Sodo Mojo’s Top 10 Mariners Prospects: #6 Nick Neidert

SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 11: Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto watches batting practice before a game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 11, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. The Rangers won the game 2-1 in eleven innings. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 11: Seattle Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto watches batting practice before a game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 11, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. The Rangers won the game 2-1 in eleven innings. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

Nick Neidert has been rocketing up the prospect boards of late. Baseball America recently ranked Neidert as the Mariners #2 prospect, and the 88th best prospect in all of baseball.

The Mariners 2015 second round pick, Neidert has done nothing but impress 2 front office regimes. With a fastball that sits in the low 90’s with good arm side run, Neidert shows advanced command for his age. It is his best pitch, and can hit 94-95 mph at times.

But Neidert is more than a 1 trick pony. His best secondary pitch is his change up. He throws it with great arm speed and the pitch gets good fade and sink. The change up is Neidert’s true “out pitch”, and he can throw it for strikes in any count.

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The breaking pitches lag behind the change up. The curveball is ahead of the slider, and has flashed above average at times. However; the slider might become his third pitch, as he showed an accelerated feel for the pitch late last season and into 2017.

Neidert throws all of these pitches for strikes, and his high 3/4 arm slot creates downhill plane, allowing his stuff to play up. He is athletic and able to repeat his delivery with ease, which should help keep his arm healthy.

Next: Sodo Mojo's Top 10 Mariners Prospects: #7 Andrew Moore

Neidert is dominating in Advanced A Modesto, and a trip to AA Arkansas could be in his future. The Mariners could keep him down in an effort to manage his work load. Neidert’s ability to throw strikes and miss bats is exactly what GM Jerry Dipoto looks for in his arms. In 94 innings, Neidert has struck out 98 while walking just 14 hitter.

With the upside of a solid #3 starter, Neidert should make his MLB debut in the 2019 season, but could accelerate his time table should he continue to dominate in the minors.

Grades(20-80)- Fastball: 60 Curveball: 50 Slider: 50 Change up: 60 Command: 60 Overall: 55