Welcome to our team prospect rankings. Over the next two months, I will be pumping out team top prospect rankings and evaluations for dynasty baseball. These reports are generated from live looks, film study, and advanced data analysis to bring you in-depth fantasy scouting reports on every player you need to know, with today’s being the Seattle Mariners Top Prospects.
Not all 30 players in each writeup will be dynasty relevant, but many will, and if you play in a deep league, certainly most of the names will be worth knowing.
You can check out our previous Top Prospect Rankings:
Each player has a detailed write-up. The top 10 rankings and writeups are free for all, but the rest of the top prospects are for paid subs. Get an edge in your dynasty leagues and get in on some of these players first! Let’s get to it: our Seattle Mariners top prospects.
1. Colt Emerson, SS, 18, 6’1”/195
No player increased their stock among prospect circles more than Colt Emerson. The Mariners first round pick slashed .374/.496/.550 with two home runs and ten doubles in 114 plate appearances.
Emerson was only 17 years-old on draft day; but over the last year he really added to his 6’1”/200 lb frame. As a prep player, he showed a strong feel to hit and his data was incredible as he chased at just a 15 percent rate on the showcase circuit and has an 84 percent contact rate. All of this carried over to professional ball and what Emerson did was nothing short of impressive.
In the small pro sample, Emerson made contact at a rate north of 80 percent with a zone contact of 86 percent. He showed a strong eye at the plate as well, chasing just 20 percent of pitches out of the zone.
While he did hit just two home runs, the exit velocities were impressive in Emerson’s pro debut. The average exit velocity checked in right around 89 mph and he paired it with a 90th percentile exit velocity of 105 mph, which is already north of MLB average.
Emerson has actually seen his run times tick up and he was eight of eight on stolen base attempts in 2023. His 6.7 second 60-yard dash suggests plus speed.
If all clicks, Emerson could be a plus hitter with above-average or better power and speed.
FFG: Power/Speed MI
90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .285/.360/25 HR/20 SB
Variance: Medium
Buy/Sell: Buy
2. Harry Ford, C, 20, 5’10”/200
Ford is a strong athlete behind the plate who was selected 12th overall in the 2021 draft. Since being drafted, Ford has hit, got on base at a high clip, seen his power tick up, and stole bases effectively. While there is a possibility that Ford could move off the position, his athleticism and abilities at the plate will play at any position in the field.
While being a bit undersized, Ford gets to more power than you might think from his 5’10” frame. While hitting just 15 home runs, Ford sprays line drives to all fields with authority with a 90th percentile exit velocity close to MLB average of 103 mph.
Ford is a passive hitter, swinging at just 39 percent of pitches in 2023 while making contact at a rate of 73.5 percent. The chase rates as a professional have been some of the best in the Minors over the last two years.
As a strong athlete, Ford has nice speed and has shown to be very effective in stealing. Over 241 professional games, Ford has stolen 50 bases and has been caught just 13 times.
Whether Ford sticks behind the dish long-term or not is still a question, but regardless, the skillset will play as he profiles as a high OBP bat with power and speed.
FFG: High OBP Power/Speed C
90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .270/.375/20 HR/20 SB
Variance: Medium
Buy/Sell: Buy
3. Cole Young, SS, 20, 6’0”/180
Young is one of the safest hitters in all of the Minors, having a selective approach and making contact at a very high clip. Selected in the first round of the 2022 Draft, Young hit the ground running as a professional and spent time between Single-A and High-A in 2023, accruing 606 plate appearances. Over those 126 games, Young slashed .277/.399/.449 with 11 home runs and 54 extra-base hits.
The hit tool is the carrying tool, as Young made contact at a rate north of 80 percent this season while being selective and chasing around 15 percent of the time. The exit velocities are fine, but nothing to write home about.
Young is a more valuable prospect for real life than fantasy because of the OBP skills and a solid glove in the field. The power profiles are below average, meaning Young could be a 15-home run bat long-term, but he is still 20 years old and has the potential to grow into more. From a speed standpoint, Young could steal 15 bases a year. While the skillset is not flashy, it is safe and Young feels like a good bet to be an everyday regular in the majors.
