Thursday, May 11, 2023

Mariners Needed Day Off

The Seattle  Mariners  have Thursday  off
before starting  a  nine game  road trip
beginning in Detroit then Boston and
Atlanta.  We hope the Mariners  bats come 
alive. 

The top and middle of  the  lineup has been
struggling in May so far. Such a problem 
Julio Rodriguez was moved to  the sixth 
spot on Wednesday.  How long he is there 
is anyone's guess. Currently  JP Crawford 
is hitting  well so he is leading off. He
really isn't the answer for the long term.  
JP  can get off track easy  though usually 
hits well  in the first half of the season. 
Wednesday  he walked in his first appearance 
where he ended up scoring  a  run. Later he
hit a double as well.  The Mariners hitters
need to walk a bit more often. 

We are now going to  look at  the  Mariners 
top prospects.  Harry Ford who made his presence
shown in the spring and the World Baseball Classic 
for Britain is having a good start. He is hitting  .293
for high A Everett with  three home runs. Harry 
is walking and striking  out  about once a game. 
For a twenty  year old who we will see probably in
2025 it is good. The weather  heating up his bat
might to as well.  Have to figure  Ford is working 
on his catching  defense too. 

Bryce Miller  the Mariners  number  two prospect
is already  on the scene and looks like he is
going be there along time  with  Logan Gilbert and 
George Kirby.  Not sure who will be the best of the
three which doesn't  matter since all three look
to be good  for a  long time.

Cole Young the Mariners third prospect and top
draft pick last year is batting .292 at low A Modesto.
At 19 years old he hasn't hit a home run  yet but
does have eight doubles and four triples. He is 
walking and striking out under one per game. Not
projected to  be  on the Mariners  until  2026. Most
likely JP Crawford will be the shortstop until then.
The Mariners do have other shortstop prospects 
to however they could be at another position as well
when making the  leap to the majors.

Number four prospect  is pitcher Emerson Hancock. 
He is the Mariners  top  pick in 2020 has only thrown
22 innings in six starts. Also has an era over five. He
has struck out more batters than innings pitched
at double-A Arkansas. Most likely he may make an
appearance in the second half of 2023 depending on
his health and that of the Mariners starters. With
Bryce Miller getting  off well  no hurry  to rush Emerson.
It is hard to  know whether  he will be  in the Mariners 
plans long term. Doesn't mean  he won't be a good 
pitcher but he could be dealt elsewhere along with 
someone else to  strengthen  another position. 

Number  five prospect  is an international player
the Mariners  signed during  the off-season. Might
be the biggest  signing since Julio Rodriguez or
maybe bigger. Felnin Celesten a shortstop and might
be the top one in international signing in a decade
at shortstop. Either he or Young could be at short and
the other at second or third or outfield for that matter. 
Felnin is currently  playing in the Dominican summer 
league at the age of 17. Got to figure several years
away until  Seattle but you never know Ken Griffey Jr
made his arrival at 19.

Next Mariners off day  we will  look at number six
through ten. 

As of now  no roster moves made for the Mariners 
heading  onto the nine game road trip. We do know
Andre Munoz  is not on the roster as of yet. He could
be out for another  month. Fortunately the Mariners 
bullpen  is doing well  for the most part.  Go M's. 


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