Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo at MLB Pipeline, and Kiley McDaniel from ESPN released their midseason Top 100 prospect lists this week. The Mariners have a couple of fast risers, a unanimous new #1, and a reason for optimism from the 2024 draft class.
While the big league team is fighting to the finish with the surging Houston Astros for the American League West pennant, it's smooth sailing on the farm with the Mariner prospects holding six spots in the MLB pipeline Top 100 and five in the ESPN equivalent. One of the most surprising risers is injured centerfielder Jonny Farmelo (40 ESPN).
Mariners abound in the most recent industry prospect rankings
Farmelo, who showed a five-tool skillset earlier this season, was running a spectacular .264/.398/.421 slash line in 46 games before an ACL injury abruptly ended his season. This injury, while a setback, is not expected to significantly impact his future performance.
Name | Mariners Top 30 | MLB Pipeline 100 | ESPN 100 |
---|---|---|---|
Colt Emerson | 1 | 30 | 11 |
Cole Young | 2 | 37 | 39 |
Lazaro Montes | 3 | 48 | NR |
Harry Ford | 4 | 53 | 53 |
Felnin Celesten | 5 | 73 | 69 |
Tyler Locklear | 6 | 94 | NR |
Jurrangelo Cijinte | 7 | NR | NR |
Ryan Sloan | 8 | NR | NR |
Jonny Farmelo | 9 | NR | 40 |
Logan Evans | 10 | NR | NR |
The Mariners' 2024 draft class is well-represented in MLB Pipeline's midseason Top 30, with Jurrangelo Cijinte (7) and Ryan Sloan (8) cracking the top 10. The two flamethrowers have different styles and timelines thanks to Sloan's jump from high school to the minor leagues, but Mayo and Callis are high on them - especially Sloan, one of the most developed prep pitchers in the past few years.
Another player from this year's draft class to watch is backstop Josh Caron, a former Nebraska Cornhusker with some of the loudest exit velocities in the class. Caron routinely flashed power to all fields for the eventual Big 12 champion, Huskers.
While the defense is average and will need some fine-tuning, he is firmly the second-best catcher in the system and primed for a stretch run with the Modesto Nuts—Caron slots at #25 in the Top 30 list.
Just for fun, recently traded outfielder Aidan Smith is sitting at #80 on McDaniel's list. So, for those folks thinking we got a steal for Randy Arozarena, we'll revisit that conversation in a couple of years. For now, the farm is in a great spot and continues to be brimming with talented youngsters who just might make an impact on the big-league club in the years to come.