Seattle Mariners Top 20 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review

This list was originally published January 2, 2009. This is a REVIEW of the PRE-SEASON list for 2009, not a revision of that list. This is a REVIEW of the old list. The first grade listed is the OLD GRADE.

1) Carlos Triunfel, INF, Grade B+: Has missed all but two games due to a broken leg.

2) Greg Halman, OF, Grade B: Hitting .212/.277/.32 with 21 homers, 151 strikeouts and 25 walks in 377 at-bats in Double-A. Enormous power, with enormous holes in his swing.

3) Phillipe Aumont, RHP, Grade B: 3.38 ERA with 55/21 K/BB in 48 innings, 40 hits allowed combined between High Desert and West Tennessee. Adapting well to relief role.

4) Juan Ramirez, RHP, Grade B: 5.19 ERA with 95/42 K/BB in 118 innings, 132 hits for High Desrt. Holding his own considering the environment, 6.35 ERA at home, 3.60 on road.

5) Michael Pineda, RHP, Grade B: Has missed most of the season with a sore elbow, currently on rehab assignment in the Arizona Rookie League.

6) Michael Saunders, OF, Grade B-: Hit .310/.378/.544 for Triple-A Tacoma, currently hitting .260/.315/.320 in 15 games for the Mariners. Hasn't shown power against major league pitching yet, but sample is very small.

7) Adam Moore, C, Grade B-: Hitting .281/.348/.407 combined between Double-A and Triple-A. Not as much power as you'd expect given size and strength.

8) Jharmidy DeJesus, 3B, Grade B-: Hitting .261/.360/.391 in the Appalachian League. Not living up to pre-season expectations yet.

9) Dennis Raben, OF, Grade B-: Has missed the entire season with injury.

10) Mario Martinez, 3B, Grade C+: Hit just .214/.264/.314 in the Midwest League. Demoted to Everett and has been more effective, .330/.373/.487. Unrefined as a hitter, will try again in full season A-ball next year.

11) Mike Carp, 1B, Grade C+: Hitting .265/.378/.446 for Tacoma. Drawing a lot of walks, power production moderate but not ideal for first base.

12) Mike Wilson, OF, Grade C+: Hitting a combined .211/.327/.366 between Double-A and Triple-A. 52 strikeouts in 41 games.

13) Maikel Cleto, RHP, Grade C+: Has pitched just nine innings in A-ball, on shelf since early July.

14) Joshua Fields, RHP, Grade C+: 6.48 ERA with 36/22 K/BB in 33 innings at Double-A, 33 hits allowed. Good strikeout rate, but command has been disappointing and he isn't as close to the majors as advertised on draft day.

15) Shawn Kelley, RHP, Grade C+: 5.04 ERA with 21/6 K/BB in 25 innings, 30 hits allowed in the majors. Has missed time with strained oblique.

16) Matt Tuiasosopo, 3B, Grade C: Hitting .256/.343/.446 in 32 games for Tacoma, another guy who missed time with injury. Strikeout rate high, 46 in 32 games, 121 at-bats.

17) Ezequiel Carrera, OF, Grade C: Hitting .344/.456/.440 in Double-A, 21 steals. Very fast, and has improved his plate discipline this year. Lack of power remains a problem.

18) Brett Lorin, RHP, Grade C: 2.32 ERA with 94/26 K/BB in 101 innings, 73 hits between Midwest League and the Sally League following trade to Pirates. Having a fine season, stock is rising.

19) Justin Thomas, LHP, Grade C: 5.40 ERA with 46/36 K/BB in 48 innings, 60 hits allowed for Tacoma. Walk rate too high, very hittable, not much of a prospect at this point.

20) Steven Hensley, RHP, Grade C: 10-4, 4.10 with 112/33 K/BB in 125 innings between Clinton, High Desert, and West Tennessee. Good command, stock has risen, survival at High Desert is a good sign.

This wasn't a particularly deep system to begin with, and injury attrition has taken a significant toll. Halman's bust potential is extremely high, and no one knows what to make of Triunfel. There is no one here who looks like a definite star, and the trade of Lorin along with Nathan Adcock and the hard-throwing Aaron Pribanic further reduces system depth. They are relying on the college-oriented 2009 draft to recharge the organization quickly.