Shed Long: The Newest Mariners Prospect

Yesterday, the Mariners made a deal with the New York Yankees.  The Mariners acquired the second baseman Shed Long, who was acquired from the Reds in the Sonny Gray deal. The Yankees got 2018 second round pick OF Josh Stowers from the Mariners.

Before joining the Mariners, Long spent his 2018 season in Double-A Pensacola and had himself a great season. He slashed .261/.353/.412 (wRC+120). He hit 12 home runs and drove in 56. He does strikeout more than you would like (23.6%), but he is not afraid to take a walk (10.9%). He also swiped 19 bases in 2018, so you have to love the power/speed combo Long brings.

That was some of the good Long brings, now some of the not-so-good. His BABIP (batting average on balls in play) was just .277, compared to his .333 BABIP in 2018. Major League average for BABIP is around .300, so there could be some regression to his .261 average from 2018. There was a 3.8% increase to his walk rate, so you hope that continues to trend upwards.

The Mariners have a plethora of outfielders in the minors. Newcomer Jarred Kelenic headlines the bunch, with Kyle Lewis, Julio Rodriguez, Braden Bishop, and Dom Thompson-Williams also waiting in the wings. With Domingo Santana, Mallex Smith and Mitch Haniger already in the majors, Seattle was in a position to move Josh Stowers to help get more depth in the system.

With trading Stowers, Seattle has now traded their 2nd and 4th round picks in the 2018  Draft away already. Stowers was taken in the 2nd round, while 4th round pick Michael Plassmeyer was dealt with the Tampa Bay Rays.

With that being said, Long figures to be well inside the Mariners top ten prospects to start 2019. Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto has already said he will receive an invite to Spring Training. He figures to start the 2019 season in Tacoma, with hopes of seeing Major League at-bats sometime this season.