Bleacher Report thinks this 1st round shortstop will break out in 2024

With a number of elite level infield prospects, Bleacher Report picked Tai Peete, with perhaps the highest upside, to break out in 2024.

Minnesota Twins v Seattle Mariners
Minnesota Twins v Seattle Mariners | Steph Chambers/GettyImages

The Mariners have been absolutely elite at drafting talent and developing it into solid major league players. They have recently drafted guys like Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, and Cal Raleigh, who have gone on to become All-Star level players for the big-league club. They look to have the next wave of prospects to continue this trend with Cole Young, Harry Ford, Gabriel Gonzalez, and Tyler Locklear. Though these four headline the next wave of elite-level Mariners prospects, in a recent Bleacher Report article, a recent first-round draft pick has caught their attention.

Bleacher Report thinks Tai Peete will break out in 2024

The Mariners came into the 2023 MLB Draft with three picks in the top 30 and early signs indicate they have hit on all of them. Viewed as sort of the money-saving pick (after going over slot for both Colt Emerson and Jonny Farmleo), Tai Peete might have the highest ceiling of the Mariners first-round picks from 2023. Peete was climbing up draft boards and the Mariners were excited to get Peete with their third, first-round pick.

Peete immediately slotted in at the number ten spot in the top prospects (per MLBPipeline), after the draft, in an organization loaded with infield talent. Peete received glowing scouting reports for his athleticism and potential. Across most scouting platforms, he was more tools over polish (which is expected for an 18-year-old), but the tools were loud. MLBPipeline gave him a 55-grade power, 60-grade run, 60-grade arm (displaying a mid to upper 90's fastball) and a 55-grade field. There are a lot of really good prospects in the Mariners system, but Peete might have the highest ceiling of all of them with the potential to be a 30-home run, 20 stolen base guy that can hit .250 or so while playing some solid defense.

Peete rewarded the Mariners early on in his first season of professional ball. He slashed .283/.349/.404 with two home runs and six stolen bases in just 24 games. The approach still needs some refining after he posted a 27.5% strikeout rate, but the tools (more specifically the elite power potential) were on full display when he hit a grand slam in back-to-back innings in August.

See where Peete ranks in Sodo Mojo's top prospects here.

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