Mariners receive unfortunate reminder of bleak draft bust

The Seattle Mariners' recent series against the Orioles was sobering for a few reasons. First and foremost, it was a disappointing loss against a non-contender that put a halt to the team's scorching momentum and gave the Houston Astros some breathing room in the standings.

However, Baltimore's starting lineup in the final game of the series on Thursday came with a subtle yet painful reminder of how far the organization has come over the past decade.

With Adley Rutschman getting the day off, Alex Jackson filled in the role of starting catcher. Not quite a household name, Jackson has had big league stints with five different organizations over the past six years and has struggled to find a long-term home. This sort of journeyman career is all too common for players who are drafted late or aren't drafted at all, but Jackson was drafted sixth overall in 2014 by none other than the Mariners.

Despite high expectations, Mariners' first-round pick Alex Jackson failed to live up to the hype

At the time, Jackson was a highly-rated prospect. Selected out of high school, his scouting report was full of superlatives and some believed that he would be a top-10 pick despite some fluctuations in performance throughout his high school career.

After being chosen, he quickly took the top spot on the Mariners' top prospects list ahead of names like Ketel Marte (No. 3) and Edwin Díaz (No. 7). He even earned himself the No. 28 spot on the MLB Pipeline Top 100 list, placing him higher than Kyle Schwarber (No. 49), Trea Turner (No. 62), and even Aaron Judge (No. 68).

His first professional season was met with immediate challenges. He started the year with the Clinton LumberKings, Seattle's High-A affiliate at the time and managed just a .453 OPS over 121 plate appearances. Things improved after moving to Low-A Everett and he'd spend the entirety of his second professional season with the LumberKings.

Following the 2016 season, Jackson was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Rob Whalen and Max Prose, the two of whom combined for an astounding 15 innings pitched for Seattle. Ultimately, Jackson delivered neither on-field trade value to the Mariners and was, for the most part, a bust of a selection. However, his struggles were hardly an isolated problem for the franchise.

The 2010s were a dark decade for the Mariners. The organization was seemingly allergic to two things: winning games and acquiring meaningful talent. There were some highlights, including Kyle Seager's tenure and the short-lived Robinson Canó free agent contract. But for the most part, the team's best players came and went.

While it may not feel like it at times, the 2020s have been a new chapter for the team. They finally managed to break the playoff drought in 2022. More importantly, they've begun operating more like a true contender. Their farm system is rich with talent, they make big trades at the deadline, and money is spent efficiently on extending homegrown superstars. This year, they're an absolute force to be reckoned with and they have a real chance of winning the division, something they were never close to doing in the previous decade.

Even in the face of a discouraging defeat, the reappearance of Alex Jackson should serve as a reminder of how far this front office has come. It's far from perfect and fans are right to continue to expect more, but it wasn't too long ago that the team's current position would be seen as nothing more than a pipe dream.

In fact, it's encouraging to see that both parties involved in this situation have become better off. Jackson is back to the big leagues and the Mariners are back to being postseason hopefuls.