Sodo Mojo’s Top 40 Mariners Prospects: 30-26

Scouting international talents is tough. Figuring out how to rank 16-year-old kids against 24-year-old men is also tough. Kristian Cardozo was never supposed to be a Mariner. He had a deal all lined up to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but things didn’t work out. Jerry Dipoto swooped and snagged this super talented young man for $595,000.

Cardozo ranked as the 24th best international prospect by MLB Pipeline, who list him a 6’1″, 175 lbs. At just 16, there is a lot of room for Cardozo to add size to his frame, making him “projectable”. But for now, he posses a heavy fastball that hits 90 mph.

The curveball shows promise as a true out pitch. It sits at 73 MPH with good depth and shape and should generate swings and misses. The changeup also has a lot of promise. Cardozo throws it with good arm speed, generating good arm-side fade. It sits in the low 80s.

Cardozo is apparently a good athlete with a smooth and repeatable delivery. This gives him a good chance to have above-average command as he matures. Cardozo already possess solid, 55-grade control, thanks to his athleticism.

Unlike many other 16-year-olds, Cardozo has 3 quality offerings right now and an ability to throw a ton of strikes. There isn’t a lot to tweak and the teenager will likely spend this summer in the Dominican Summer League.

The Mariners can be patient and let this young man develop, adding strength and size to his profile. This will hopefully come with added fastball velocity, which could turn Cardozo into a legitimate #3 starter in the future.