Mariners' first spring training cuts deal a new blow to sinking prospect

Due to the World Baseball Classic, the Seattle Mariners began spring training with a huge list of non-roster invitees. That list got a little smaller on Monday, and the most notable cut was outfield prospect Jared Sundstrom.

The 24-year-old was among three players who were reassigned to minor league camp, joining right-hander Gabe Mosser and infielder/outfielder Blake Rambusch. Minor league spring training games are set to begin on Tuesday.

It's not an unexpected development for Sundstrom. Though he got an invite to big league camp, he's the type who won't be a candidate for major league playing time until he shows he can handle Triple-A. He spent all of last season with Double-A Arkansas, and the experience was mostly a negative one despite some positive flashes.

Quick cut from Mariners camp adds to Jared Sundstrom's recent woes

Overall, Sundstrom played in 115 games with the Travelers and ended with a .219/.297/.374 slash line. He struck out 105 more times than he walked, and his home run count went down to 12 from 13 the year before.

There is still some semblance of belief in Sundstrom, who was a 10th-round pick back in 2023, among the prospect intelligentsia. Baseball America ranks him as the No. 23 talent in Seattle's system, with MLB Pipeline putting him at No. 17.

Both publications rate Sundstrom as an above-average runner with good power. And his speed, at least, was still in fine form last year. He attempted 39 stolen bases and was successful in 35 of them.

Even so, a 29.7 strikeout percentage at Double-A is never not alarming. And there was a lot at play with that last year, with Baseball America noting that Sundstrom's miss, chase and in-zone whiff rates all took a turn for the worse relative to 2024.

Sundstrom did shake off some of the bad vibes with a strong showing in 12 Cactus League games, going 4-for-13 with a double and a homer. But he mostly saw action in relief of starters in the back half of games, and thus had the luxury of facing poor competition.

Because of his power and speed, Sundstrom remains a lottery ticket sort of prospect. If he can dial in with his approach and tap into his power more consistently, the Mariners could end up with a 10th-round winner. If not, well, it's not often that a franchise laments having missed on such a late pick.