3 players the Mariners might be able to steal with 24th pick in MLB Draft

It doesn't feel like Seattle Mariners fans are as excited for the 2026 MLB Draft as they were for the 2025 iteration. It's as if there's a difference between lucking into the No. 3 pick (and getting Kade Anderson, no less) and having to wait until the No. 24 pick in the order.

And yes, it's true that there isn't a rich history associated with Seattle's top pick in the draft. In all likelihood, the Mariners are going to miss out on the top players in the class and have to resort to trying to find a diamond in the rough.

The thing to remember about the draft, though, is that it rarely goes according to the script. Players are always rising and falling, and the Mariners know what it's like to benefit from that.

These 3 players might actually fall to the Mariners at the No. 24 pick in the draft

Take the 2024 draft, for example. Ryan Sloan was seen by MLB Pipeline as the No. 19 talent available, but the Mariners were able to get him with the 55th overall pick. He's now arguably the best pitching prospect in MLB.

As such, it's worth considering which highly ranked players might fall to the Mariners this year.

RHP Cameron Flukey, Coastal Carolina

As of now, the wind seems to be blowing a college pitcher Seattle's way. Both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America have them taking Tennessee righty Tegan Kuhns, a fastball-slider guy with good control.

Yet even if he's not the best college arm in the class — that's UC Santa Barbara's Jackson Flora, who could be a top-five pick — Cameron Flukey is a candidate to be a steal for the Mariners with the 24th overall pick.

Flukey only has a 4.08 ERA to show for his college career, and he made just seven starts this year by way of a rib injury. Yet he could be especially tough for the Mariners to pass up if he lasts to them. They like tall pitchers who can throw hard and pound the strike zone, and Flukey checks all three boxes.

Though the 21-year-old Flukey has entered the transfer portal, him delaying his pro career and returning to college is seen as unlikely. That should be true even if he falls to the Mariners, as they can secure him with a strong bonus and the allure of their tried-and-true pitching lab.

SS Justin Lebron, Alabama

Jerry Dipoto hasn't used his top first-round pick on a college bat since Evan White at No. 17 back in 2017. That didn't pan out, so it's not surprising that mocks tend to be focused on college arms and prep bats instead.

If Justin Lebron is still on the board, though, Dipoto will have to seriously consider taking the gift. The 21-year-old has tools for days, including plus-plus speed that has allowed him to go 66-for-68 in stolen bases in NCAA competition. He also has 46 home runs in 177 career games.

He's a polarizing prospect, however, because his hit tool is seen as below average. That might be less of a deal-breaker for the Mariners, who have largely forsaken contact hitting in favor of slugging. It's not always pretty, but five years and counting as a contender proves it's effective enough.

TWP Jared Grindlinger, Huntington Beach HS

If he's not the best player in the draft class, Jared Grindlinger is at least the most interesting. He's a legitimate two-way player who's listed at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds. He's also still just 17 years old, and therefore far from having filled out his frame.

Though there could be more power down the line, the consensus seems to be that Grindlinger's future is on the mound. He already touches the mid-90s and throws strikes, with a feel for a slider and a changeup.

Though Grindlinger is obviously one of the draft's top talents in a vacuum, the mismatch between the arm and the bat and his commitment to Tennessee make it possible to imagine him falling. And if he was to fall to the Mariners at No. 24, securing him could be as simple as making a can't-refuse offer of a good bonus and a promise to let him continue developing as a two-way player.

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