The only 5 Mariners prospects who are untouchable in trade talks

Emerson Hancock

Emerson Hancock is untouchable because we have not even seen him pitch in the pros yet. While the minor league season has been delayed, we will get to see Hancock pitch at some point this year in the lower levels of the minor leagues. He also was just brought in to major league Spring Training, but won’t pitch in a game.

Hancock is the 31st ranked prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline and was the 6th pick of the 2020 draft. The 21-year-old out of the University of Georgia has a similar pitch arsenal to Logan Gilbert, with his 65-grade fastball as the star of the show. It should actually be fastballs, plural, as he has a 4 seamer that he throws in the upper 90’s and has a sinking 2 seam fastball.

Because of his college experience, Hancock could be up in the majors as soon as next year, with MLB Pipeline listing his ETA as 2022. His fastball will be one of the better ones in baseball, but for him to be a top of the rotation pitcher he will have to work on his breaking pitches. If they can improve, then Hancock becomes a pitcher you can build around. But for now he is untouchable because of his insanely high ceiling.