Tacoma Rainiers Middle of the Order Shines
7 – 7 (Sixth in PCL)
Brian O’Keefe, Mike Ford, and Zach Deloach continue to pace the Rainiers’ offense combining for 21 extra-base hits. We are only fourteen games into the minor league season, but the best development is how the Mariners' number 26 prospect, Deloach, is flashing in the box (.353/.450/.940) and the field.
Unfortunately, 2022 Mariner Minor League pitcher of the year Taylor Dollard has mixed results through his first two AAA starts throwing eight innings of three-run ball. Scouts believe Dollard was the most MLB-ready of the Mariners' pitching prospects. However, if we base that assumption on early season results, that might not be the case anymore.
The excellent news is Tacoma has thrown a couple of bullpen games with Riley O'Brien and Taylor Saucedo shoving (4 IP, 0 ER, 7 K). In addition, the team lost veteran southpaw Tommy Milone (DFA) this week, which is a big hit to a staff that includes Easton McGee and J.B. Bakauskas.