New MLB mock draft lands Mariners a perfect project for the pitching lab

July promises to be an extremely important month for the Mariners, and not just because they're still looking to get their 2026 campaign on track. This month also sees the MLB draft taking place on July 11-12, in Philadelphia. And according to FanSided's latest mock draft, the M's will be going down a familiar path, in selecting right-handed pitcher Liam Peterson.

Mariners fans appreciate that whoever the front office selects at No. 24, it's not going to offer the same initial excitement as last year, when they took Kade Anderson with the third pick. However, there's still plenty to be intrigued by if it ends up being Peterson. In fact you could contend it would be a steal of sorts, given he's been ranked by MLB Pipeline as the fourth-best pitcher and 14th overall prospect in the 2026 draft class.

FanSided's Chris Landers makes reference to how the Mariners are a college pitching factory which has excelled in recent years. He sees Peterson as a perfect fit, going to an organization with the ability to unlock true frontline upside of a pitcher who has big-time stuff, but doesn't quite know how to harness it.

Jerry Dipoto knows pitching, and Liam Peterson is right in his wheelhouse

This reputation is well-deserved, with MLB.com's Jim Callis recently saying pretty much the same in his own mock draft, albeit he had the Mariners instead taking Tegan Kuhns out of Tennessee. In any event, only the Guardians have produced more fWAR from college pitchers out of draft picks between 2016-25. The success is inarguable, with Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo all currently in the rotation.

Going back to Peterson, it is interesting that heading into his 2026 season with Florida, expectations were high, to the point some scouts predicted he could be the first college arm taken in this draft. However, it did come with the proviso of him ironing some things out. He subsequently produced a 4.59 ERA and 1.423 WHIP in 16 starts, to illustrate he still has plenty to work on.

At the same time, this turn of events is what can conceivably work to the Mariners' advantage, with enough teams potentially passing on him to give them the chance to swoop in. Yes, he has issues with his command, but it's tough not to get excited about someone who can reach up to 99 mph with his three-quarters arm slot, and had 111 Ks in 84.1 innings this past season. And at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, he has the makings of an intimidating presence on the mound.

Overall, the more you read about the 21-year-old, the more you want the Mariners to select him, as he sounds just like the kind of guy they can work with.

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