom McNamara about finding true prospects and future big leaguers in senior signs.

At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Yarbrough has a frame that could add muscle and strength. He has a fastball that sits in the low 90s with legitimate offspeed pitches—a curveball and changeup—with which to attack batters.

Yarbrough has pitched well in his first season at Double-A. Through 14 starts, he went 7-3, 3.24 with 7.3 strikeouts and 2.6 walks per nine innings. The southpaw needs to improve his results versus righthanded batters to avoid a bullpen future.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Right fielder Alex Jackson, the organization’s preseason No. 1 prospect, hit a homer in his first game at low Class A Clinton. But that’s been one of the rare highlights of this season for the No. 6 overall pick of the 2014 draft from San Diego’s Rancho Bernardo High.

Jackson began the season at extended spring training as the Mariners reset his plan, asking for certain criteria to be met before being sent to Clinton on May 19. Jackson hit just .217/.301/.406 through 36 games at Clinton, showing power with 14 extra-base hits but little else.