Another Top 30 Seattle Mariners Prospect List

by MatthewD on Aug 7, 2025 7:25 PM EDT

First and foremost, I am no scout, merely a fan that watches a whole lot of baseball. My opinions below are formed through a combination of attending games (both minor league and collegiate), looking at statistics, and reading scouting information online. Some of you might be sick of talking Mariners prospects by now, but I’m not so here we go.

1. Dustin Ackley 2B AAA. Not much to say about Ackley that hasn’t been said already. The bat has been good since a horrible April and he is making nice progress defensively at second, where I expect he will able to stay when he hits the majors. I’m willing to cut him some slack on the lack of power thus far, but it is something to be weary of.

2. Michael Pineda SP AA/AAA. Been a big fan since he blew through the MWL in 2008 as a teenager. The velocity has increased to the point where his fastball is a true plus offering, but the most impressive thing has always been his plus control and command. I’m not sold on him being an ace unless the changeup starts showing the same promise it did two years ago, but his slider has developed enough that he could be a quality #2 in a short time.

3. Nick Franklin SS A. Huge breakout year. Putting up ridiculous numbers in a tough pitcher’s league as a teenager making his full season debut. While I do think he will be able to stay at shortstop, I do not think he is a long-term switch hitter. His performance is much better from the left-side and apparently the swing isn't so hot on the right.

4. Alex Liddi 3B/1B/OF AA. Numbers four, five, and six could be put in any order as far I’m concerned, but for now I’ll put down Liddi. He demolished the Cal League last year and showing it wasn’t a complete fluke this year in AA. The strikeout rate isn’t particularly good (nor is it really bad) but he’s still only 21 and has time. Has good athleticism overall but probably not a third baseman long term. Profiles best in the corner outfield to take advantage of strong arm.

5. Greg Halman CF AAA. I am not a huge fan because of the strikeouts, but the overall speed, power, and defense package is too much to pass up on. Could end up as a Dave Kingman/Alfonso Soriano hybrid with the bat, but it’s much more likely he does nothing at all. Of course this is only his age 22 season and the power he’s shown in his first year of AAA is just insane.

6. Johermyn Chavez OF A+. Another breakthrough in 2010 thanks to High Desert. The BABIP is way too high at .371 but the splits are even and he hasn’t been horrible on the road. His triple slash line is deceivingly good at .315/.385/.584 but I do think there’s something here. At 21 years old in advanced A ball is at a perfect ARL.

7. Rich Poythress 1B A+. Numbers seven, eight, and nine are all interchangeable just like the three before. Right now I say Poythress, who I was a fan of before he got drafted by Seattle in the 2nd round in 2009. The LD% is low for a power hitter at only 11.6% but he has been good on the road so his overall line isn’t purely inflated by High Desert. The K rate isn’t as bad as the other first base prospects in the system and he’s willing to take a walk. Interesting but useless fact: Poythress leads all the minor leagues in RBI’s.

8. Blake Beaven SP AA/AAA. Would be much more worried about the low K rate if he wasn’t so young and already pitching in AAA. I’ll echo what you’ve probably already heard about this guy, he’s a decent bet to be a mid to back of the rotation starter but the drop in velocity on his fastball into the low 90’s prevents any real upside beyond that (unless he can develop a better breaking ball or something off speed). I like the low BB rate, the control looks borderline special.

9. Carlos Triunfel SS/3B AA. Wouldn’t be on my list at all if I was looking purely at statistics but he has looked good in the couple times I’ve seen him play and enough people that know what they’re talking about like him. The guys at PI are still big fans and have some scouting reports to back it up. Apparently the bat speed is great and is making enough progress at short that we can’t say for sure he will have to move. Still only twenty but I find it hard believe he’s ever going to be an everyday player in the majors.

10. James Jones OF A. Numbers ten through fifteen can basically be put in any order; don’t get too worried about the exact number. I probably like Jones more than most, the athleticism is great and the numbers have been solid (especially in the second half this year). He draws walks and will continue to improve as a hitter now that he’s no longer pitching.

11. Nate Tenbrink OF/1B AA

12. Kyle Seager 2B/3B A+

13. Mauricio Robles P AA

14. Erasmo Ramirez SP A

15. Josh Lueke RP AAA

16. Dennis Raben 1B A+

17. Matt Mangini 1B AAA

18. Carlos Peguero OF AA

19. Guillermo Pimentel OF R

20. Taijuan Walker P R

21. Ji-Man Choi C/1B R

22. Daniel Cortes RP AA

23. Maikel Cleto P A+

24. Steven Hensley P AA

25. Gabriel Noriega SS A

26. Stephen Pryor RP A

27. Mario Martinez 3B A

28. Denny Almonte OF A+

29. Julio Morban OF R

30. Dylan Unsworth P R

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Read More: Dustin Ackley (2B - SEA), Michael Pineda (P - SEA), Nick Franklin (SS - SEA), Alex Liddi (3B - SEA), Alfonso Soriano (LF - CHC), Seattle Mariners

Comments

Ackley

. . . went yard in Iowa! lol
Sorry, I thought this was the gameday thread for a second but, Ackley’s propect status goes up and down from ab to ab for many doesn’t it? Its up again.

