3 reasons MLB Spring Breakout is a must-watch for Mariners fans

The Spring Breakout event debuted in 2024 as a way for MLB teams to showcase their minor league prospects without being overshadowed by major league talent. Across a span of several days, all 30 organizations will play at least once, giving fans a total of 16 games to watch.

The Seattle Mariners will play the Cleveland Guardians on March 14 at 8:05 p.m. ET, and there are plenty of good reasons to tune in. Ahead, we'll focus on three.

No. 1: Seattle has one of the best farm systems in baseball

Despite persistent struggles to construct a competitive roster at the big-league level, the Mariners' farm system is one of the best. In their annual ranking of prospect talent, writers for MLB Pipeline placed the Mariners at No. 5, putting them in the same realm as other powerhouses like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox. They currently have seven players ranked in the Top 100.

The Mariners are bringing pretty much all of their top talent to Spring Breakout. And for any fans who haven't gotten a chance to see them yet this year, guys like Colt Emerson, Cole Young, and Lazaro Montes are on the roster and are slated to show off their talents.

Along with the marquee names, more underrated players like Ben Williamson and Brandyn Garcia will also be present. They aren't as well-known as some of the other prospects on the roster, but they've shown very encouraging signs as of late.

This excess of depth bodes well for the team, which has the option to utilize these players in Seattle or include them as parts of a trade to acquire major league talent. In some cases, they'll have to decide somewhat soon. Top prospects Harry Ford and Cole Young are both slated to make their debut this year, with Emerson and Montes projected to be called up in 2026.

No. 2: Viewers will get a first glimpse at the team's top pitching prospects

Last year's draft provided the Mariners' pitching development with plenty of ammunition after the front office selected switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje in the first round and righty Ryan Sloan in the second. Although they couldn't be more different, both are projected to be excellent arms.

Cinjtje was initially drafted by the Brewers in the 18th round of the 2022 draft, but decided to enroll at Mississippi State University. There, his one-of-one skillset quickly went viral. There have been a small handful of switch pitchers in the past, the most notable likely being Pat Venditte, but none have had the raw potential from both sides like Cijntje.

While Venditte sat in the mid-80s from both sides, Cijntje has been reported to throw a fastball in the high-90s with carry from the right side and a low-90s fastball with sidearm delivery from the left side. He is quite literally two pitchers in one.

Sloan is more orthodox, but by no means ordinary. Standing at 6-foot-5, his fastball sits in the mid-90s while topping out at 99 mph, and varies in shape depending on what he wants to do with it. It can cut, ride, or sink, and these will likely end up becoming more refined pitches on their own as he continues to develop. Both his fastball and changeup received 60 grades from scouts while his slider also received an above-average grade of 55.

Both of these players will have the opportunity to take the ball against the Guardians and demonstrate just how bright the future of this Seattle pitching staff is.

No. 3: Mariners pitchers will get to match up against a No. 1 overall pick

While Seattle's group of prospects is elite, Cleveland's farm isn't too shabby either. Ranked No. 9 overall, it's accented by names like Chase DeLauter and Jaison Chourio, brother of Milwaukee Brewers standout Jackson Chourio. Taking the top spot in the system and the tenth spot on MLB's Top 100 is none other than Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft.

He only had a short season in High-A after being selected, but has received immense praise from scouts, notably receiving a grade of 70 for his hit tool. Over his three seasons and 904 plate appearances at Oregon State, he posted a .360 average overall and managed a .407 average with 28 home runs in his final year with the program.

Seattle's group of pitching prospects will have a chance to face off against this highly-touted slugger, who scouts have said has "no obvious weakness at the plate." Who he ends up facing will depend on the game situation as well as where he's slotted in the lineup. However, watching an at-bat against Logan Evans or one of the Mariners' selections from the 2024 draft would be a real treat and a great indicator of what's to come.