Mid-Season Top Prospects List: Part 1

The all star break always provides a great time to slow down to evaluate an organization. Since an organization is only as good as its farm system, it makes sense to take a look at the top prospects in the organization.

This list of the top fifteen prospects and some other notables in the Mariner organization will not include players who have made their major league debuts such as Zunino, Maurer, and Franklin. It will, however, include new players from the June draft and international signings from the past few weeks.

Today’s article will provide the honorable mentions and the 11-15 players on the list, and tomorrow’s article will complete the final 10.

Honorable Mentions:

Edwin Diaz

Age: 19   Position: RHP     Height: 6’2”   Weight: 165

This teenager can touch 97 on the gun and has answered questions about command by posting a 1.67 BB/9 and 6.40 BB/K. If this performance is sustainable, Diaz could be a true gem, or if nothing else, a great reliever.

Timmy Lopes

Age: 19   Position: 2B/SS     Height: 5’11”   Weight: 180

Lopes has potential to have a good hit tool and can play solid defensive up the middle.

Jack Marder

Age: 23   Position: C/OF/2B   Height: 5’11”   Weight: 185

Utility man who can hit for average.

Tyler O’Neill

Age: 18   Position: OF/C   Height: 5’11”   Weight: 205

O’Neill has very impressive power potential, a great build, and good overall athleticism.

Guillermo Pimentel

Age: 20   Position: OF     Height: 6’1”   Weight: 205

Once a big time prospect, Pimentel is now more of an afterthought, but he still has some raw power and his plate discipline is improving.

15.       Greifer Andrade

Age: 16   Position: OF/SS/3B   Height: 6’1”   Weight: 185

Andrade was Seattle’s biggest signee from the 2013 international market. His position is a question mark, because he was scouted as an outfielder but is expected to be used as an infielder by the Mariners initially. The bat seems to be there in the long run, but his power is disputed by scouts. Some think he will remain a gap-to-gap guy like he is now, while others think it will develop more. Between questions with his power and position, Andrade’s prospect status is certainly unclear. Considering that the Mariners dished out seven digits to sign him, it seems reasonable to say that Seattle like his chances in the future

14.       Leon Landry

Age: 23   Position: OF   Height: 5’11   Weight: 185

They say, “speed kills,” and Landry can certainly run. However, that speed doesn’t have much use if you struggle to get on base like Landry does. Landry’s speed won’t go away any time soon, so if he can improve his plate discipline and hit tool, he could fit into a leadoff centerfielder role at the big league level.

13.       Jordan Shippers

Age: 22   Position: LHP   Height: 5’10”   Weight: 168

Shippers’ 2013 campaign has not been ideal thus far between a difficult stint in a hitter friendly park and multiple injuries. There is nothing astounding about Shippers, but he combines average control with an average fastball and two average off-speed pitches. I would say that much less impressive pitchers have made it to the big leagues. (insert Hector Noesi joke here). I could see a move to the bullpen which would allow his natural arm strength to play more to his advantage.

12.       Joseph DeCarlo

Age: 19   Position: 3B   Height: 5’10”   Weight: 205

DeCarlo went higher than expected when Seattle took him in the second round of the 2012 draft, but his raw power is a reason to be excited. DeCarlo’s glove will stay at the hot corner down the road, and his power profiles well there as long as he makes enough contact to tap into it. His 37.6 K% in rookie ball thus far is a major red flag, but he has also drawn a lot of walks. DeCarlo’s success will be contingent upon his hit tool. If it supports his power, he will be a keeper. My gut tells me that the bat won’t do enough, but he has time.

11.       Luiz Gohara

Age: 16   Position: LHP   Height: 6’3”   Weight: 210

At just sixteen years of age, Gohara has a lot of minor league baseball ahead of him, but he may blossom into a good southpaw. He has dominated rookie ball in this, his first pro season, by striking out 12.64 batters per nine innings and posting a 1.35 FIP. With decent control and a promising fastball, changeup, slider combo, Gohara is a name to watch for the next few years.