Mariners Minor-League Roundup: Who’s Hot & Who’s Not

The Mariners have been fun to watch in 2016, but their minor-league affiliates have been equally as impressive this season.

The Seattle Mariners are currently one of the best teams in all of baseball, but their success is not an excuse to ignore the performances by their top prospects in the minor-leagues. It’s been painful in recent years for M’s fans to see many of the club’s youngsters flounder in Seattle, but hopefully some of the names on this list can curb that trend.

Today will turn our attention to the Tacoma Rainiers, Jackson Generals, Bakersfield Blaze and Clinton LumberKings. Remarkably only one of the Mariners’ affiliates (Bakersfield) doesn’t have a winning record in 2016.

The Rainiers are the M’s Class-AAA affiliate and they play in the Northern Division of the Pacific Coast League. Tacoma has a roster full of players with big league experience, and they currently sit in first place with a record of 29-17.

Jackson is the Mariners Class-AA affiliate in the Southern League. The Generals feature a number of the M’s top prospects, and they have posted a 27-18 record and sit in first place in the North Division.

The Bakersfield Blaze are the M’s A+ affiliate in the California League. The Blaze have not been burning hot this season, as they sit in the third place in the Northern Division with a 20-26 record.

The Clinton LumberKings are the Mariners Class-A affiliate in the Western Division of the Midwest League. The LumberKings feature a number of unheralded prospects, but they have surprised many by going 24-21 in 2016.

Next: Tacoma Rainiers