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Mariners Minor League Report: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not
Mar 12, 2015; Mesa, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners infielder Jesus Montero (63) in the eight inning during a spring training game against the Oakland Athletics at HoHoKam Stadium. The A
It is always a good idea to keep a weather eye the youngsters who could soon call Seattle home. Today, we will take a closer look at how some the Mariners’ prospects have fared over the last couple weeks.
I will break down who is hot and who is not on the M’s AAA affiliate in Tacoma, AA affiliate in Jackson, A+ affiliate in Bakersfield and the A affiliate in Clinton.
The Mariners have been a massive disappointment this season, and currently sit in 4th place in the American League West. Changes are inevitable whenever a team is struggling like the M’s are right now, and we saw Jack Zduriencik make some “interesting” roster moves earlier this week. There are likely more changes coming, and some of the names in this slideshow may be starring in the Emerald City before long.
We will start things off by discussing who is standing out on the Tacoma Rainiers.
Next: Tacoma Rainiers
Feb 26, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners infielder Patrick Kivlehan poses for a portrait during photo day at Peoria Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Tacoma Rainiers: 25-31, 4th in PCL Northern Division
Hot – Jesus Montero – 1B/DH
The 25-year-old Venezuelan product is mashing this season in Tacoma. Montero may not be fondly remembered by most M’s fans, but he is more than deserving of a promotion. Jesus is hitting .310 with 3 home runs and 18 RBI’s since May 21st. He has posted a .391 on base percentage and slugged .500 over his last 16 ballgames. He is typically very impatient at the plate, but he has nursed 9 free passes and struck out just 11 times in his last 69 plate appearances. I would have preferred to see him get a chance in Seattle rather than trading away key prospects for a very similar player in Mark Trumbo.
Not – Justin Germano – RHP
Justin Germano started the season red hot, but has since cooled significantly. Over his last 3 outings, Germano is 1-1 with a 5.21 ERA. Those numbers leave plenty to be desired, but he has still registered an impressive 16:3 strikeout to walk ratio over his last 19.0 innings pitched. The 32-year-old right-hander also pitched 5.1 shutout innings his last time out against the New Orleans Zephyrs on June 2nd. Hopefully, he can keep it going and earn a promotion at some point.
Hot – Patrick Kivlehan – OF
After a slow start to the season, the Mariners’ number 4 prospect has really opened some eyes recently with the Rainiers. Kivlehan is hitting .311 with 4 home runs and 12 RBI’s since May 21st. He has also posted a .338 on base percentage and slugged .623 over his last 61 at bats. The Rutgers alum has worked hard to transition from third base to the outfield this season, and he should find a spot in Seattle before long. He currently leads Tacoma with 10 home runs this season.
Not – Stephen Landazuri – RHP
The 23-year-old tore up AA with the Jackson Generals before earning the promotion to Tacoma in May. Things have not gone so smoothly for Landazuri with the Rainiers, going 0-2 with a 10.34 ERA across his first 4 outings. He has struck out just 4 hitters and walked 6 during his 15.2 innings pitched. I think the Mariners’ number 19 prospect will turn things around shortly. He is a very talented young pitcher, and he could make an impact in Seattle soon.
Hot – Leon Landry – CF
Leon Landry has come out of nowhere to make a name for himself. The 25-year-old is tearing up the PCL as of late, hitting .342 with 4 home runs, 8 RBI’s and 1 stolen base over his last 13 games. Landry has posted a .442 on base percentage and slugged .658 over that stretch. He appears to be playing over his head right now, but if he can sustain it, he will be in the running for a September call-up.
Next: Jackson Generals
Jun 18, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; California League right fielder Jabari Blash (6) during the home run derby of the California League vs Carolina League All Star Game at San Jose Municipal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jackson Generals: 22-31, 5th place in Southern League North Division
Hot – Jabari Blash – RF
After being demoted from Tacoma in early May, Jabari Blash is killing AA pitching this season. He is a powerful young man, and Blash is hitting .291 with 5 home runs and 9 RBI’s over his last 15 games. The 25-year-old Virgin Islands product has registered a .394 on base percentage and .582 slugging percentage since May 20th. Despite only playing 28 games with the Generals, Blash leads the club with 9 long balls.
Feb 26, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners infielder D.J. Peterson poses for a portrait during photo day at Peoria Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Not – D.J. Peterson – 3B
A year removed from being named the co-minor league player of the year in the M’s organization, Peterson has been a colossal disappointment in 2015. The Mariners’ number 2 ranked prospect is hitting just .200 with 1 home run and 8 RBI’s since May 21st. Generally considered one of the bright young power hitting prospects in baseball, the 23-year-old has slugged a measly .345 over the past 15 games. However, Peterson has posted an impressive .343 on base percentage over his last 67 plate appearances.
Hot – Dario Pizzano – LF
The 24-year-old outfielder has strung together a very impressive season with the Generals in 2015. Pizzano is hitting .326 with 3 home runs and a team leading 27 runs batted in this season. The Columbia alum is hitting .240 with 1 home run and 11 RBI’s since May 22nd. Those numbers are not overly impressive, but he has registered a .345 on base percentage and slugged .400 over his last 13 games. Pizzano is well on his way to earning a promotion to Tacoma within the next month.