FFG: High OBP MI
90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .290/.370/15 HR/15 SB
Variance: Low
Buy/Sell: Buy
4. Lazaro Montes, 1B/OF, 19, 6’4”/250
Montes is a massive human being with a sweet left-handed swing that generates easy power. After dominating the Dominican Summer League in 2022 as a 17-year-old, Montes went stateside in 2023, spending equal time between the complex and Single-A, slashing .303/.440/.560 with 13 home runs.
The calling card here is the power as Montes generates easy bat speed and can send a baseball to the moon. At the complex, Montes registered a 118 mph exit velocity, which is insane for an 18-year-old. His swing generates natural loft, allowing Montes to get to home run power with ease.
The contact skills are the major question mark here. With a big frame and an aggressive swing, Montes does have holes. He ran a contact rate near 69 percent last year, but as the season wore on, he began to see more breaking balls which really ate him up. In September, the swing rate ticked up, as did the chase rate, all while the contact rate dropped below 65 percent, a concerning mark.
While Montes will likely move to first base long-term, the bat will play. The power is some of the best in the minors and even if the hit tool stays below average, the OBP skills are there which helps. There is no speed to speak of, but Montes could be a 30 home run bat consistently.
FFG: Power Hitting CI
90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .270/.370/30 HR/1 SB
Variance: High
Buy/Sell: Buy
5. Felnin Celesten, SS, 18, 6’1”/175
The prized possession of the Mariners 2023 international signing class, Celesten, unfortunately, did not see any game action on the field due to a hamstring strain. The switch hitter might have more upside than anyone in the system, if all pans out for him.
Already having grown from his listed 6’1” height, Celesten has a ton of projection in his frame but already flashes big power with high exit velocities. The power looks currently better from the right side of the plate, but Celesten has shown the ability to get to it from the left side as well. The contact skills are better from the right, leaving it easier for him to get into game power there.
Celesten has an aggressive swing and approach, sometimes taking big hacks, leaving questions about how the approach will fare against more advanced pitching. If the hit tool and contact numbers can sit around league average, it will allow the rest of the skillset to flourish.
Having potential plus power with plus run times, there is a lot of dream on with Celesten from a fantasy standpoint. If he does fill out, the run times could tick down, but Celesten is likely to be a threat on the base paths for the early part of his career. A strong performance in 2024 will see his stock soar, so invest in Celesten now before its too late.
FFG: Power/Speed MI
90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .275/.350/25 HR/15 SB
Variance: High
Buy/Sell: Buy
6. Tyler Locklear, 1B, 23, 6’1”/210
A second-round draft pick out of VCU in 2022, Locklear hit the ground running in Single-A Modest post-draft. In 2023, he missed time due to injury, but Locklear accumulated 375 plate appearances between High-A and Double-A, posting a .288/.405/.502 slash with 13 home runs and 12 stolen bases.
Locklear has a funky pre-swing setup with his hands high and a bat-waggle similar to Gary Sheffield's. It causes Locklear to have impeccable timing when it comes to his load and swing. While having high-end contact skills in college and his pro debut, Locklear made contact on just 70 percent of pitches he saw in 2023, which was a step back from his 76 percent mark in 2022.
The power is plus as Locklear posts above-average exit velocities and gets to power to all fields with ease. To the pull-side, Locklear hits some towering home runs and he is comfortable spraying doubles to the gaps, especially on outside pitches.
Locklear does not chase often and posts high walk rates, leading him to play better in an OBP format. Being a first base only, there is pressure on the bat, but Locklear has the power and solid enough contact skills to be a solid contributor at the big league level as soon as 2024.
FFG: High OBP 1B
90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .275/.370/25 HR/7 SB
Variance: Medium
Buy/Sell: Buy
7. Gabriel Gonzalez, OF, 20, 5’10”/165
Gonzalez has moved through the Mariners system rather quickly as he was signed in 2021, and after a strong showing in the Dominican Summer League, made it to full-season ball in 2022. The power breakout happened in 2023 as Gonzalez hit 18 home runs across 535 plate appearances with a .298/.361/.576 slash line.
