Mariners' latest mock draft pick would be a case of Jerry Dipoto breaking the mold

We're now effectively a month away from the 2026 MLB Draft in Philadelphia, which means the mock drafts are coming thick and fast. This of course includes one from FanSided, with Mark Powell dropping his predictions for the first round (as well as the Competitive Balance Round A). For the Mariners, Powell has them using the 24th overall pick on outfielder Zion Rose out of Louisville.

The fast and physical Rose has a fun profile, including being very bat-first in a good way. He was a catcher in high school, but the Cardinals decided to move him to the outfield to take full advantage of his athleticism. Powell reasons that the Mariners need more hitters and even though the 20-year-old doesn't look the part yet, that he has 20-20 potential at the Major League level.

Powell concludes by saying Rose is well worth the risk at No. 24 in the draft, and he's definitely right to call it a risk when it comes to the Mariners. A college hitter? In the first round? Of the 57 first-round picks the M's have had in franchise history, only 15 have ever been used on college hitters.

As for the Jerry Dipoto era in Seattle, he's used three of his 13 first-round picks to take college hitters, in Luke Stevenson, Kyle Lewis and Evan White. Stevenson is showing some promise, but the jury's still out, whereas the other two are iffy precedents. Sure they looked good early, but Lewis flamed out quickly and White couldn't stay healthy for love or money.

Some cautionary tales for the Mariners when it comes to drafting college bats

To be clear, we're not claiming drafting Rose is a bad projection. Heck, any selection is going to be a tough act to follow after the Mariners were gifted with the third pick and then Kade Anderson last time around. It's just the reality that the front office would be playing against type if they take this route.

One of the biggest benefits of drafting college bats is that they're capable of moving fast. On the flip side, they don't often have a ton of projection and might not be as willing to take instruction. A prime example of a cautionary tale is Dylan Crews, who the Nationals took second overall in 2023 and has since been on a downward trajectory that's now officially entered ugly territory.

Dipoto and company know pitching -- they've proved it time and time again. We also appreciate Powell's reasoning about boosting the hitting, but will still admit to a sense of unease about this potential approach. As a final note, keep in mind the Mariners' two best young hitters right now are Colt Emerson and Cole Young, who were both high school first-rounders.

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