Instructional league is crucial for Mariners prospects’ development

The pandemic left many Mariners without reps during the season so the instructional league is important for player development

The minor league season was canceled and most minor leaguers were not able to play unless they were apart of their respective teams’ alternate training site. The instructional league will allow some of those Mariners players to get reps in and impress coaches.

There are 22 games in the instructional league schedule in 2020 which lasts six weeks in Peoria, AZ. Games began on October 5th so the games are about halfway through now. 40 Mariners players were included on the roster highlighted by several top prospects.

The roster in Arizona is filled with Mariner’s top prospects and they will be able to receive lots of reps that they did not get in the summer.

Julio Rodriguez is one of those prospects playing in Arizona and this is particularly important for him since he has been sidelined with a fractured left wrist. Rodriguez was unable to participate at the alternative training site after getting injured in summer camp workouts.

Scouts and coaches are excited to see how Rodriguez will bounce back as he continues to develop into a star in the making for a 2022 debut. Videos surfaced of Rodriguez’s performances in Arizona and he seems to be doing just alright.

https://twitter.com/J_RODshow/status/1318277266393083904?s=20

Luckily for Rodriguez and the Mariners, he will also be able to train in the Dominican Winter League to continue his offseason development.

The short season will also be important for Taylor Trammell who was acquired at the trade deadline for Austin Nola. The speedy 23-year-old outfielder is an exciting acquisition and is the Mariners fifth rank prospect and the 51st MLB prospect.

Trammell is projected to break into the big leagues in 2021 so the instructional league will help add to his limited game reps in 2020. He was on the Padres training site roster but that is just not quite the same as a traditional minor league season. The short instructional league will allow Trammell more playtime on top of spring training to better prepare for this 2021 debut.

Mariners eighth-ranked prospect Cal Raleigh is also playing in Arizona right now, as he also prepares to play for the Mariners in 2021. Like Trammell, Raleigh did get to practice at the alternate training site. But, Raleigh also missed the end of the intrasquad games because he was hit in the head by his teammate’s backswing.

A couple more prospects like Sam Carlson, Emerson Hancock, and Noelvi Marte are also playing in Arizona. These young Mariners are a little further away than Trammell and Raleigh, but this time is just as important for them and their development.

It will be interesting to monitor how some of the Mariners prospects perform in the instructional league and if players like Trammell and Raleigh will be ready for 2021 spring training and regular season. Winter meetings are also right around the corner and that could make or break the 2021 season for the Mariners. Make sure to check back for potential free agent signings, rumors, and trade ideas for the Mariners’ 2021 season.