Having a shorter frame, Gonzalez is strong and packs a punch showing a feel for power to all fields. Gonzalez has one of the more aggressive approaches in the game, swinging at over 55 percent of pitches and making contact on 75 percent. He does have a strong feel for contact in the zone, but the quality of contact is not always there, as Gonzalez swings at nearly all pitches in the zone.
While most of his home runs did come in hitter-friendly environments, with seven of his nine in High-A coming at Everett. In Single-A, five of his nine came on the road at San Jose and Stockton. The power is something to keep an eye on, as the exit velocities are closer to average.
Running chase rates near 40 percent for the last two seasons is also something to watch as Gonzalez moves up levels.
FFG: Well Rounded OF
90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .275/.350/20 HR/5 SB
Variance: High
Buy/Sell: Hold
8. Jonny Farmelo, OF, 19, 6’2”/205
Farmelo has an athletic frame and a smooth swing from the left-side of the plate with a strong feel to hit. The speed is one of the biggest selling points as Farmelo posted a 6.3 second 60-yard dash as a prep player, which is easy 70-grade numbers. Having a good eye at the plate, Farmelo can take a walk while rarely chasing out of the zone.
Farmelo has handled all pitch types well as a prep player, which is encouraging when a high school can pitch up spin. The swing is balanced, and even though he is mostly a line drive hitter right now, I could see him developing into a 20 home run bat due to his high-end bat speed and vertical bat angle.
With an impressive 6’2”/205 build and the kind of run times that Farmelo posts, he could wind up being a major breakout in 2024, having the potential to be a 20 home run/30 stolen base threat.
FFG: Power/Speed CF
90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .270/.350/20 HR/40 SB
Variance: High
Buy/Sell: Buy
9. Jonatan Clase, OF, 21, 5’9”/150
Clase has long been known for his speed and impact on the bases, having 181 career stolen bases in 313 pro games. 2023 was no exception as Clase ran wild, stealing 79 bases and being caught just 15 times, showing easy 70-grade run times.
2023 also saw Clase see an improvement in the power department, hitting 20 home runs across High-A and Double-A. While High-A Everett is quite hitter-friendly, only three of his High-A home runs came there, while four more came in Spokane which is also a hitter paradise. The move to Arkansas is a much more pitcher-friendly environment, but Clase still got to power across the Texas League. While 20 home runs should not be the expectation, given a smaller frame and lower exit velocities, there is still plenty of extra-base juice to get excited about.
The contact skills sit around average as Clase made contact on 71 percent of pitches while showing respectable chase rates.
The speed will be the calling card, but Clase does provide an interesting skillset for fantasy purposes with a little power and respectable batting averages.
FFG: Speedy OF
90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .270/.340/15 HR/50 SB
Variance: High
Buy/Sell: Buy
10. Ryan Bliss, 2B/SS, 24, 5’6”/165
After a trade from Arizona to Seattle, Bliss might find himself in line for regular playing time at second base in 2024. Having a smaller frame, Bliss broke out in a major way in 2023, mashing 23 home runs and stealing 55 bases while slashing .304/.378/.524. Looking at the surface numbers, you might be inclined to think that Bliss is a star in the making, and while he is a solid player, there are some reasons to be skeptical that he produces the kind of statline he did in 2023 again.
Bliss has a pretty aggressive approach, but still makes it work, posting low strikeout rates and making contact nearly 76 percent of the time. The contact in-zone this year was right around 85 percent, which is a solid number with chase rates better than league average.
Having played his games in very hitter-friendly environments, Bliss made the most of his opportunities, hitting 23 home runs while posting an average exit velocity near 86 mph with a 90th percentile around 102 mph. The exit velocities are below average, and the frame suggests that Bliss might be closer to a 15 home run bat than 20+.
The speed is legitimate and Bliss is likely to make his biggest impact on the base paths as he could be a perennial 30 stolen base threat, making him an intriguing fantasy player.
FFG: Speedy MI
90th Percentile Peak Outcome: .270/.345/17 HR/40 SB
Variance: High
Buy/Sell: Buy
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