Alex Jackson, D.J. Peterson Named Top Prospects for the Seattle Mariners

facebooktwitterreddit

Baseball America released it’s top prospects today, and the Mariners top-10 list comes with few surprises.

Alex Jackson, the sixth overall pick in the 2014 MLB First Year Players draft who plays in the outfield, is the Mariners’ top prospect.

The Baseball America magazine reads:

"“Jackson has the highest ceiling among high school hitters the Mariners have drafted since they picked Alex Rodriguez No. 1 overall in 1993″"

That is quite the load of praise to heap on the teenage outfielder. It is undeniable that he has serious hitting prowess, but it will take a few years to know if he even has that sort of potential in the Major Leagues. And we can only hope he becomes the good parts of A-Rod, avoiding the less glamorous and desirable characteristics.

More from Mariners News

Number 2 for the Mariners is coveted infielder D.J. Peterson— I say infielder because if he gets called up any time soon, it will not be at third base as the Mariners have made official their 7 year, $100 million signing of Kyle Seager. D.J. Peterson was drafted in the first round by the M’s in 2013, and is a likely candidate for a transition to either first base or a corner outfield spot. With the power in his right-handed bat– already 50+ homers in the minor leagues– he could find himself on the 25-man roster come Opening Day in 2015.

Rounding out the top-5 are infielders Ketel Marte and Patrick Kivlehan, along with outfielder Austin Wilson.

Kivlehan has been hitting like crazy in the minors, and Marte has been so good of late that the Mariners added him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

As for the rest of the top-10 Mariners prospects: RHP Edwin Diaz, outfielder Gabby Guerrero (yes, related to Vladimir Guerrero), LHP Luis Gohara, LHP Ryan Yarbrough and RHP reliever Carson Smith (who saw time in the Major Leagues in 2014).

Familiar names such as Taijuan Walker, James Paxton, and Chris Taylor are no longer on the list as their playing time last season qualifies them as major leaguers. As the list and talent show, the Seattle Mariners have a deep team, and could be competitive for some time if the likes of Alex Jackson, D.J. Peterson and others continue hitting their stride in the minor leagues.