3 Mariners prospects who are way hotter than fans might realize

While the quality of the Seattle Mariners' major league roster is the subject of many heated debates on social media, the quality of the team's prospects isn't as easily disputed.

In MLB.com's annual ranking of the best farm systems in baseball, the Mariners placed fifth, likely the highest they'll place in any sort of serious ranking this year. Much of the prospect attention has been turned towards names like Colt Emerson, Lazaro Montes, and Jurrangelo Cijntje and rightfully so. However, that doesn't mean other young players aren't starting to hit real strides.

3 overlooked Mariners prospects who are hotter than you might realize in 2025

C Josh Caron

When one thinks of Mariners catching prospects, they likely think of Harry Ford, not a fourth-round selection in the 2024 draft out of the University of Nebraska.

That said, Josh Caron is still the organization's No. 21 prospect for MLB Pipeline and he's been tearing it up so far in his first year with High-A Everett. Over 51 plate appearances, he's slashing .298/.353/.447 with two homers and seven RBI.

After being drafted, scouts didn't give him particularly high marks for any tools except for a 55-grade arm. However, if he keeps up his current pace, he could transform into an plus-bat while still being solid behind the dish, a rare combination in today's game.

The road to the show is tricky for Caron, who must eclipse both Ford and Cal Raleigh before getting serious playing time. Because of Raleigh's endurance and positional excellence, it's tricky for even a backup catcher to get meaningful playing time. Once you throw Ford into the equation, it seems like quite the obstacle-ridden future for Caron if he stays in the Mariners organization.

However, he could be a highly valuable trade asset used to pick up an impact bat or arm. As such, he could still have a big impact on the team even if he never suits up for Seattle as long as his stock remains high.

OF Jared Sundstrom

Jared Sundstrom has been a pleasant surprise for the Mariners, who picked him in the 10th round of the 2023 draft. It's a big jump to go from a late selection to being the 24th-ranked prospect in a stacked minor league system, but he has proven himself more than capable of hanging in there.

Over his first 65 plate appearances in Double-A, he is slashing .281/.361/.474 with two triples and two home runs. His offensive numbers have increased steadily as he has climbed the ranks of the minor leagues and he doesn't seem to be stopping any time soon.

He has been good defensively as well, splitting time evenly between all three outfield positions but spending the majority of his time in 2025 in right field. Seattle's outfield is pretty locked up for the next few years, but injuries have been known to happen and having depth is never a bad thing.

SS Felnin Celesten

By no means should the No. 5 prospect of any team be considered underrated. Yet given the recent call-up of Ben Williamson and further questions about what reinforcements can be used to bolster the major league roster, some of the younger prospects have fallen by the wayside.

Felnin Celesten is just 19 years old but is already having a major impact in High-A Modesto, slashing .373/.448/.509 with 16 RBI over his first 67 plate appearances.

It will be years before he's ready for the show, but he could be ready right around the final stages of J.P. Crawford's five-year contract, which extends through the 2026 season. There's potential that Crawford gets extended for a few more years, giving Celesten even more time to hone his skills and flourish as a homegrown talent.

Unfortunately, if he wants to be the starting shortstop in Seattle, he'll have to get past Colt Emerson and Cole Young, who are creating quite the logjam in the middle infield. Still, too much talent is always better than not enough and trades can always put the excess players to use even if it means sending them off to new digs.