Grading the Mariners last 5 first round draft picks

This weekend marks one of the most important events of the season for the Seattle Mariners, the draft. The draft is where the Mariners can get better, even if we will not see that player in T-Mobile Park for a few years. There has not been a long line of offensive superstars wanting to don a Mariners jersey, and even if there were, i doubt ownership would spend that money. But the draft? That is where Jerry Dipoto and the rest of the front office make this team a contender.

If you look at the Mariners' current roster, most of the players are "homegrown", meaning the Mariners either signed them as an international free agent or drafted them. The others? They were traded for, using prospects selected in the draft or international free agents. The international free agency signing period happens in the offseason, while the draft now kicks off All-Star weekend. The draft starts at 4:00 PM PST this Sunday, July 14, and goes through July 16th.

While the Mariners had three first round picks last year, they have just one this year. The Mariners hold the 15th overall pick in this year's first round, and the 55th overall pick that will come in the second round. In the past, the Mariners valued high school bats such as Harry Ford, Colt Emerson, Cole Young and others. They also took college arms in three consecutive years when they selected Logan Gilbert, George Kirby and Emerson Hancock from 2018-2020.

Speculation as to who the Mariners will draft this year is all over the place. Earlier this month, Mariners Scouting Director Scott Hunter said that high school pitchers could be in play. The Mariners have not selected a high school pitcher in the first round since they drafted Taijuan Walker back in 2010.

But for today, we are going to take a look back at the last 5 years worth of first round picks and give them a grade. Some grades maybe obvious, some may be a surprise. Most of these picks have yet to debut with the Mariners, but it is not just production that is going to be graded. WHo else was available at the time of the pick will be taken into account, as well as current prospect rankings.

2019 First round pick: George Kirby, RHP (Elon University), 20th overall pick

I think we all know the grade I am going to give this pick, it's not rocket science. This pick definitely gets an A+. Kirby has been one of the most consistent front-line starters in all of baseball throughout his Mariners career. George is in his third season in the Majors and has already been an All-Star once (Back in 2023). He has made 75 starts in his career, and has posted a 3.37 ERA (3.11 FIP) and hs hearned 7.1 bWAR. George is still just 26 years old, and under club control through the 2028 season.

While most pitchers today are focused on their "stuff", George has really excelled on his command. His pitches are still nasty, don't get me wrong, but George really excels on limiting his walks. In 2023, George led the league in walks per 9 innings with 0.9. He walked less than one batter per 9 innings, that is insane to me. So far in 2024, He has the same BB/9 with 0.9.

In this draft, the Mariners had the 20th overall pick where they selected George Kirby. The only player who has an All-Star appearance who was selected after Kirby is Gunnar Henderson. While it would be nice for the Mariners to have Henderson in their lineup, I am happy with the pick the Mariners made. Not to mention, if these guys were re-drafted, the Mariners would not have either Kirby or Henderson.

Like I said above, I give this pick an absolute A+.

2020 First round pick: Emerson Hancock, RHP (University of Georgia), 6th overall pick

Emerson Hancock came with a lot of hype behind him. That happens when you're the sixth overall pick, but he always had an uphill climb ahead of him. 2020 was a chaotic year, and one that did not have Minor League Baseball. His development was slow out of the gate, and none of that is his fault. Even though he started behind, Hancock made his Major League debut with the Mariners in 2023, before a shoulder injury ended his 2023 campaign.

This year, Hancock started the year in the rotation for the Mariners filling in for injured starter Bryan Woo. Hancock has been a bit inconsistent in his short career. He has pitched to a 4.71 ERA (5.14 FIP) in 57.1 career innings. That is a small sample size for sure, and Hancock still has a long career ahead of him. In June of 2024, he won the Pitcher of the Month award for the PCL in AAA and has been called up to make a spot start here and there for Bryan Woo.

The 2020 Draft was a weird one. Only four players that were drafted in 2020 have been an All-Star, and the Mariners could have drafted all four of them. Garrett Crochet (CWS 10th overall), Jordan Westburg (BAL 30th overall), Spencer Strider (ATL 126th overall), and Bryce Elder (ATL 156th overall) are the players the Mariners could have taken. Can you imagine Spencer Strider pitching for the Mariners? In this rotation? My goodness.

Overall, Hancock still has alot to prove. He has been valuable for the Mariners, and he still has some serious potential. For now, I will give this selection a solid B. The book is still open on Emerson Hancock, and expectations are still high for the former 6th overall pick.

2021 First round pick: Harry Ford, C (High School, GA), 12th overall pick

After selecting college level pitchers in the first round three years in a row, the Mariners selected high school catcher Harry Ford with the 12th overall pick in the 2021 draft. Ford currently is the second ranked prospect and 23rd overall ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He is currently in AA Arkansas, playing in his age 21 season.

While Ford may not have made his Major League debut quite yet, He was the lone bright spot in the World Baseball Classic for Great Britain in 2023. He opened a lot of eyes with his plate discipline so far through the minors, which translates to his high on base percentage (.407) in his minor league career.

Ford's value may not come from him in a Mariners uniform. The Mariners are currently in first place but have glaring holes in their lineup, and Ford may be traded to bring in Major League talent. There are only a handful of teams who have their catcher for the future, but Ford has recently been playing games in left field, showcasing that he is more than just a catcher. If the Mariners hang onto him, he would be a great value to the team's bench. Remember Austin Nola? He played all over the diamond, but was also great behind the plate.

Only two All-Stars are from this draft class, both Jackson Merrill of the San Diego Padres and Mason Miller of the Oakland Athletics are first time All-Star's this year. But with what we have seen from Ford already, I think the Mariners did very well with selecting him with the 12th pick, and I will give this pick an A.

2022 First round pick: Cole Young, SS (High School, PA), 21st overall pick

Just like when the Mariners took Harry Ford in the first round in 2021, the Mariners selected another high school bat when they took Cole Young with the 21st overall pick in the 2022 MLB draft. Young was selected because of his advanced hitting skills, which he has shown so far in the minor leagues.

Cole Young is ranked as the 22nd best prospect in all of baseball according to MLB Pipeline, just one spot ahead of Harry Ford (23). Young, like Ford, has played the entire season in AA Arkansas. His slash line is impressive, especially when you consider the position he plays. He is hitting .262/.352/.391/.743 with seven home runs and 14 stolen bases. He walks at almost the same rate as he strikes out (136 walks to 152 strikeouts) in his career.

Like I mentoned with Harry Ford, Young's value may not come with the Mariners. As the Mariners look to make a push for the playoffs, prospects like Young, Ford and others will be highly coveted by other teams. We have seen time and time again that not all prospects pan out at the Major League level, and sometimes a player's value is at its highest before the player makes his debut.

I like what Young brings to the table. He can play both second base and shortstop, and can be a dynamic leadoff type hitter. There is not much to dislike about him, and with all that being said, I will again give the Mariners a solid A grade for this pick.