Seattle Mariners Minor League Roundup – Week Two
Tacoma Rainiers
Tacoma has had more time under its belt than the other three affiliates, and with a 4-5 record so far, it’s been a somewhat poor mix to start the season. There’s enough talent on this roster to be one of the most compelling teams in the PCL, but they’ll need to start getting things together in order to prove it on the court.
Colt Emerson, fresh off his record-breaking overtime, fouled his foot and had to leave Saturday’s game, although x-ray imaging came back negative. He’s been called everyday and should probably be back in the lineup sooner rather than later.
Currently looking like one of the most prodigious sluggers in all of minor league baseball, Patrick Wisdom has already blasted seven home runs in the young season, blasting baseballs deep into the stratosphere. He’s done the heavy lifting for this roster so far and could be an interesting option as a right-handed platoon option for the big league club if a spot opens up.
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Arkansas Travelers
It’s been a rough start to the season for perhaps the busiest affiliate in the entire organization, as a winless opening weekend put the Travs in the Texas League cellar through the first three games. Despite their zero in the win column, there have been plenty of performances that would indicate that this team’s future is much brighter than where they currently find themselves. Talent wins, and there’s a lot of it on this list.
Kade Anderson made his official minor league debut on opening night, and the southpaw was as advertised, carving up opposing hitters and working four efficient innings in Friday’s game against the RockHounds. Striking out six and walking just one on 59 pitches, the third overall pick in last year’s draft didn’t give up a point and looked like the premier prospect he was touted to be all offseason. His deceptive delivery and comprehensive arsenal are brutal on opposing hitters and should give him an excellent chance to dominate Double-A competition from the jump.
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Everett Aqua Sox
The Frogs started their season with an opening series in Spokane, losing two of three to the Indians in back-and-forth battles featuring crazy momentum shifts. With a powerful lineup and an unproven pitching staff, expect plenty of high-scoring games this season at Funko Field.
Luke Stevenson picks up where he left off. After a great stint in the California League last summer, Stevenson is 4-9 so far and appears to have maintained his balanced approach at the plate. Power, his calling card in college, has been more subdued in the pro ranks, but in his current form, Stevenson is looking more and more like an absolute steal as a Comp A round selection. There’s a non-zero chance he’s the best player on this team.
Jonny Farmelo, the highest-ranked prospect on this list, already homered in the young season, launching a towering shot to the opposite field. The smell is not good right now and will be something that needs to be monitored this season, but I hope the small sample size normalizes sooner rather than later.
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Home Empire 66ers
It’s been an unceremonious start for the Mariner-affiliated 66ers as they have yet to pick up a win, but so far a few explosive performances on the mound have really dashed the team’s chances of winning. It’s far too early to draw any long-term conclusions about how this team will fare, and there are plenty of fun “sleeper” prospects who could easily climb into the second half of the organizational rankings by midsummer.
Korbyn Dickerson, patrolling center field for the 66ers, was terrific throughout opening weekend and remains one of the biggest X-factors in this system. His talent could easily propel him into the upper tiers of Mariner prospects, and while there are some concerns regarding the hit tool, he has made strides in improving his adjustment ability at the plate and has shown the ability to succeed despite it. He’s a big name to be around this season.
Ricardo Cova has been in the system for a while, but has consistently flown under the radar due to absolutely loaded infields in seasons past. Collecting seven hits in his first thirteen ABs, the undersized second baseman has been torn at the plate and will look to continue that success in what will be his sixth season in the organization, even though he is only 21 years old. He should be a key part of this team’s offensive attack this season.
