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Mariners: Three Names to Know for a Late Playoff Push and Beyond

By Max Ellingsen |
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Pitcher Paul Sewald #37 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after striking out Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics to end the eighth inning at RingCentral Coliseum on September 21, 2021 in Oakland, California. The Mariners won the game 5-2. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Pitcher Paul Sewald #37 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after striking out Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics to end the eighth inning at RingCentral Coliseum on September 21, 2021 in Oakland, California. The Mariners won the game 5-2. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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Apr 18, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Tom Murphy (2) and relief pitcher Drew Steckenrider (16) slap hands after a win against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Tom Murphy (2) and relief pitcher Drew Steckenrider (16) slap hands after a win against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /

The Seattle Mariners find themselves in the thick of a playoff battle to close the season. With just six games to play, the scrappy young team is two games behind the Boston Red Sox for the second American League Wild Card spot. How did they find themselves in such a competitive position this late in the season? Look no further than the bullpen.

To say the Seattle bullpen has been a revelation this season would be an understatement. Sporting the dynamic three-headed monster of Paul Sewald, Drew Steckenrider, and Diego Castillo locking down the late innings, with key contributors Casey Sadler and Joe Smith bridging the gap from the starter, the Mariners lead the league in wins when the score is decided by just one run.

While it may be hard to improve upon that group’s performance, there are three names to know lurking just below the surface. With electric stuff and varying pedigree, this trio of prospects are primed for a late season callup to help out the Mariners’ final push for the playoffs. Fortunately for Seattle, all three of these players are under team control for the foreseeable future and are guaranteed to make a serious impact in 2022 should a late season callup be deemed unnecessary.

Matt Brash is by far the most likely of the three to be called up to the big leagues before the end of the 2021 season. Having already pitched an entire season of lights-out minor league ball as a starter, it is entirely possible the M’s call him up to pitch out of the bullpen in a pivotal game. Most minor leaguers’ stuff doesn’t translate to the big league bullpen. Brash is not most minor leaguers. Pumping upper-90’s fastballs with a frisbee slider and disgusting changeup, there is little concern for Brash’s stuff translating to the big league bullpen.

He’s shown the ability to strike people out at an alarming rate and control the walks. He’s had enough seasoning in the minors to be featured highly on prospect rankings. He’s even been promoted to Triple-A Tacoma. Nothing stands in the way of Matt Brash and the Mariner’s 2021 big league team.

PEORIA, ARIZONA – MARCH 05: Pitcher Andres Munoz #52 of the San Diego Padres throws against the Seattle Mariners during a Cactus League spring training baseball game at Peoria Stadium on March 05, 2020 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
PEORIA, ARIZONA – MARCH 05: Pitcher Andres Munoz #52 of the San Diego Padres throws against the Seattle Mariners during a Cactus League spring training baseball game at Peoria Stadium on March 05, 2020 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /

Andres Munoz could easily be the most electric arm in the entire system. Featuring a two pitch mix, Munoz is a high leverage reliever unlike his counterpart in Matt Brash. That being said, Munoz is a prototypical closer. With a fastball that averaged 100 MPH and a slider with excellent depth in the mid-80’s, Munoz is a prime candidate to be featured in the the 2022 bullpen and could very well be called up in the coming days.

Acquired in the seven player deal that shipped Austin Nola off to San Diego, Munoz has been working his way back from Tommy John surgery since coming to Seattle. Finally healthy, Seattle could use the fireballing reliever to aid in their pursuit of the final playoff spot.

The least pedigreed player on this list, Ray Kerr is not someone to be forgotten amidst the plethora of elite bullpen prospects found in the Seattle system. A true success story of the pitching development, Kerr once spent three straight years in then High-A Modesto with middling results. Fortunately for Kerr, the new “Gas Camp” program did wonders for him. Suddenly throwing in the upper-90’s from the left side, Kerr was converted to a high-leverage reliever full time this year.

Kerr sits comfortably in the upper-90s and has hit as high as 102 MPH this minor league season. Paired with a wipeout slider from the left side, Kerr has the makings of a special kind of reliever.

Anyone of these three players could easily be called up in the next coming days, but if not, the Mariners’ bullpen for the coming years looks to be in excellent shape. Watch out AL West, the Mariners’ ‘pen isn’t one to be messed with.

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