Sodo Mojo’s Top 20 Seattle Mariners Prospects 20-11

Prospect 20-16

The first 5 prospects on this list are more or less interchangeable. At the beginning of my process, I had 45 prospects that I was considering. Picking the last 5 was the hardest part of this list. Many intriguing and interesting prospects just missed the cut, and could easily slide into these spots if I wrote the list in 2 weeks. But here is where we landed for now.

20. Michael Plassmeyer, LHP Everett Aqua Sox

Plassmeyer was the 4th round pick of the Mariners in the 2018 MLB draft. He had a sensational year for Missouri, posting a 3.05 ERA in 91 innings, striking out 103 batters on the season while issuing just 17 walks.

Tools wise, Plassmeyer has relatively average stuff. The fastball sits at 90 MPH but has one of the highest spin rates in the 2018 class, making it difficult to square up. The changeup and slider are average. The slider has the potential to be a good pitch.

Plassmeyer uses his above-average command along with average stuff and pitchability to get batters out. It isn’t the type of profile that will excite most, but his high-floor of a back-end rotation piece is worth watching. He is off to a great start in Everett, where the Mariners are managing his innings for the remainder of the season.

Scouting Grades (20-80)- Fastball: 55 Slider:50 Changeup: 50 Control: 55 Overall: 50 ETA:2021 Comp: Jarrod Washburn

19. Keegan McGovern, OF Clinton LumberKings

Sometimes, you just like a guy more than most people. Keegan McGovern might be that guy for me. The ninth round pick of the Mariners in the 2018 draft, McGovern is a guy who has always been good at 1 thing: getting on base.

In his 4 seasons at Georgia against SEC competition, McGovern posted a career .407 OBP. It wasn’t until this year that he grew into some of his natural power. In 216 AB’s for the Bulldogs, McGovern hit 18 home runs and 14 doubles, slugging .644 without sacrificing his patience at the plate.

McGovern will have to hit to make it to the show, as he posses below average speed and is only okay defensively in LF. But with his blend of approach and power, he very well may get there.

McGovern briefly appeared in low A Everett before being promoted to Clinton. He is off to a decent start there, slashing .259/.333/.469 in 22 games.

Scouting Grades- Hit:50 Power:50 Speed:45 Arm:45 Field:45 Overall:45 ETA: 2021

18. Daniel Vogelbach, 1B/DH Tacoma Rainiers

Oh Vogey, our large adult son. How you have so many fans. Daniel Vogelbach is actually just one of 2 players on our list with MLB experience, and a favorite of Sodo Mojo contributor Colton Swanson.

Vogelbach has nothing left to prove in the minor leagues. In his 8 seasons of minor league ball, he is slashing .287/.395/.482 and is having another great season in AAA Tacoma. Unfortunately for Vogelbach, the Mariners don’t have a spot for him. He is truly a DH only, and Nelson Cruz is still Nelson Cruz.

He has gotten a handful of AB’s at the Major League level but hasn’t exactly taken advantage of those opportunities, slashing .196/.311/.284. Of course, this doesn’t mean he can’t hit big league pitching. It just means he hasn’t yet.

The bat and power combo cannot be denied. However, he cannot play defense or run the bases. Like, not at all. The Mariners have a hole at 1B right now with Ryon Healy, and they still won’t give Vogelbach a shot. That says something. I’m not sure what, but it probably isn’t great news for Vogey.

A conclusion to the Mariners career of Vogelbach may be nearing. He is out of options and could be an enticing piece in trade talks before Opening Day of 2018. But hey, at least we will always have this, the most impressive HR I have ever watched in person:

Scouting Grades- Hit: 55 Power: 55 Run: 30 Arm:50 Field:40 Overall: 50 ETA: 2018

17. Joe Rizzo, IF Modesto Nuts

The second selection of the Jerry Dipoto era, Rizzo was a highly touted prep bat when Seattle selected him in the second round. Scouts raved about his feel for hitting, earning high praise for his approach and ability to spray line drives all over the field.

Thus far, the results have been… okay. Rizzo is in his second full season of pro-ball and finds himself in High-A Modesto at 20-years-old. He is slashing .270/.341/.359 in 340 PA so far. Not earth-shattering numbers, but still pretty decent production for a kid. Certainly, no reason to pull any panic alarms.

The power has yet to come for Rizzo, but at 5’9″, 195 lbs, there isn’t much room to add strength to his game. Rizzo was never a big power prospect, but he will need to at least increase his extra-base hit production in the coming years.

Rizzo is still playing a lot of third base, but most believe he is destined for LF, where his fringe-average arm plays better. There is no reason to write off Rizzo yet, who is still getting on-base and showing the bat-to-ball skills that made him a second-round pick just 2 summers ago.

Scouting Grades- Hit: 50 Power:35 Run: 40 Arm: 50 Field: 45 Overall: 45 ETA: 2022

16. Wyatt Mills, RP Modest Nuts

Wyatt Mills was the money saving 3rd round selection of the 2017 MLB Draft. All he has done since then is get hitters out. The side-arm slinging reliever has posted a 2.17 ERA in his first 57 innings while striking out 71 batters.

Mills uses deception along with his 94 MPH fastball and sharp slider to get hitters out. Mills is 23-years-old after spending 4 years as the closer for the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

He doesn’t have pinpoint command, and probably never will thanks to his unique arm-slot. But he throws strikes and will be a nightmare for most RHH to face. His high-floor and set-up man ceiling makes him an ultra-intriguing reliever you could see very soon.

