Mariners News: Updating the M’s Prospects in the AFL

Jul 16, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; The Canadian dugout reacts as Canada left fielder Tyler O Neill (13) hits a solo home run in the fifth inning against Puerto Rico during the 2015 Pan Am Games at Ajax Pan Am Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler O’Neill – RF

The Maple Ridge, BC native is off to a solid start this fall with Peoria. Despite being one of the younger players in the league, Tyler O’Neill is hitting .261 with 2 doubles, 2 home runs and 4 RBI through 6 games. O’Neill sports a .292 on base percentage and is slugging a whopping .609 across 23 at bats.

O’Neill broke out in a huge way this year with the Bakersfield Blaze. The 20-year-old hit .260 with 32 home runs and 87 RBI in 106 games. O’Neill’s 32 long balls were the highest tally at any level of the minor leagues in 2015. He could have easily hit 40 had he not missed a couple of weeks competing at the Pan Am Games.

MLB.com lists Tyler O’Neill as the Mariners’ sixth best prospect. This seems a bit low to me, and I expect him to climb those rankings in the coming years. Hopefully, Jerry Dipoto and his staff will take their time developing O’Neill. He has special power, and it will be fun to see what O’Neill can do in 2016.

Next: Ryan Horstman