Hidden gem shortstop with upside bursts into Mariners' top 10 prospects

Day 1 of the Mariners' 2025 draft proved to be extremely fruitful, after they selected Kade Anderson and Luke Stevenson. That Anderson was still available with the third pick was a bonus given that he was arguably the best overall player in the 2025 class, while Stevenson was taken 35th overall and immediately touted as the M's potential future starting catcher.

MLB Pipeline dropped their 2026 preseason top 30 team prospect rankings this week, and it came as no surprise that Anderson and Stevenson both did well in being placed at No. 2 and No. 8 respectively. However, what was more notable about the Mariners' top 10 prospects was that it also included the third player they selected on Day 1 of the 2025 draft: Nick Becker at 57th overall.

Now yes, objectively speaking part of the reason Becker is ranked so highly is due to the trades of Harry Ford and Jurrangelo Cijntje. However, even being at No. 11 if the duo were still with the Mariners organization wouldn't exactly by a bad position for a player who was drafted in the second round out of high school.

The high school in question is Don Bosco Prep which, to date, has only ever produced one Major Leaguer in Angels pitcher Caden Dana, but Becker is aiming to make it two. And he certainly has a number of intriguing assets to make it come true, as a 6-foot-4 shortstop with above-average hit, run and field tools.

Nick Becker may follow a similar path to Ryan Sloan

Certainly the Mariners have a lot of confidence in Becker, hence why they signed him to an above-slot value $2.75 million bonus despite still being in high school. There's slight Ryan Sloan vibes surrounding this, and at just 19 years of age and with his projectable frame you have to think more power and speed could come as he continues to add strength.

Becker is a confident player who has already proven himself a winner, by helping Don Bosco Prep to a 77-10 overall record during his three-year high school career. He produced a 1.251 OPS during that time including a 1.319 OPS in his final year, when he was named the 2025 Gatorade New Jersey Baseball Player of the Year. (Dana incidentally also won the award in 2022.)

The Mariners have a well-earned reputation for being able to find and develop pitching through their farm system, but now there's growing evidence they also have a knack when it comes to the infield. Becker is only the fourth-ranked infielder (and third shortstop) on their MLB Pipeline prospect list behind Colt Emerson (1), Michael Arroyo (5) and Felnin Celesten (7).

Emerson is clearly the main man and expected to make his Major League debut sooner than later this year, but it's crazy to think he himself could potentially be looking over his shoulder at some point, although as things stand Becker's ETA isn't until 2029. The bottom line though is that with his blend of tools, makeup and projection, the Suffern, New York native is someone in the Mariners' deep infield pipeline who has a chance to rise quickly.