M's Top 30 led by Lewis, features 20 new names

February 23rd, 2018
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      At this time last year, Jerry Dipoto had already executed 36 trades since taking over as the Seattle Mariners' general manager in September 2015.
      M's Top 30 Prospects list
      That number is now up to 62, after a season in which Dipoto continued his trend of trading prospects either for impact big leaguers or 40-man roster depth. As a result of such deals, the Mariners parted ways with nine players from their 2017 preseason Top 30 list -- a group that includes , their No. 2 prospect last year, (No. 3), Brayan Hernandez (No. 7), Drew Jackson (No. 12) and (No. 13).
      :: Team Top 30 Prospects lists ::
      Needless to say, the Mariners' Top 30 prospects list has a much different look ahead of the 2018 season.
      Though headlined by 2016 first-rounder and No. 70 overall prospect Kyle Lewis for a second straight year, the latest Mariners Top 30 list otherwise features 20 new names. Many of those players stand to contribute in the Major Leagues relatively soon, too, as exactly half of the club's Top 30 prospects have a 2018 estimated time of arrival.
      But even with Trader Jerry's penchant for dealing young talent, Seattle's farm system remains largely homegrown, with 21 players who entered the system either via the Draft or as an international signee. More specifically, the club's top six prospects are all homegrown, as are eight in their top 10, seven of whom are products of the Draft.
      Biggest jump/fall
      Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2017 preseason list to the 2018 preseason list.
      Jump: , RHP (2017: NR | 2018: 8)
      Fall: Bryson Brigman, 2B/SS (2017: 16 | 2018: 29)
      Best tools
      Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
      Hit: 55 - Eric Filia (Evan White, , Joseph Rosa)
      Power: 60 - Kyle Lewis
      Run: 70 -
      Arm: 70 - Ronald Rosario
      Defense: 70 - Evan White
      Fastball: 70 - Art Warren
      Curveball: 55 -
      Slider: 60 - Wyatt Mills
      Changeup: 60 - Sam Carlson
      Control: 55 - Sam Carlson

      How they were built
      Draft: 15
      International: 6
      Trade: 7
      Free agent: 0
      Rule 5: 2
      Breakdown by ETA
      2018: 15
      2019: 5
      2020: 7
      2021: 1
      2022: 2
      Breakdown by position
      C: 0
      1B: 3
      2B: 2
      3B: 1
      SS: 2
      OF: 9
      RHP: 10
      LHP: 3

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      Mike Rosenbaum is a reporter for MLB Pipeline. Follow him on Twitter at @GoldenSombrero.