Mariners' spring training prospect showcase is winding down with mixed results

There's a half-dozen top-100 prospects in the Seattle Mariners farm system, and every one was promised an up-close look during spring training. But now that the focus is starting to shift, it's time to admit that the experiment was kind of a bummer.

Over the weekend, the Mariners reassigned Kade Anderson, Ryan Sloan, Michael Arroyo and Jonny Farmelo to minor league camp. This is after they had already reassigned Lazaro Montes on March 11. So out of Seattle's six prospects in MLB Pipeline's top 100, that leaves just Colt Emerson still in camp.

As none of those five players was projected to make the Mariners out of spring training, this was always the inevitable endpoint of their time in Peoria. The timing feels like no accident, as this experiment is winding down at the same time as the World Baseball Classic.

A few bright spots, but mostly a learning curve for Mariners prospects during spring training

It isn't all about results. Spring training never is, and arguably all that mattered is whether the team liked what it saw from the big-name prospects it invited to camp.

To this end, Anderson and Sloan undoubtedly made their mark in Peoria. Every time they threw was an event, even when it was a bullpen session or live batting practice. And for his part, Sloan got up to 99 mph in a scoreless inning in his one and only Cactus League appearance.

Anderson struck out nine of the 30 batters he faced in his three appearances, but that was against seven hits, three walks and five runs allowed over 7.0 innings. His fastball showed good qualities, but also got hit at an average of 95.6 mph. The average four-seamer is getting hit at 91.7 mph this spring.

There was a similar vibe to Farmelo's spring. He showed off his athleticism on two doubles, a triple and three stolen bases in 15 games, but he also struck out 13 times in 28 at-bats. That's the big flaw that injuries have made it hard for him to clean up as a pro.

Montes fanned 10 times in 25 at-bats in his own right, and his mighty power didn't show up in the home run column. He's perhaps better than he gets credit for on defense, but his bat will need to be his carrying tool in the long run. The more holes it has, the more unlikely it is that anything will happen for him.

Of the reassigned quintet, Arroyo had the best showing, both in the Cactus League and with Colombia for the WBC. Altogether, he made plenty of loud contact and went 7-for-23 with two doubles and a homer.

Arroyo might be the best bet to impact the Mariners this season, though that depends on his positional outlook and on how fast Anderson can move. Arroyo is looking up at an increasingly hot Cole Young at second base. And while Anderson has yet to make an official pro start, he could move fast if he lives up to his rep as a Max Fried clone.

As for the prospect headliner who has yet to be reassigned, Emerson hasn't exactly impressed at the plate. In 15 games, he's only 9-for-36 with one home run. He's struck out nine times.

There have been bright spots in Emerson's spring experience, including a 16.0 Whiff% that softens the blow of the nine strikeouts. He's also looked good on defense, mainly in place of J.P. Crawford at short while he tries to get over a sore right shoulder.

When it comes down to it, though, Emerson needed a better performance to force the Mariners into a difficult conversation about their Opening Day infield. That could actually work to the team's benefit, as they now have an actionable reason to hold him back and delay starting his arbitration clock.

Absolutely none of this constitutes a disaster. Spring training is spring training, and prospects never bat 1.000 in terms of doing what everyone hopes they'll do. Even if these guys' results were less spectacular, the experience of getting their feet wet would still be a win.

Still, it's OK to wish everything had gone better. That's life amid a spring in which the Mariners have a league-worst 6-16 record and a weird feud that just won't die.