Mariners Minor League Report: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not

Mar 17, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners infielder

against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Tacoma Rainiers – AAA – 4-10

Hot – 1B Jesus Montero (.352, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 0 SB), CF Franklin Gutierrez (.367, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB), SS Ketel Marte (.298, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 4 SB), 3B Carlos Rivero (.318, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB), LF Patrick Kivlehan (.250, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 2 SB), SP Sam Gaviglio (1-1, 3.60 ERA, 15.0 IP), RP Justin Germano (1-1, 1.42 ERA, 12.2 IP). 

The Pacific Coast League is living up to its reputation as a hitter’s paradise thus far in 2015. The Rainiers are having a hard time winning games, but it not because of a lack of offense. Jesus Montero slimmed down significantly in the offseason, and it has paid off big time over the first 2 weeks of the season. Mariners’ fans know Franklin Gutierrez has enough skill to stick in Seattle, but health problems have plagued the 32-year-old. MLB.com ranks Ketel Marte and Patrick Kivlehan as the Mariners’ 3rd and 4th best prospects. It is nice to see both players off to hot starts in 2015.

Not – SP Roenis Elias (2-0, 8.04 ERA, 15.2 IP), UTIL Shawn O’Malley (.188, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 2 SB), RF Jabari Blash (.188, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1 SB), C John Hicks (.156, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 1 SB), SP Jordan Pries (0-1, 9.20 ERA, 14.2 IP).

The Seattle Mariners have had serious problems with starting pitching thus far in 2015. Roenis Elias started 29 games last season with the M’s, and many fans have been calling for Seattle to promote the talented southpaw. However, his performance in AAA has been awful over his first 3 starts. I still expect to see the Guantanamo native in the Emerald City before long, but his 8.04 ERA against weaker competition is disturbing to say the least.

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