Mariners' 13th-round lottery ticket just had a heck of a pro debut

The Seattle Mariners may have found another mid-round gem in Aiden Taurek, whose pro debut with the Modesto Nuts offered an early glimpse of his offensive potential.

In his first professional game, the 13th-round pick wasted no time making an impression, collecting three hits and showing off the advanced approach at the plate that seemingly made him a steal of a pick in the 13rd round and a key part of Saint Mary’s impressive 2025 offense.

13th-rounder Aiden Taurek is off to a hot start with the Modesto Nuts

Taurek was a catalyst for the Gaels’ offense this spring, helping lead them to one of the most shocking upsets of the NCAA Tournament by knocking off No. 8 ranked Oregon State in the Corvallis Regional. Facing some of the toughest arms in the country, Taurek consistently delivered in big moments and finished the season as one of Saint Mary’s most reliable and productive hitters.

His ability to hit to all fields, control the strike zone (26 walks to 26 strikeouts) and dominate against advanced pitching (a .381/.512/.603 in 82 plate appearances in the West Coast League) have made him a tough out throughout the year.

That skillset has already translated to the pros. In his Modesto debut, Taurek’s three-hit performance highlighted the maturity and high-floor his bat possesses. He had the type of debut that turns heads especially from a player taken outside the top 10 rounds.

While Dipoto, Hollander and Scott Hunter have absolutely nailed the first round in their recent drafts, they have also built a reputation for maximizing value in the middle rounds, discovering regular big-league contributors, developing hitters with strong baseball IQs and polished tools that have high major leauge floors.

Taurek fits that mold perfectly. He’s not the loudest athlete in the draft, with a future filled with perennial All-Star appearances, but his feel for hitting and ability to produce in high-leverage situations make him an intriguing long-term piece.

If his debut is any indication, Taurek could very well be the next mid-round success story in Seattle’s farm system, one that quietly climbs the ladder and forces his way into the organization’s plans.