Here's where the Mariners' Top 30 prospects are starting the season
Jonathan Mayo
@JonathanMayoWith 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.