Mariners: Predicitng Top 6 Selections in MLB Draft

The MLB Draft is just under two weeks away and the news is starting to become a bit more crystalized. So let’s take a stab at predicting who will go ahead of the Mariners pick at number six.

One of the beauties of drafting as high as the Mariners will do in 10 days is the lack of muddiness surrounding who may actually be available at your pick. Of course, we won’t know for sure until Seattle is on the clock, but it is certainly easier to predict five picks than it is to predict 20 picks.

This isn’t a Mariners exclusive mock draft, nor is it a full first-round mock draft. Instead, we are attempting to nail down who Seattle won’t get a chance to pick and, in those circumstances, who the team might take.

Picking ahead of the Mariners will be the Tigers, Orioles, Marlins, Royals, and Blue Jays. So let’s get started and predict the first six picks of the upcoming MLB Draft.

1.01 Tigers select Spencer Torkelson, 1B ASU

This selection has become more and more expected over the past few weeks and it appears that the Tigers have locked in on Torkelson. Detroit has collected a lions share of pitching prospects the past few years and Torkelson is one of the safest players in the draft. He is going to hit and hit for power, which is all that matters for a true first baseman.

1.02 Orioles select Austin Martin, IF/OF Vanderbilt

This is where things can get crazy. Martin is the safest bet, but Baltimore could go under-slot with this pick and select Nick Gonzales to save some money and go big with their next two picks, effectively giving them three first-round talents. Keith Law of The Athletic has been told Baltimore could go Heston Kjerstad to save even more money. But Martin is going to hit for average with plus base-running and defense in multiple positions. Martin will be a big leaguer within two years.

1.03 Marlins select Nick Gonzales, NMS

The Marlins are notoriously cheap and they may be able to get Gonzales at a discount. It is a bit of a reach at this pick but isn’t out of the realm of possibility. Gonzales will hit and is a safe bet to be an everyday MLB player before 2022.

1.04 Royals select Zac Veen, OF Spruce Creek HS

We finally have our first prep bat off the board, but the temptation of selecting Asa Lacy is going to be tough to ignore. Veen could present some savings for Kansas City and has one of the highest ceilings in the draft. The Royals have invested heavily in arms recently with the likes of Brady Singer, Jackson Kowar, Daniel Lynch, and Kris Bubic, so adding one of the best bats available is a nice pick to make.

1.05 Blue Jays select Asa Lacy, LHP Texas A&M

The Blue Jays are probably doing backflips in their war room if Lacy falls to them. It feels almost impossible that Toronto will not take an arm here, even if Lacy is off the board. Emerson Hancock, Max Meyer, or even Reid Detmers could be in play too. But Lacy isn’t getting out of the Top 5.

1.06  Mariners select Emerson Hancock, RHP Georgia

If Emerson Hancock and Max Meyer are still on the board, it would be a coup for Seattle. Of course, they’d still need to make the right decision. The Mariners have only been vaguely linked to Meyer, with Detmers a popular selection. If Seattle is worried about Hancock’s medicals, I’d expect them to take Reid Detmers over Meyer, much to my chagrin.

Thinks can change quickly leading up to draft day. Anything is possible, so we will keep our ears and eyes open to track the latest rumors as they come out.