Down on the Farm: Mariners Minor League Check-in

The sample sizes are rising, so we are starting to get a clearer picture of the Mariners' farm system. The resounding descriptive word that comes to mind is depth. There is plenty of depth up and down the ladder. Well, start at Cheney Stadium, where the Tacoma offense has cooled, but the pitching is trending upward. 

Tacoma Rainiers 

18-21 (4th in PCL West)

The offense carried the Rainiers over the first few weeks of the season, and now the bats have gone cold. Once considered a possible mid-season callup, Cade Marlowe is mired in a slump that saw him strike out 12 times in the last series. The strikeouts were always a concern, but early season numbers pointed to an adjusted approach. Maybe he is pressing, or the league is catching up; time will tell. For the Mariners' sake, the team could use a skillset. 

If the team is going to pull out of this funk, they'll have to get Mike Ford, Bryan O'Keefe, and to a less extent, Mason McCoy going because the pitching can't sustain their current performance. Positive contributors included Zach Deloach (.267/.388/.785), who continues to showcase the ability to get on base, and Jake Scheiner (team-leading 12 homers).

Veteran southpaw Tommy Milone continues to live up to the 'crafty lefty' moniker. His latest start was the only bright spot from the rotation. Milone spun five innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts. Relievers Matt Festa and Riley O'Brien continue to lock down the late innings with their deceptive fastballs and devasting sliders. This could be a massive development as the Mariners look to answer the high-leverage equation due to Andres Munoz extended injured list stint. 

Everett Aquasox 

16-16 (4th in Northwest League) 

Led by a dynamic one-two punch of Harry Ford and Tyler Locklear, the Aquasox are staying afloat in a competitive Northwest League. Ford, the organization's top prospect, continues to show a keen eye (30 BB/27 K) at the plate and a strong arm behind it. However, the big headline for Ford is cracking his first High-A dinger. 

Meanwhile, Locklear exceeds his prospect status by filling a run-producing role in the Frogs' lineup. He has made massive strides in the box, almost doubling his walk rate between Modesto (5.3%) and Everett (10.4%). In addition, the slugging first baseman is delivering in big run-producing spots thanks to the dynamic Aquasox top of the order (Harry Ford, Ben Ramirez, Hogan Windish). Peek at the Northwest League Leader Board, and you'll see an exciting trend. Six weeks and 125 at-bats into the season, Locklear is in the Top 10 in nearly every major category.

The pitching has been solid in some cases and spectacular with newfound ace Reid VanScooter. The former North Carolina Tarheel is showcasing a four-pitch arsenal with his late-life fastball leading the charge. VanScooter's last start (6 IP, one run, 6 K) was a right-the-ship performance and something he can build upon as he moves up the ladder soon. 

Modesto Nuts 

17-16 (3rd in Cal League North)

The Nuts had a rough week dropping five of six to Inland Empire. Their losses were marred by some poor defense, which is surprising considering their athleticism across the diamond. Outfielder Andrew Miller and Third baseman Milkar Perez are standout offensive performers who authored excellent weeks. Perez took over the team lead in batting average (.318) from Cole Young, thanks to a handful of solid games (6 hits). As for Miller, he raked, chipping in a huge opposite-field homer in a come-from-behind win. 

Former second-round pick Michael Morales skipped a start this week (rest), resulting in lefty Brandon Schaeffer taking the mantle as the top pitching performer. The box score was spectacular (7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 K), but the stuff is what popped. Schaeffer throws two sliders, a hard-breaking back footer, and a sweeper. Both pitches were on target in this start, as well as a solid changeup. Look for the southpaw to continue building upon this start forming a Big Three with Morales and Shaddon Peavyhouse throughout the rest of the season. 

The standings don’t look too hot right now, but as most of you know, the minor leagues are more about development than wins and losses. However, the talent is starting to rise, and so will the promotions. So now is your chance to check out your favorite prospects before they head up the organizational ladder.