Sodo Mojo’s Top 40 Seattle Mariners Prospects: 20-16

Brayan Perez may be the most underrated prospect in the Mariners system. The 19-year-old Venezuela native made his stateside debut at the age of 18 last year, logging 67 innings between the Arizona Rookie League and the Northwest League Aquasox and handled himself quite well.

Perez posted a 3.34 ERA and a 1.307 WHIP, along with 62 strikeouts in 2019, but it is Perez’s tools that should excite Mariners fans. Standing at just 6’0″, 170 lbs, Perez features a fastball that sits 88-91 but has touched 93 MPH in-game, along with a good slider and average curveball. Both breaking balls could become 60-grade offerings but should settle into the 55-grade range.

Perez also has a solid changeup, thanks mostly to the above-average command Perez has. The changeup could become a solid 4th pitching, giving Perez the potential to have 4 average or better offerings to go along with his 55-grade command.

Perez will likely never develop stuff better than a #3 or #4 starter, but he will get more value from his offerings thanks to his good command. The fastball also registers higher spin rates, a skill the Mariners have been searching for in recent years.

Perez is a good athlete who will play almost all of 2020 at the age of 19. There is still room for Perez to get bigger, add some velocity, and take a jump in the prospect ranks in 2020, but for now, Mariners fans should be excited for this young man with a rare combination of high-floor and upside in his game.

Perez will always play second fiddle in the Mariners 2017 Latin America class, thanks to some kid named Julio Rodriguez, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be a valuable major leaguer.