With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Mariners¡¯ Top 30 prospects are projected to start:
1. Cole Young (MLB No. 36), SS -- Arkansas (Double-A)
2. Harry Ford (MLB No. 37), C -- Arkansas (Double-A)
3. Colt Emerson (MLB No. 83), SS -- Modesto (Single-A)
4. Lazaro Montes, OF -- Modesto (Single-A)
5. Felnin Celesten, SS -- Extended spring training
6. Jonny Farmelo, OF -- Modesto (Single-A)
7. Tai Peete, SS -- Modesto (Single-A)
8. Tyler Locklear, 1B -- Arkansas (Double-A)
9. Michael Arroyo, SS -- Modesto (Single-A)
10. Jonatan Clase, OF -- Tacoma (Triple-A)
11. Emerson Hancock, RHP -- Seattle (MLB)
12. Ryan Bliss, 2B -- Tacoma (Triple-A)
13. Michael Morales, RHP -- Everett (High-A)
14. Aidan Smith, OF -- Modesto (Single-A)
15. Teddy McGraw, RHP -- Dominican Republic complex
16. Ben Williamson, 3B -- Everett (High-A)
17. Dawel Joseph, SS -- Dominican Republic complex
18. Jeter Martinez, RHP -- Extended spring training
19. Cole Phillips, RHP -- Injured list (Tommy John surgery)
20. Logan Evans, RHP -- Arkansas (Double-A)
21. Taylor Dollard, RHP -- Tacoma (Triple-A) -- injured list (torn labrum)
22. Ty Adcock, RHP -- Tacoma (Triple-A)
23. Jimmy Joyce, RHP -- Arkansas (Double-A) -- injured list (elbow)
24. Alberto Rodriguez, OF -- Arkansas (Double-A)
25. Blake Hunt, C -- Tacoma (Triple-A)
26. Brody Hopkins, RHP -- Modesto (Single-A)
27. Walter Ford, RHP -- Extended spring training
28. Marcelo Perez, RHP -- Everett (High-A)
29. Troy Taylor, RHP -- Everett (High-A)
30. Luis Suisbel, 1B -- Modesto (Single-A)
Team to watch
Modesto might have the most representatives on the Top 30 with eight, but Arkansas is where it¡¯s at, right? The top two prospects in the organization, Young and Ford -- the 2022 and 2021 first-round picks -- will be in the heart of that lineup, as will Locklear, the 2022 second-rounder who had a .971 OPS in 2023, but missed a good chunk of the season. That¡¯s three top 10 hitters in the Travelers¡¯ lineup daily and right-hander Logan Evans gives you an arm that many feel in the organization is primed for a breakout.
Players we could see in 2024
Most of the elite-level talent is a step or two away from Seattle, but that doesn¡¯t mean there aren¡¯t players in Tacoma who can¡¯t help out a team expected to compete in the AL West. Who doesn¡¯t want to see how Clase¡¯s speed plays in the Seattle? Both he and Bliss have an intriguing speed-power combination that could be impactful.
New faces
Emerson was the club¡¯s first-round pick in 2023, and he looks poised to follow in the footsteps of prep hitters who stand out, Ford and Young. He¡¯s one of eight members of the Mariners¡¯ Draft crop on the list (in order of Draft slot: Farmelo, Peete, Williamson, McGraw, Smith, Hopkins, Evans). Joseph was the Mariners¡¯ big international acquisition at the start of this year¡¯s signing period, getting $3 million to join the organization. He¡¯ll begin the year in the Dominican Summer League.
On the shelf
Phillips has yet to throw a professional pitch since being drafted by the Braves in 2022 and he won¡¯t until 2025 after needing his second Tommy John surgery prior to Spring Training this year. A torn labrum that eventually required surgery last June has kept Dollard out of action and still has him on the injured list.