Seattle Mariners Top 20 Prospects

Adam Jones (photo courtesy of Dave Sanford)

SEATTLE MARINERS TOP 20 PROSPECTS

Jeff Clement, C, Grade A-
Adam Jones, OF-SS, Grade B+
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS, B
Clint Nageotte, RHP, C+
Chris Snelling, OF, C+ (grade change from book)
Matt Tuiasosopo, SS, C+
Shin-Soo Choo, OF, C+
Yorman Bazardo, RHP, C+
Bobby Livingston, LHP, C+ (grade change from book)
Wladimir Balentien, OF, C+
Ryan Feierabend, LHP, C+
Luis Valbuena, 2B, C+
Michael Saunders, OF, C+
Michael Wilson, OF, C+
Sebastian Boucher, OF, C+
Osvaldo Navarro, SS, C+
Edgar Guaramato, RHP, C+
Cesar Jimenez, LHP, C
Anthony Vavaro, RHP, C
Craig James, RHP, C

A difficult system to get a handle on. Clement and Jones are the obvious top guys, but after that things become unclear.

Chris Snelling is a very good hitter, but he's also good at getting hurt. I gave him a Grade C in the book, but will increase that to C+. He's a Grade B guy on his own merits, but because of his health record I think we have to be careful.

Clint Nageotte has that killer slider, but control problems remain an issue.

The guys after him all have a mixture of strengths and weaknesses. Livingston has outstanding command but his stuff is only marginal. Bazardo has a good arm but his component ratios have never been impressive. Balentien has plus power but will face a difficult transition against Double-A pitching.

One guy I didn't put in the book that I should have is Emiliano Fruto. He throws quite hard but his track record is erratic; he could slot into the bullpen sometime this year. I'd see him as a Grade C+ type.

As for Kenji Johjima, your guess is as good as mine. He turns 30 this year and I don't really count him as a "prospect" given his experience in Japan.