Not – Edwin Diaz – RHP
Much like Landazuri, Edwin Diaz has struggled to adjust to the higher level of competition. Diaz starred with the Bakersfield Blaze, but has gone 0-3 with a 8.44 ERA over his first 17.2 innings pitched in AA. He has tallied 16 punch outs, but has walked 7 hitters. I still have high hopes for the M’s number 6 prospect, but look for him to remain in Jackson for the rest of the season.
Next: Bakersfield Blaze
Bakersfield Blaze: 20-34, 5th place in California League North Division
Not – Tyler O’Neill – LF
The 19-year-old Maple Ridge, BC product has had a fine season for Bakersfield, but has struggled at the plate recently. O’Neill is hitting .185 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI’s since May 20th. He has posted a measly .224 on base percentage and slugged just .315. However, the Mariners’ 10th best prospect leads the Blaze with 11 dingers and 28 runs batted in this season.
Not – Ryan Yarbrough – LHP
Yarbs has been a regular on this list, but this is the first time he is in the “not” category. The 23-year-old Old Dominion alum has gone 0-2 with a 8.10 ERA over his last 3 starts. However, Yarbrough has an impressive 17:5 strikeout to walk ratio over his last 16.2 innings pitched. He is currently ranked as the M’s 9th best prospect, and I fully expect him to get back on track soon. Every young player hits a rough patch every once in a while, but Yarbs is far too talented to stay in the dumps for long.
Jun 18, 2013; Dayton, OH, USA; West pitcher Tyler Pike throws during the Midwest League-All Star Game at Fifth Third Field. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Hot – Tyler Pike – LHP
Tyler Pike is a former top prospect for the Mariners who has struggled to produce over the past 2 seasons. He began the 2015 season with Jackson, but after looking overmatched, he was demoted to Bakersfield in May. He has gone 0-1 with a 4.20 ERA across his last 15 innings pitched. The 21-year-old has struck out 11 and walked 7 during his last 4 outings. While it is hard to justify categorizing him as “hot” right now, Pike has shown glimpses in Bakersfield of what made him such an exciting prospect.
Not – Austin Wilson – RF
The Mariners’ 2nd round selection in 2013 has not played well in 2015 for the Bakersfield Blaze. He is hitting just .194 on the season, and things have gone from bad to worse over the past coupe weeks. Wilson is hitting .163 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI’s since May 23rd. The Stanford alum has posted a .250 on base percentage and slugged .349 over his last 48 plate appearances. These numbers are simply not going to cut it for a 23-year-old in high A. If he does not turn things around, this may be his last season in the Mariners’ organization.
Next: Clinton LumberKings
Clinton LumberKings: 23-32, 7th in Midwest League Eastern Division
Hot – Lukas Schiraldi – RHP
Lukas Schiraldi is not a household name yet in Seattle, but he is garnering plenty of attention this season with the LumberKings. The 21-year-old is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA over his last 3 outings. Those numbers are skewed a bit, as Schiraldi has allowed 1 run or fewer and pitched at least 6 innings in 4 of his last 7 starts. The former 15th round selection out of the University of Texas was just recently named a Midwest League All Star.
Not – Gianfranco Wawoe – SS
Wawoe is another player who has had a great season in Clinton, but he has really fallen apart lately for the LumberKings. The 20-year-old Curacao product is hitting a meager .184 with 1 home run and 2 RBI’s since May 20th. He has posted a .262 on base percentage and slugged just .316 over his last 44 plate appearances.
Hot – Kristian Brito – 1B
The 20-year-old Puerto Rico native is hitting .259 with 2 home runs and 11 RBI’s since May 22nd. Brito has posted a .268 on base percentage and slugged .463. He will have to improve his plate discipline, as he has walked just once and struck out 16 times in his last 13 games. He has a long way to go, but Brito is providing some decent pop to the LumberKings in 2015.
Not – Joe DeCarlo – 3B
The former 2012 2nd round pick has had a rough season for Clinton. DeCarlo is hitting just .135 with 0 home runs and 2 RBI’s since May 19th. He has registered a .200 on base percentage and slugged a measly .135 over his last 40 plate appearances. DeCarlo’s chances are running out with Seattle, and this could be his last season in the Mariners’ organization.
Next: Notable Promotions
Feb 26, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Tyler Marlette poses for a portrait during photo day at Peoria Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Notable Promotions
Tyler Marlette – C – Bakersfield to Jackson
Following the Mariners’ big trade with Arizona earlier in the week, they promoted Tyler Marlette from high A Bakersfield to AA Jackson. Marlette is the 8th ranked prospect overall in the M’s system, and top catching prospect. He was hitting .216 with 5 home runs and 20 RBI’s for the Blaze this season. He has yet to tally a hit through 6 plate appearances in Jackson. Marlette is having a nice year behind the plate, registering a .986 fielding percentage and throwing out 37% of potential base stealers.
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Nelson Ward – SS – Clinton to Bakersfield
The Mariners promoted Nelson Ward from A Clinton to high A Bakersfield this week. The 22-year-old University of Georgia alum was hitting .270 with 2 home runs, 16 RBI’s and 3 stolen bases this season for the LumberKings prior to his call-up. Ward is hitting .364 with 1 home run and 3 RBI’s through his first 3 games with the Blaze. Being a college man, last year’s 12th round pick has the potential to ascend quickly through the M’s minor league system.
Next: The Difference Between the Mariners and the Seahawks
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