Mariners Minor League Check-in: Down on the Farm

Andres Munoz Top Reliever Award

The candidates are many. Blake Townsend, recently promoted Ty Adcock, and Rainiers' closer Riley O'Brien all deserve the award. Adcock's story and subsequent ascent from Everett to Seattle in three months is the stuff of legends. But we are leaning into the stats and some positive momentum this week.

The top reliever is Arkansas Travs fireballer Prelander Berroa. We've written extensively about Berroa's upside despite his penchant for free passes (35 IP/30 BB). He flashed in Peoria but always had trouble commanding his dominating stuff. That is the only thing holding the promising Dominican reliever in the minor leagues. Well, it looks like he's turned the corner.

Over the past week, he's only issued two walks in his three scoreless innings of work. The triple-digit heat and a unique biting slider have stymied opposing hitters (BAA .143) and helped the Travs keep pace with the Tulsa Drillers at the top of the Texas League standings.

Manager Scott Servais has packed the Mariner bullpen with high-upside arms (Adcock, Brash, Speier, Saucedo) and no clear opening for Berroa, but we could see him join the team in September for the stretch run. Late-season expanded rosters are the only opening to get him in a Mariner uniform.