Mariners Draft: Mariners Take UW’s Braden Bishop at Pick No. 94

After taking two pitchers on Day 1 of the MLB Draft, the Mariners opened up Day 2 by selecting University of Washington outfielder Braden Bishop.

He’s 6’1, 190 lbs.

Bishop was an all-Pac 12 selection this season after leading the Huskies in hits (57), runs (38), stolen bases (15), doubles (14), total bases (85), and walks (23). His stolen base total was tied for seventh in the conference. He finished second on the team in hitting at .295 and helped lead UW to a 29-25 record.

What to Take Away:

1. He can run well. The MLB.com draft profile says that Bishop can really run, as evidenced by his team-leading 15 stolen bases. That is important for the Mariners, who haven’t really had a consistent base stealing threat since Ichiro departed.

2. He can play defense. He was named to the all-Pac 12 Defensive Team in back-to-back years. The Mariners have had strong OF play, especially in CF, when you look at Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Cameron, Ichiro, Franklin Gutierrez, and even now with Austin Jackson. If Bishop plays CF, he fits nicely into that tradition.

The Mariners have had strong OF play, especially in CF, when you look at Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Cameron, Ichiro, Franklin Gutierrez, and even now with Austin Jackson. If Bishop plays CF, he fits nicely into that tradition.

3. His hitting is a question mark. You never really know in the draft who is going to hit and who isn’t. People would have thought that Dustin Ackley would be better than Kyle Seager, and people thought that Jeremy Reed was going to be special back in the day. The Mariners always seem to lack offense, as is being evidenced again this year, so if Bishop struggles at the plate, I’ll call it par for the M’s course.

More from Mariners Draft

• Learning about the Mariners 2022 Day Two MLB Draft selections
• Mariners select SS Cole Young with the 21st pick in the 2022 MLB draft
• Mariners Draft Profile: Tennessee Outfielder Drew Gilbert
• Why the Mariners Can’t Pass on Dylan Lesko if he falls
• Analyzing Prospects Live’s Mock Draft 4.0 for the Mariners

Notable: Bishop is a good kid. Period. Bishop and his brother, Hunter, started “4MOM” to raise awareness for Alzheimers, which his mother suffers from. You can read more about it from ESPN here.

It’s a great story, and a great cause being taken up by someone so young. Frankly, whether Bishop makes it or not, it’s good to have high character guys in the organization.

I’m rooting for him.

More from SoDo Mojo

• 2023 Steamer Projections: Teoscar Hernandez could see a drop in Seattle
• Could the Mariners Acquire AL Batting Champion, Luis Arraez?
• Steamer Projections: Julio Rodriguez to enter rarified air in 2023
• What if the Mariners traded FOR Tyler O’Neill this time?
• Mariners starting pitching is being overlooked by MLB

Next: Mariners