Sodo Mojo’s 2020 MLB Mock Draft, Seattle Mariners edition

Pick 43: Cole Henry, RHP LSU

In a perfect world, Mississippi State RHP J.T. Ginn falls to Seattle at this pick and is willing to sign for slot. But since neither of those things is going to happen, an arm like Cole Henry should be enticing for the Mariners at this pick. The 6’4″, 215 lbs Henry has the size and predictability scouts love and some serious stuff to back it up.

He throws a fastball that he can sink or ride that sits in the low-90s but has touched 97 at times while showing extended staying power at 95 MPH. He backs it up with a good curveball that flashes plus regularly and has a good feel for a changeup which has steadily improved every year at LSU.

Henry has cleaned up his delivery in college but there is still some effort in his load, leading to some concerns about future injuries. In fact, Henry missed fall ball of his freshman year with a stress reaction and then missed a month in-season with a sore elbow. These are red flags the Mariners need to feel good about as the draft-eligible sophomore likely won’t come cheap.

If the red flags are too much to overlook or Henry demands first-round money, Seattle may look at Seth Lonsway from Ohio State instead.

Pick 64: Clayton Beeter, RHP Texas Tech

Clayton Beeter of Texas Tech is another possibility at 43 but questions about his durability may push him to the end of the Competitive Balance B round, where the Mariners hold the 64th pick. Beeter has already undergone 2 elbow surgeries a huge red flag that will prevent him from going as high as he should.

When he’s healthy, Beeter features 3 above-average to plus pitches, including a 93-96 MPH fastball and 2 power breaking balls, a slider in the mid-80s, and a curveball in the low-80s. Beeter also has a changeup, which grades out as fringe-average but has shown to be an average offering in stints.

Beeter throws straight overhead, creating great plane and does an excellent job “tunneling his pitches”. He has an easy delivery with little effort being exerted. Beeter’s injuries and small sample size of success are going to hold him back. But when it comes to raw stuff, he has first-round abilities, so snagging him anytime after the first-round could represent a significant steal.