Headlines and Homers: Week of July 10th
![T-Mobile Home Run Derby](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3363,h_1891,x_0,y_348/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/65/01h5ahkahrs9ta6jz8rk.jpg)
Every Friday, we dive into the top headlines surrounding the hometown team and highlight the homer of the week. This edition of "Headlines and Homers" includes exciting prospects moving up the ladder, trade deadline chatter, and the biggest blast.
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.
Gabby Gonzalez and Cole Young are on the way to @EverettAquaSox joining fellow Top 100 prospect Harry Ford. #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/y8teP6Wl1b
— SoDo Mojo (@SodoMojoFS) July 14, 2023
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.
Key Stat | Alberto Rodriguez | Cole Young | Gabriel Gonzalez |
---|---|---|---|
BA | .306 | .281 | .329 |
OBP | .393 | .399 | .402 |
OPS | .973 | .841 | .890 |
XBH | 48 | 34 | 40 |
SB | 3 | 18 | 12 |
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.
Winthrop’s Brody Hopkins somehow scores on a sac bunt from 2nd after doing his best DK Metcalf verticals jump impression.
— Harrison Cordell Fant (@Fantavious9) March 7, 2023
Whatever it takes I guess. @bigdonkey47 🤷🏻♂️#CollegeBaseball / @WinthropBSB pic.twitter.com/vH0jOhpG4l
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.
JULIO RODRIGUEZ PUT ON A SHOW 🤩
— ESPN (@espn) July 11, 2023
41 home runs in the first round 🚀 pic.twitter.com/JrI4Ajag0p
The best news of the night was that he came out unscathed (unlike Luis Robert) and ready to tackle the second half.
Luis Castillo kicks off the second half of the season against the Detroit Tigers tonight. Meanwhile, the newly promoted prospects should be in the starting lineups for the Arizona Complex League Mariners, Everett Aquasox, and Arkansas Travelers. Time to play ball!