Tacoma Rainiers (3rd in Pacific Coast League West)
If there is one thing we learned about the Rainiers is the offense, and the bullpen drives the team. They can impact the baseball with four players mashing double-digit home runs. Jake Scheiner, Mike Ford, Brian O'Keefe, and Taylor Trammell combined for 54 long balls. Additionally, their outfield is one of the most dynamic sets of athletes in the Mariners' farm system. Cade Marlowe, Zach Deloach, and Taylor Trammell provide a tantalizing speed, power, and contact mix.
With the big-league club struggling to find a spark, they could look to one of those prospects. My money is on Marlowe. President of Baseball Operations, Jerry Dipoto, has gone on record praising the 26-year-old outfielder for his "five-tool skill set," which seems like something the Mariners are lacking near the bottom of the order.
Arkansas Travelers (1st in Texas League North)
The Travelers rode a dominant starting staff and a balanced lineup to the first half division championship. MLB Futures game invitee Jonathan Clase is still striking out at a high rate (28.7), but he is making enough contact to flash his elite speed on the basepaths (42 steals). The combined slash line between Everett and Arkansas of .246/.365/.885 is also solid. He probably isn't ready for the bright lights of Tacoma yet, but first baseman Robbie Tenerowicz is.
Tenerowicz, affectionally nicknamed "The Birdman," is in the Texas League top five in nearly every offensive category proving he's ready for the jump to Tacoma. He had a first half for the ages authoring a .307/.431/.956 slash line while anchoring the middle of the Travs lineup. Mike Ford is no longer blocking the 28-year-old's path to Tacoma, which should make promotion easy.
Pitchers who could get the call to Seattle include ace Emerson Hancock and reliever Prelander Berroa. Both prospects have flashed of late, and with the Mariner's strategy of having pitching prospects skip Triple-A ball together, Seattle is the next stop.