The Mariners' loaded farm system is hiding a big bust from 2023 draft

For most of the Seattle Mariners' top prospects, 2025 has been a great year. While Ben Williamson and Cole Young have already found themselves promoted to the big leagues, others have put up dominant numbers as they ascend the minor league ranks. However, even though the organization has one of the most talent-rich farms in baseball, not all of its young players are panning out as intended.

Tai Peete was the 30th overall pick and the Mariners' third selection in the first round of the 2023 draft behind Colt Emerson and Jonny Farmelo. He was the organization's No. 7 prospect in 2024 for MLB Pipeline and scouts praised his athletic ability and well-rounded skillset. After an underwhelming 103 wRC+ during his first full season in Single-A, he still managed to start this year in High-A but given his results, it may have been a move made too early.

Tai Peete's place in the Mariners' future has become uncertain in 2025

Across his 295 plate appearances with the AquaSox, Peete is slashing .225/.276/.406 for a 72 wRC+. His strikeout rate has increased to 31.9 percent while walking just 6.4 percent of the time, a combination that severely limits his ability to tap into his power and speed. Last year, his .343 on-base percentage allowed him to steal 45 bases, whereas he has stolen just 12 bases so far this season. When it comes to his power, his ISO of .184 is actually quite a bit higher than it was last year, but his constant pursuit of pop may be what has impacted his plate discipline so negatively.

Despite his lackluster numbers, not all hope is lost. Peete is still a month shy of his 20th birthday and has plenty of time to iron out the kinks in his game. Fellow top prospect Harry Ford had his fair share of struggles in Double-A last season before making necessary adjustments and recently coming up on the cusp of the big leagues.

Some of these troubles could also be attributed to him playing a new primary position in center field as opposed to shortstop. The front office felt that the outfield played to his strengths a little better, but it would understandably take some getting used to, and new defensive expectations often spill over into offensive regression.

The Mariners have expressed no concerns about Peete just yet and he's still an everyday player for the AquaSox. After all, hitting the panic button during a player's second professional season would seem a little premature. It would be equally premature to shop him as an asset at this year's trade deadline given his youth, as well as his stock being down relative to where it could be in just a year or two.

Peete is not playing at the level he or the team wants, but he was a first-round draft pick for a reason. With proper coaching and sufficient time, there's still a good chance he will reach his full potential soon enough.