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The Seattle Mariners have a stacked system with a top six that is unmatched by just about any team in the league and tons of upside teenagers.
Below are my top 16 prospects with 2012 opening day age, position, and comments on each player. Below the top 16 is a small list of additional notable names. Enjoy.
| Player | Comments | |
| 1 | Jesus Montero (22-C/DH) | One of the best hitting prospects in the game. He has legitimate 30+ HR power and the ability to hit .300 but he is a liability behind the plate in all aspects of the catching game and belongs at 1B or DH. But the bat is so special even if he is a DH he is still the best prospect in the system and he is MLB ready now. |
| 2 | Taijuan Walker (19-RHP) | Walker has #1 starter stuff, frame, and athleticism. His fastball and curve are both plus and his change-up is making progress. He has good control and command of his fastball but needs to improve it with his secondary offerings. He has room to add muscle to his frame and durability. |
| 3 | Danny Hultzen (22-LHP) | Hultzen does not have Walker’s upside but he is nearly MLB ready and still has upside of a #2 if he can maintain his velocity in pro ball. He has plus command and control of an arsenal of above-average offerings and needs little time in the minors. |
| 4 | Nick Franklin (21-SS) | Has a chance to be a star if he can stick at SS and I think he can. He has legitimate 20/20 potential, draws walks, plays the game hard, and should hit for a decent average. He battled multiple injuries and illnesses last year and if he continues to hit in AA they way he did at the end of the year he will have a full bandwagon. I have him ranked ahead of Paxton due to the fact I think he can stay at SS and be at least average there on defense. |
| 5 | James Paxton (23-LHP) | Paxton has a low-to-mid-90s fastball and near plus curveball to go with a durable frame but he needs more innings to gain the durability. He has #2 potential but needs to improve his command and control and is further away from MLB ready thanks to limited action. |
| 6 | Francisco Martinez (21-3B) | He came over in the Doug Fister deal and held his own as a 21 year old in AA. He has above-average power potential and hit tool but lacks much plate discipline and patience and has struggled with defense at 3B. He still has time and a move to a corner OF spot will kill his prospect value. He is more upside than probability but the upside is of an above-average regular but needs a lot of fixing to get there. |
| 7 | Vinnie Catricala (23-CIF/OF) | He has played 1B, 3B, and LF but none of them particularly well but he has raked at every level and hit .349/.421/.601 between A and AA ball. The bat is legit and he shows good discipline at the plate. If he can lock down a full-time position his bat could be useful in the middle of an order. |
| 8 | Phillips Castillo (18-OF) | Castillo held his own in rookie ball at the age of 17 and has potential to be something special with the bat. On defense, though, he might be destined for LF especially as he adds muscle to improve his power potential. He is very raw outside of his hit tool but the Mariners have plenty of time to develop him. |
| 9 | Guillermo Pimentel (19-OF) | Another teenage OF prospect with tools but needs a lot of refinement. He has plus power potential but horrible plate discipline and patience and is raw on defense and projects to be in a corner. |
| 10 | Brad Miller (22-SS) | College bat that has some mechanical issues but it has not stopped him from hitting. He possesses a line-drive stroke and good approach at the plate with above-average speed. He may have to move off of SS but should be solid at 2B or as a utility infielder. |
| 11 | Alex Liddi (23-3B) | Strikeouts are a major concern and a permanent place on defense is still questionable but he has plus power and will draw a walk. He could be a three-true-outcome guy and if he can prove to handle 3B he could be more valuable than I give him credit for. |
| 12 | Erasmo Ramirez (21-RHP) | A ceiling of a #4 starter but he has plus control, a near plus change-up, and a good curveball but his fastball is mostly upper-80s and there is no room for projection in his small frame. |
| 13 | Martin Peguero (18-SS) | Very raw and not the typical upside you would see in a big bonus international signing. May be better suited for 2B or 3B and his approach at the plate is a mess but he does have good speed. |
| 14 | Chance Ruffin (23-RHP) | He has a fastball/slider combo that is MLB pen ready now but needs to improve downhill plane on his fastball and control if he wants to pitch in high-leverage situations. |
| 15 | Chih-Hsien Chiang (24-OF) | Acquired in the deal that sent Erik Bedard to Boston, Chiang has above-average hit tool and moderate power but projects as a 4th OFer since he may be destined for LF and does not have the power to profile there. He also needs to improve his discipline and take a few walks but I think he can be a good 4th OFer. |
| 16 | Carter Capps (21-RHP) | Great frame and throws four pitches with a fastball that reaches mid-90s and an above-average slider but he is still raw and has poor control and his other two offerings are both below-average. He may be a pen arm but a power one that could work high-leverage situations if he fixes his control. |
A few more names to watch: Stephen Pryor (RHP), Tyler Marlette (C), Brandon Maurer (RHP)
-Jonathan C. Mitchell can be found writing about the Tampa Bay Rays at DRaysBay and the Florida Marlins at ESPN’s SweetSpot site Marlins Daily. You can follow him on twitter at @FigureFilbert. Be sure to follow MLBdirt at @MLBdirt
Filed under: On the Farm - Prospects Tagged: | 2012 Top Prospects, Alex Liddi, Brad Miller, Brandon Maurer, Carter Capps, Chance Ruffin, Chih-Hsien Chiang, Danny Hultzen, Erasmo Ramirez, Francisco Martinez, Guillermo Pimentel, James Paxton, Jesus Montero, Martin Peguero, Nick Franklin, Phillips Castillo, Prospects, Seattle Mariners, Stephen Pryor, Taijuan Walker, Tyler Marlette, Vinnie Catricala
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