Mariners dug up an overlooked minor league strikeout machine for their future bullpen

The Mariners bullpen was a disaster this season, ranking 22nd in team ERA thanks in large part to a dearth of quality options. Well, what if we were to tell you there's a reliever who could help in the near future, who has tantalizing strikeout capabilities verging in Kade Anderson territory and offers slight shades of Matt Brash with the sheer electricity of his stuff? Step forward, Lucas Kelly.

Kelly was drafted out of Arizona State University by the Mariners in the sixth round just last year, and is already showing glimpses of being the type of reliever they desperately need. His control and command have proven to be wild at times, but the talent is undoubtedly there. And what better organization to grow with, than one which has an excellent reputation for developing pitchers during the Jerry Dipoto era in Seattle, particularly later-round picks?

Everyone knows how dynamic Anderson was in 2026, with a season for the ages in Double-A Arkansas that resulted in being named minor league pitcher of the year. Among other things he produced a phenomenal 40.5 K% which was best in the farm system, so it speaks volumes that Kelly's 37.6 K% was second-best among all M's minor league pitchers. How can fans not get excited by the possibilities, when you look at footage like this:

The Mariners should be careful not to tame Lucas Kelly too much

It's tough not to focus on Kelly's funky delivery, but it hasn't stopped him from turning into a strikeout machine thanks to his ability to get down the mound well. We love the carry on his fastball and while the breaking ball might break too much, too soon, there's still something there.

As for his aforementioned control and command issues, you can at least point to a gradual improvement in this area since joining the M's organization when looking at his WHIP and then his walk-rate specifically:

We appreciate that critics might argue Kelly's improvement in Double-A was helped significantly by pitching at Dickey-Stephens Park, which is notorious for being pitcher-friendly. However, keep in mind that he had a 1.114 WHIP during August, when six of his 10 appearances came on the road. He followed this up with a 0.900 WHIP in September and while he only had four outings, he produced a 0.600 WHIP in his two outings away from home.

There are of course the understandable arguments about statistics and numbers being manipulated to support any argument, combined with the still relatively small overall sample size of Kelly's minor league career. In addition, the 23-year-old is clearly a rough diamond who needs to be cut and polished. However, the fact that he's even a rough diamond alludes to the potential at his disposal and must have Dipoto and company salivating about the possibilities with the righty.

In some ways Kelly is like a wild horse who needs taming, as an imposing physical presence who can reach 99 mph on his heater. At the same time, the Mariners need to find the right balance so as not to tame him too much and compromise his abilities. In this respect his improved performances during 2026 allude to the M's doing a good job with this and while his ETA for the majors is currently 2028, we wouldn't be surprised to see him in Seattle at some point next year (pending how long the lockout lasts).

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