Headlines and Homers: Week of July 10th

Headline #1: Prospects on the Move

The MLB All-Star break usually signals many prospect promotions mainly because the sample sizes are large enough for executives and scouts to know their players. The Mariners are no different; they've promoted a few exciting prospects this week. 

Gabriel Gonzalez and Cole Young took the California League by storm this season, anchoring a Modesto Nuts lineup. The 19-year-old Gonzalez has a ton of helium, rising as high as #71 in Bleacher Report's mid-season Top 100 prospect list. Outfielder Alberto Rodriguez jumps to Arkansas in a corresponding move, where he'll join the Texas League North half champions lineup. 

The Mariners' number five prospect, Felnin Celesten, also kicks off his minor league career in the Arizona Complex League tonight. 

Headline #2: Mariners Trade Deadline Chatter

The Mariners ran through a gauntlet of formidable foes, including Tampa Bay, San Francisco, and Houston, to the tune of a 7-3 record. That performance creates serious buzz around the team being buyers for this trade deadline. Jon Morosi joined Wyman and Bob this week and offered his thoughts on a buy-low candidate.  

"Tim Anderson three months ago was good enough to play second base for Team USA at the World Baseball Classic," Morosi said. "He's had an up-and-down year with injuries and consistency, but he has not forgotten how to hit. He's still a good baseball player and he's coming to the end of his contract. He's a change of scenery guy I would look at." 

Anderson would add more contact to the heavy strikeout prone lineup, and replace Kolten Wong at secondbase. He also mentioned St. Louis Cardinals, Nolan Gorman, and Brendan Donovan are good fits. 

Headline #3: Mariners Lauded for Draft Haul

Director of Scouting Scott Hunter took a different approach to the draft this year, grabbing three preps with high upside in the first round. The board fell that way, as many of the proven college bats were taken before the Mariners were on the clock at 22. They also took a few sleepers, like Brody Hopkins and Teddy McGraw. 

The draft haul is an interesting mix of fast risers, talented preps, and high-leverage arms that should elevate the farm back into the early teens. Future Star Series' Joe Doyle also rated the Mariners' 2023 class as the 8th-best haul. 

 Homer of the Week

We aren't going with one blast, but how about an MLB HR Derby record 41 of them? Superstar slugger Julio Rodriguez might have run out of gas in the semi-finals of the annual event, but the first round and the night was all about him. 

The best news of the night was that he came out unscathed (unlike Luis Robert) and ready to tackle the second half.