Sodo Mojo Presents Seattle Mariners Top 30 Prospects, 10-9

We have finally made it guys. It is time to take a look at who was able to crack the Top 10 Seattle Mariners Prospects. Now that we are so close, it’s time to slow it down and take a closer look at some names.

As per usual, if you need a refresher of how we ranked the Mariners prospects, you can read our primer by clicking here. And if you would like to see who just missed the cut for our Top 10, you can read our 11-15 ranked prospects here.

Additionally, remember that our grades are based on a traditional 20-80 scouting scale. 20 is terrible and 80 is Hall of Fame caliber. 50 is a solid, average MLB tool. Our probability grades are on a 1-5 scale and are based on the likelihood that said prospect will reach the 75% range of their ceiling. With all that in mind, let’s get started.

10. Noelvi Marte, SS

Marte was the prize of the Mariners 2018 International Amateur Free Agent class and should be a name to monitor from afar for years to come. A 6’1″, 175lbs, 17-year-old has an interesting set of tools from which to work.

A good athlete, Marte has a nice swing that generates a ton of speed through the zone. Scouts rave about the power tool already, and as he gets stronger in pro ball, he has 30 home run potential.

Marte’s hit tool is behind the power tool, but he shows a good feel for hitting and understanding of his strike zone at a young age. In order to reach his ceiling at the plate, he will need to learn how to hit the ball with authority to all fields. Scouts believe he has the swing and discipline to do it, giving him an opportunity to hit .260-.280 in his career.

As a defender, Marte has the arm strength, feet, and soft hands to stick at shortstop for now. If he outgrows the position, he will need to max out his hit tool to fit the prototypical profile for the position. The Mariners will give him every opportunity to stick at SS, where he could be an average defender and an above-average bat if everything goes well.

At just 17-years-old, it is likely Marte will follow the Julio Rodriguez timeline, spending his entire season in the Dominican Summer League, with the hopes he will make his stateside debut in 2020.

The earliest fans could reasonably expect to see Marte in Seattle is mid-2023, with 2024 being the more realistic option. Marte has the raw tools to make the wait worth it, and could quickly climb the ranks in the coming years.

Scouting Grades- Hit: 50 Power: 60 Run: 45 Arm: 55 Field: 50 Probability: 2/5

9. Braden Bishop

Full disclosure: we love Braden Bishop. Did our love for him influence our ranking of him? Yeah, probably. Off the field, Bishop is one of the best young men in the game. His 4MOM foundation raises money for Alzheimer’s and Dementia and he is universally respected by his peers for his dedication to the cause. In short, Braden Bishop is incredibly easy to root for.

On the field, Bishop profiles best as a glove-first 4th outfielder. He can handle all 3 OF spots with plus defense, including CF, where he is one of minor league baseball’s best defender. His well above-average speed helps on the field, but his instincts and route efficiency are amongst the best in the game.

The real question surrounding Bishop is the bat. Thought to be a prototypical “slasher” Bishop joined the flyball revolution and began to develop his power tool more than previously thought. He lowered his hands in his stance for 2018 and the results where there.

He slashed .284/.361/.412 with 8 home runs and 20 doubles in AA Arkansas, earning a spot on the Texas League All-Star team. Unfortunately, Bishop broke his arm after being hit by a pitch, ending his breakout season prematurely.

Although the power tool did improve, it is highly unlikely to ever be MLB average. As a result, Bishop will need to hit for a decent average and take walks in order to get regular AB’s at the big league level.

If Bishop can post anywhere close to his career .294/.366/.385 minor league slash, the 25-year-old will have a long career in the big leagues as a starter, using his defense and base-running to produce multiple 3-4 WAR seasons.

As it stands right now, Bishop’s bat is still a big enough question mark to project him as a #4 OF, similar to Peter Bourjos. He was added to the 40-man roster this winter and will spend all of spring training with the big league camp. With Mallex Smith likely to miss the Japan Series and the Mariners lack of depth of true CF talent, Bishop has a chance to make the Opening Series roster.

If Bishop can hit at an average pace, he is one of the most underrated prospects in the system. If he can’t, his high floor gives him a good chance to stick around for years to come.

Scouting Grades- Hit: 50 Power: 35 Speed: 65 Field: 70 Arm: 55 Probability: 3.5/5

There you have it. 22 down, 8 to go. Who will crack the Mariners Top 8 prospects? More on that later in the month.