Poll: What Pitching Prospect Is 2nd Best in the Mariners Organization?

#3) Mariners LHP Brandon Williamson

Brandon Williamson is the best left handed pitching prospect in the Mariners organization, and he has been very underrated. Williamson was drafted in 2019 out of TCU in the second round. The first round pick that year was George Kirby, and that cast a shadow on Williamson from the start. He was considered an okay lefty pitcher, but in 2021 he started to break out.

In 2021, the 6’6″ left hander had a 3.39 ERA, 153 strikeouts, and only 33 walks in 98.1 innings in high A and AA. He looked great, dominating hitters with his mid 90s fastball that can reach the high 90s, and big bending curveball. He looked like a great starting pitcher, but he was doing this against some weaker competition. He now looks like a legit mid rotation arm for the Mariners, and he could be there very soon.

It is very possible that Brandon Williamson is the first of the M’s pitching prospects called up in 2022 to make his debut. He looks very similar to former Mariner James Paxton, and I believe that Williamson can be exactly what Paxton was supposed to be. He can be a strong number 3 starter with a good combination of pitches. He should be a strong factor the Mariners in 2022 and beyond.

https://twitter.com/MsPlayerDev/status/1431377231230619649?s=20

#2) Mariners RHP Matt Brash

Matt Brash had a breakout season for the Mariners last year, he started in high A Everett and earned his way up to AA Arkansas. He did get added to the Mariners roster at the end of the season, but he never pitched in Seattle. Brash had a great year in the minors, pitching in 97.1 innings, posting a 2.31 ERA, walking only 48 batters, and striking out 142 of them. He struck out over 35% of the batters he faced, led by his high 90s fastball and devastating slider.

The upside with Brash is pure dominance, he has two of the best pitches in the Mariners organization. He could be a top-of-rotation pitcher if he finds plus command of his pitches and develops a third pitch. He has some concerns with his delivery that it could lead to arm injuries, but he has not had issues yet. If he doesn’t stick in the rotation, he could easily be a dominant reliever with his fastball-slider combination.

Matt Brash has some of the highest upside, but he has some of the highest variances in his potential outcomes. Some of the other options have safer floors as starting pitchers, but it is hard to ignore Brash’s stuff. He is very good, and he could be one of the first arms called up to the Mariners since he is already on the 40 man roster.

https://twitter.com/FarmToFame_/status/1425934143003807750?s=20

#1) Mariners RHP Emerson Hancock

Emerson Hancock was taken with the 6th overall pick in the 2020 draft out of the University of Georgia. He was pegged to potentially be drafted first overall before his junior season. He had a 1.99 ERA in 90 innings in 2019 for Georgia, looking like a future front of the rotation pitcher in the big leagues. Then in 2020, he started off slowly against Georgia’s non-conference schedule but had his season cut short right as he looked to be getting back into form.

The Mariners have been very careful with the Bulldog standout, not letting him throw much at all at the alternate training site in 2020. He then did not make it through his first pro season healthy either. He missed starts and had starts pushed back before ultimately being shut down early with shoulder fatigue. The Mariners do not believe that this is a serious injury, merely a lack of strength and endurance in his shoulder.

This has given some industry experts pause about the 6’4″ right-handed starter. Some think this slips his stock significantly, but the hope is that he can be healthy for 2022 and pitch a full minor league season. His four-pitch mix all have above-average grades, led by his 65-grade fastball. His slider and changeup are also 60 grade, as well as a 55 curveball. He could be a front of the rotation arm, but he has a cloudy future as of right now.

Emerson Hancock definitely has the second-highest ceiling of pitchers in the organization, but he has some serious workload and durability questions right now. He could be a strong number two or number three starter, but he needs more time to prove he is healthy in the minors before being considered for the big league rotation.

Based on those results listed earlier, Mariners fans clearly still believe in Hancock and his potential. Those who voted for him clearly don’t believe his shoulder will be a problem for his future. For those who believe it is Matt Brash, they clearly are bought in on his nasty stuff and believe in his breakout season and think he can stick in the rotation. People who thought that Williamson is the best of the trio, think he can take another leap in 2022 to continue to get better and dominate hitters.

Clearly, the Mariners have a great problem debating who is the second-best starting pitching prospect going forward. These three are all great prospects and very strong young pitchers. They should all figure into the Mariners season going forward and all could make their debuts this season. Mariners fans should all be ready to get out to Tacoma Rainiers games in 2022 to see these pitchers dominate AAA before reaching the big leagues.