Mariners up to 3rd in Baseball America’s mid-2020 Organizational Rankings
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The post-draft reevaluation reflects improved depth and upside on the horizon.
The Mariners are roughly smack dab in the center of the woods when it comes to their rebuild, hoping to crest a nearby knoll soon enough to find the best path out. Per Baseball America, they’re making positive strides, as the scouting organization rated Seattle’s farm system the 3rd best in MLB following the 2020 MLB draft, sliding up from 5th prior to the season as they added six prospects, led by RHP Emerson Hancock. Hancock rates as BA’s No. 54 overall prospect from the jump, slotting in as the third-best prospect in the system by their eyes. While Logan Gilbert has steadily improved and dominated, and several other arms in the system look promising, Hancock does offer the day one ace ceiling that can catch the eye of fans and evaluators alike. The Top 100 group includes six Mariners, with OF Julio Rodriguez at No. 8, OF Jarred Kelenic at No. 12, Hancock at No. 54, 1B Evan White at No. 56, RHP Logan Gilbert at No. 63, and SS Noelvi Marte at No. 99.
Across the system, there’s a better balance of position player talent and pitcher depth, though the arms outnumber the bats in the organization’s Top-30, 16 to 14. Seattle trails only the Rays and Padres in these latest rankings, though for rankings purposes it’s notable that the No. 4, 8, 9, and 10 prospects in the system will graduate imminently with their time in the majors - Evan White, Justus Sheffield, Justin Dunn, and Kyle Lewis. Sheffield and Lewis have both had promising starts to the year, while Dunn and White have struggled to build on their AA success. All four should continue to work through their peaks and valleys in the bigs, while most of the rest of the prospect list spends the summer at the alternate site in Tacoma, aside from relievers like Joey Gerber (No. 25) and Anthony Misiewicz (No. 30) and perhaps outfielders Braden Bishop (No. 21) and Jake Fraley (No. 12).