Mariners Top 30 Prospects: A 2021 Midseason Ranking

#5: Cal Raleigh

Cal Raleigh, a rare switch-hitting catcher, can absolutely rake. After slashing an absurd .324/.377/.608 in Triple A Tacoma, Raleigh has come up to the major league and shown flashes of offensive prowess. His time at the big leagues has been far from smooth sailing, however his immense power potential and greatly improved defensive abilities are undeniable. Raleigh is slated as the backstop of the future and is expected to be a major part of the Mariner lineup going forward.

#4: Emerson Hancock

The Mariner’s first-round selection in the 2020 draft, Emerson Hancock is a consensus top 100 prospect in all of baseball. Drafted out of Georgia, Hancock was seriously considered as the first overall selection that year. Fortunately for Seattle, he ended up falling to sixth overall and has been lights out his entire professional career. With a 2.50 ERA and a BAA (Batting Average Against) of .174, it’s clear Hancock sports major potential and has top of the rotation capabilities.

#3: George Kirby

The pitcher with the most potential of any other hurler in the system, George Kirby has come a long way since being drafted in the first round out of Elon. Now sporting a fastball that sits in the upper 90’s with three average or better secondary pitches, Kirby’s stuff is incredibly good. Coupled with unparalleled command (9 BB’s his entire professional career) and elite run prevention, (2.16 ERA) Kirby is a future staple of Seattle’s rotation down the line. Look for him to debut in mid-to-late 2022 or early 2023. He is a can’t miss prospect.

#2: Noelvi Marte

The best Mariner shortstop prospect since Alex Rodriguez, Noelvi Marte has the potential to be a franchise-altering talent on the infield. With blazing speed, immense raw power, and above-average contact ability, there are very few holes in Marte’s game.

There is a chance he will be forced to move to third base, however his bat is so dynamic that it frankly wouldn’t matter. He can play either position and the bat would play. Marte won’t be seeing the big leagues for at least a few more years, however, when his time comes, you won’t want to miss it.

#1: Julio Rodriguez

Julio Rodriguez. The crown jewel of the Mariner farm system. The big right fielder is one of the truly untouchable assets in all of baseball. Whether it’s leading the Dominican team to a Bronze Medal in the Olympics or destroying the competition in the minor leagues, Julio is an absolute force to be reckoned with. Slashing .323/.416/.547 as a 20-year-old in Double A Arkansas, he’s one of the best hitters at the level while simultaneously being one of the youngest players at the level.

He has an electric, loveable personality and thrives under pressure. This may sound brash, but I simply can not see a scenario where Julio doesn’t excel as a big leaguer. He wants to be great and has supreme physical traits with a fantastic work ethic. The rest of the league needs to watch out for Julio Rodriguez.