Scouting Grade- Fastball: 65 Slider: 60 Control: 50 Overall: 55 ETA: 2019 Comp: Steve Cishek

Prospects 15-11

15. Bryson Brigman, MIF Modest Nuts

Bryson Brigman, the 23-year-old middle-infielder is having a breakout season at the plate(check out our interview with him here). After disappointing in his first 2 seasons of pro-ball, the third round pick is showing his potential for Modesto in 2018.

Brigman is currently slashing .296/.369/.378, adding 12 stolen bases in 18 attempts. As always, Brigman is playing excellent defense and has a chance to stick at SS long-term. Most scouts think he will be a second baseman but may ultimately find a role in the big leagues as a utility man.

Brigman does not possess any one standout tool, except perhaps his baseball IQ. If Brigman can continue to make strides at the plate by adding a little more pop, he can be an everyday starter. If not, he should still be a solid bat-to-ball middle-infielder.

Scouting Grade- Hit: 55 Power:30 Run: 55 Arm: 50 Field: 55 Overall: 50 ETA: 2021 Comp: Mark Ellis

14. Seth Elledge, RHP Modesto

The 2017 4th round pick, Seth Elledge finds himself with a group of relievers we call the “Big 4”, and has perhaps the highest upside of them all. Elledge has 3 quality pitches. His “go to” pitch is a heavy, sinking fastball that sits between 93-95 MPH. His slider and changeup both flash above-average, which leads some to wonder if he cannot start in the future.

The Mariners would not likely make the transition now, as Elledge has shown to be on the fast track to the big leagues. The 22-year-old is posting an incredible 12.6 K/9 in Modesto, posting a 1.05 and 0.87 WHIP in 34 innings.

If there is one area of strength in the Mariners system, it is with back-end bullpen options. Elledge is a potential 8th inning set-up man, or even a #4 type starter if a team decides to transition him back to the rotation.

Scouting Grades- Fastball: 65 Slider: 50 Changeup: 50 Control: 50 Overall: 50 ETA: 2019

13. Matt Festa, RHP Seattle Mariners

Festa actually made his MLB debut on Saturday and threw the ball okay. As a prospect, Matt Festa is an interesting case. He has a starter’s repertoire, relying on pitch sequence more than raw stuff.

However, this doesn’t mean that Festa doesn’t have good stuff. The fastball sits at 93 MPH, the slider has a good, sharp break, and the curveball and changeup both flash above-average. The results certainly warrant a call-up for Festa, who posted a 12.5 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in AA Arkansas.

With a true, 4 pitch mix some teams might be tempted to stretch him out as a starter, but that team will very likely not be Seattle. Still, it is always nice to have that option in your back pocket. As it stands now, Festa is a multi-inning, bat-missing, strike-throwing, reliever. That’s plenty good for the Mariners.

Scouting Grades- Fastball: 55 Slider: 55 Curveball: 50 Changeup: 50 Controll: 55 Overall: 55 ETA: 2018

12. Art Warren, RHP, Arkansas

The final member of the “Big 4”, Art Warren is a 25-year-old 23rd round pick from the 2015 MLB Draft. The 6’3′, 230 lb flamethrower is a potential future closer. He has a big fastball, that sits at 96 MPH, and can flirt with 100 MPH on occasion. The heater has a late life to it, making it extremely difficult to catch up to.

Warren also has an above-average slider, and a decent curveball to boot. Warren has some mechanical issues that make repeating his delivery a challenge. This leads to some command issues, handing out 14 walks in 16 innings.

Warren finds himself on the DL, but if he can straighten out his command issues, he could be an elite, late-inning option for the Mariners late in games.

Scouting Grades- Fastball: 70 Slider: 55 Curveball: 50 Changeup: 50 Control: 40 Overall: 50 ETA: 2019

11. Cal Raleigh, C Everett

The 3rd round pick of the Mariners 2018 draft, Cal Raleigh is the highest ranked catcher in the organization. Whether or not he sticks at catcher remains to be seen. But when Seattle made the selection and gave him $200 K over slot-value to sign him, they did it because of his bat.

After bursting onto the scene as a freshman, Raleigh struggled in his sophomore year, raising questions amongst scouts. Thankfully, Raleigh absolutely smashed for Florida State in 2018 and regained his draft stock.

At FSU in 2018, Raleigh slashed .326/.447/.583 with 13 home runs and 18 doubles in 62 games. Like most players Jerry Dipoto covets, Raleigh has a knack for taking walks and putting the ball in play. In fact, in his 3 seasons at Florida State, Raleigh earned 132 walks, while striking out just 128 strikeouts.

Defensively, Raleigh will never be an elite backstop. In fact, he will have to put in work to stick behind the plate. The Mariners will absolutely give him a chance, and he does work hard at the craft.

A switch-hitting prospect with a track record like Raleigh is always nice to have. If he can become a passable catcher along the way, Raleigh could be one of the best catchers in the game. For now, he is likely destined for first base, but the Mariners will give him every opportunity to catch at the pro level.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 Power: 50 Run: 35 Arm: 45 Glove: 40 Overall: 50 ETA: 2021 Comp: Stephen Vogt

That’s all for today. Be sure to check back for the Top 10 later this week!

Next: A Young Offensive Stud the Mariners can Afford. No, Seriously.