3 late-round Mariners 2026 MLB Draft picks who could prove to be hidden gems

It's now well-known that the Mariners have built their roster around elite talent they managed to get in the draft. All of the team's best players are homegrown and many of them are first-round picks. Cole Young, Colt Emerson, and Logan Gilbert are just a few who were the organization's first pick off the board. But there are a few players who have managed to exceed their draft day expectations.

Perhaps the best case of this is Bryan Woo. He was drafted in the sixth round in 2021 but Trent Blank, Seattle's Director of Pitching Strategy, would've taken him first overall if he needed to. Blank must've known something that no one else did, because Woo has blossomed into one of the budding stars of the American League, even if he hasn't been his usual self this season.

Although he was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the eighth round, Dominic Canzone is another example of this. He has hit his stride as a Mariner and is one of the few bright spots in the team's offense this year.

Dominic Santarelli won't be signing, but the Mariners lucked out with him and 2 other late draft picks

Now that Seattle has finalized their selections, who are some players that they were lucky to land later in this year's draft?

OF Dominic Santarelli (Round 18, 550th overall pick)

Santarelli's selection is a good example of some of the nuances of the MLB Draft. Ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 129 prospect in the draft, he caught attention from scouts after his performance in MLB's High School All-American Game and becoming Wisconsin's High School Player of the Year. A well-rounded athlete who's already in a 6-foot-2, 230-pound frame, he has the potential to be one of the best power-hitting prospects in baseball.

However, since he already committed to LSU and wasn't slated to go high enough to lure him away from one of the best collegiate baseball programs around, many teams weren't willing to risk an earlier pick on a player that wouldn't sign. Those fears were warranted as he recently announced that he would be honoring his commitment to the Tigers and joining LSU in the fall. Despite opting out this year, his talent ceiling is high enough that he'll likely be drafted far sooner the next time around.

RHP Wyatt Queen (Round 11, 340th overall pick)

Queen spent two years primarily pitching out of the bullpen for Oregon State and had strong results, accumulating a 2.85 ERA over 94.2 innings for the Beavers. He seemed to make big strides from his junior to his senior year, improving his numbers across the board, and there's reason to believe his upward momentum will continue.

He has a diverse arsenal consisting of four pitches that could set him up to be a starter. His mid-80s slider has been his primary weapon of choice that's complemented by a fastball in the low-90s, curveball, and changeup. He has shown a strong ability to find the strike zone consistently, which is something that often hamstrings young pitchers from getting to the next level.

3B Henry Ford (Round 6, 191st overall pick)

He may not be as innovative as the automotive pioneer with whom he shares a name, but he's likely far more athletic. Ford spent the first two years of his collegiate career with the University of Virginia before transferring to the University of Tennessee. Across 794 combined plate appearances with both esteemed programs, he slashed an impressive .329/.395/.593 with 37 doubles and 48 home runs.

At 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, Ford profiles more like a first baseman than a third baseman and scouts have some questions about whether his agility will be a blocker for him to remain at his current position at higher levels of competition. For the Mariners, this shouldn't be a problem as they have more than enough agile infielders in their farm system and some depth at first base could actually benefit them more.

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