Everett AquaSox prove the hype was justified with 1st-half championship

When the 2025 baseball season began, the buzz surrounding the Seattle Mariners wasn’t just limited to the big-league club. A lot of the excitement also trickled down to the farm — specifically in Everett, Washington, where the Mariners’ High-A affiliate, the Everett AquaSox, opened the year with one of the most talent-rich rosters in Minor League Baseball.

Entering the season, MLB.com rankedthe Aquasox as the No. 2 farm team. With three of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects in the lineup — Colt Emerson, Lazaro Montes, and Michael Arroyo — plus the ambidextrous pitching marvel Jurrangelo Cijntje and dynamic athlete Tai Peete, expectations were sky high.

And now, halfway through the year, it's clear those expectations weren’t just hype.

​​Mariners’ farm system shines as Everett AquaSox secure postseason berth

On Thursday night, the AquaSox officially punched their ticket to the postseason, clinching the Northwest League's first-half championship with an emphatic 8–3 win over the Spokane Indians at Avista Stadium. The victory capped off a dominant first half and put a spotlight on the very names that had fans so eager to follow the club in the first place.

Lazaro Montes led the charge in the clinching game, going 3-for-5 with two homers, three RBIs, and three runs scored. Michael Arroyo added a 2-for-4 night with a home run and a walk, continuing his steady tear through Northwest League pitching.

With Everett now postseason-bound, attention turns to an inevitable next step. Who’s ready to be promoted to Double-A Arkansas?

It’s tempting to nominate Montes, whose first-half numbers include 17 home runs, 48 RBIs, 12 doubles, and five triples. But with a 27 strikeout percentage, the Mariners may prefer to give their slugger more time to refine his plate approach before testing him against more advanced arms.

Instead, the most obvious candidate might be Michael Arroyo. The 20-year-old has been remarkably productive across two seasons at Everett. In 122 career games, Arroyo boasts a slash line of .285/.416/.527 with 27 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 73 walks. He’s proven he can handle the level — and now it might be time to see if he can do the same in Double-A.

Whether Arroyo gets the call now or later, it’s clear his time is coming. The same goes for much of this loaded roster. The AquaSox aren’t just a good minor league team — they're a glimpse into Seattle’s future.

So if you’re in the Pacific Northwest, do yourself a favor and catch the AquaSox while you can. Because these names lighting up Everett could be doing the same in T-Mobile Park before long.