Seattle Mariners Top 30 Prospects: 30-26, Lets Do This

27. Joey Gerber, RHP

Another right-handed reliever goes onto the list. The Mariners have a lot of these types. Gerber was an 8th round of the Mariners in the 2018 draft and wasted no time showing his ability in 22 games between Everett and Clinton. The 6’4″, 215 lbs righty posted a 2.10 ERA with 43 strikeouts and 11 walks in his 25.2 innings of work in his pro debut.

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Gerber has the profile of an aggressively fast mover. He is a pure reliever who tied the University of Illinois single-season saves record in 2018. Gerber ranks higher on the list than Delaplane and Wilcox because he has a higher upside as a reliever.

Gerber has a funky delivery that hides the ball well. Unfortunately, that delivery leaves him with mechanical issues that can mess up his command at times. Still, Gerber has the goods to pitch around command issues.

That is thanks to his 94 MPH fastball that tops out at 97. The pitch has arm side run, and thanks to his funky delivery, he hides the ball well which helps the pitch play up even more. The slider is a solid big league offering and flashes plus at times.

If Gerber could improve his command grade a full grade, he has closer potential. However, that increase in command may come at the cost of his stuff. Gerber has a floor of a mid-reliever and a ceiling of a high-leverage reliever, perhaps even as a closer. Thanks to his reliever profile, Gerber could make his debut late in 2019, but 2020 is a virtual lock assuming he stays healthy.

Scouting Grades- Fastball:60 Slider:60 Command:45 Probability: 4/5