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Sodo Mojo’s Top 40 Seattle Mariners Prospects: 15-11

By Colby Patnode

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Jake Fraley #8 of the Seattle Mariners hits a home run against the Chicago White Sox on February 27, 2020 at Camelback Ranch in Glendale Arizona. (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Jake Fraley #8 of the Seattle Mariners hits a home run against the Chicago White Sox on February 27, 2020 at Camelback Ranch in Glendale Arizona. (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 21: Kyle Lewis #30 of the Seattle Mariners takes a lead off of second base against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 21, 2019, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 21: Kyle Lewis #30 of the Seattle Mariners takes a lead off of second base against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 21, 2019, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

OF. Mercer. Kyle Lewis. 11. player. Scouting Report. 62. Pick Analysis

Wrapping up this portion of the list is a player quickly climbing the charts of Mariner’s fans favorites, Kyle Lewis. The story of Kyle Lewis is pretty well known at this point. He was a superstar prospect who suffered a major knee injury just a month into his pro career and spent the better part of 2 seasons just trying to get and stay healthy.

He finally accomplished this in 2019 and after a decent season in AA Arkansas, he made his MLB debut last September. Lewis wasted no time in showing off his best tool, his power, by hitting 3 home runs against the Reds in his first series.

Lewis would finish 2019 with 6 home runs in 75 PAs, slugging .592 in that time. The home run surge sent fans celebrating the young player as a major building block of the franchise going forward. And, to be fair, I don’t think it is unfair to feel this way. Kyle Lewis is a good prospect.

But as much as we want to celebrate the former first-round pick, you and I need to be willing to look at the areas of concern. The biggest being his 38.7% strikeout rate and his 4.0% walk rate. These are major issues that cannot be ignored, no matter how much you liked the home run power.

Lewis struck out nearly 30% of the time in AA Arkansas, so this wasn’t just a one-month thing in September. Lewis has to put the ball in play more this season and he needs to take more walks. Thankfully, the latter hasn’t been a major problem and should return with positive regression.

But for Lewis to get to his other considerable tools, he will need to make more contact. It really is that simple. And if he can do that, the Mariners could see Kyle Lewis hit .260/.340/.550 with 30-35 home runs and above-average to great defense in either left or right field. That is on the spectrum of potential outcomes.

Next. Top 40 Mariners Prospects: 20-16. dark

Seattle may be wise to send Lewis to AAA Tacoma, at least early in the season, to help with his contact issues. But Jerry Dipoto seems to be adamant that Lewis will be on the Opening Day roster and in the lineup in right field against the Texas Rangers on March 26th, so expect that to be the case.

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