Rip Fredrick0220, cwhitman412, Mets2k9- mis you guys

by casejud on Aug 7, 2025 8:46 PM EDT reply actions

apparently the wind is blowing out 30+ MPH

And the ball hit the top of the fence to go over for the homer.

R.I.P. cwhitman412, Frederick0220, & Mets2k9

by Dewey Finn on Aug 7, 2025 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

figured as much lol

Ackley looks like he’s ‘light in the loafers.’

by Rupert Pupkin on Aug 8, 2025 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions

just realized i’m going to go see this guy next Wednesday. not that my opinion means much, but hey, it’s always cool to see top ’spects in action.

R.I.P. cwhitman412, Frederick0220, & Mets2k9

by doublestix on Aug 8, 2025 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions

it's also cool to abbreviate "prospects" to "'spects'"

by mrkupe on Aug 8, 2025 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Chavez

will be an interesting player to follow once he is moved up and out of High Desert. Not to say he hasn’t already peaked my interest with the campaign he had in 2009 along with what he’s doing this year. But I’d like to see how the bat responds to a different hitting environment, I’m fairly optimistic.

"The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers."

by fourfingerwoo on Aug 7, 2025 9:56 PM EDT reply actions

BDNF

This kid is a beast. I would have him neck and neck with Pineda for best in the system.

by King Billy Royal on Aug 7, 2025 10:30 PM EDT reply actions

Dylan Unsworth

I see you’re celebrating Sharkie Week.

by ThomasG on Aug 7, 2025 11:52 PM EDT reply actions

Indeed!

Only 1 BB in 41.1 IP for the seventeen year old, that’s amazing. I’ve heard nothing on what kind of pitches he has, but he earns a spot for that statistic alone.

by MatthewD on Aug 8, 2025 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd rank Anthony Vasquez over Unsworth at this point.

And probably slot Vasquez in the low-mid 20s.

by ThomasG on Aug 9, 2025 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Still pretty aggressive for a kid way down on the farm from South Africa whose other numbers are pretty meh.

Even at 30, there’s probably guys who could rank that didn’t rank.

by Humbled Fan on Aug 9, 2025 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

You're probably right

The case could probably be made for someone like Baron, Carp, Catricala, Hill, or Wilson (or any of the guys mentioned later in this thread like Moran and Lawson) over Unsworth.

I like Sharkie more than most and wanted to recognize him for the start he has had to his professional baseball career. However as a projectable teenager with already plus control the upside is sky high.

by MatthewD on Aug 9, 2025 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree...

Denny Almonte is an A+

by soccerman0 on Aug 8, 2025 1:59 AM EDT reply actions

Well, I don't know about that

but he has good athleticism and raw power, which combined with his relatively young age makes him worthy of a top 30 ranking in a non elite system like Seattle’s. Probably a C prospect with some upside.

by MatthewD on Aug 8, 2025 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Peguero is too high

He has not done anything outside of April. He is definetly still interesting due to his power tool. However, he is still a great long shot. He belongs just outside of the top 20.

I would place Cortes and Prior above Choi, Mangini, Cleto, and Peguero. Choi has shown little power in Arizona(though I believe complex league stats mean next to nothing) and is too far away at this point to rate above them. Mangini has had an interesting resurgence with the bat this year. Unfortunately, he is likely only a bench player unless he gets a prolonged chance and hits very well. Cleto has played poorly and been plagued with injury woes the past two years. He is too far away and I see him more as a reliever at this point.

Otherwise great list. Only other change I would make is dropping Halman to 9. I really do not like his odds of contributing. He will strikeout more than Mark Reynolds in the majors unless he improves greatly. That is very unlikely in my opinion. The only reason he is so high is that he has the upside and tools of a hall-of-famer if he pans out.

by tdot mariner fan on Aug 8, 2025 11:55 PM EDT reply actions

Peguero may be a little high

However the power is a legitimate major league tool and he’s still very projectable. While he does strike out too much he’s at least walking more this year. He probably won’t ever crack the majors, but he’s only ranked 18th in roughly average farm system.

Cortes and Pryor are ranked as low as they are because they are pure relief pitchers, while Cleto still has a chance to start and still has good stuff. In some ways he reminds me of JC Ramirez, someone whose statistics just aren’t at the same level as the scouting reports. The problem with relief pitchers is even at their maximum upside, the best RPs in the game are only worth about 2-2.5 WAR. Cortes and Pryor look decent, but I don’t seem them turning into Mariano Rivera anytime soon.

Agreed on Mangini though, in all likelihood he turns out to be abother Greg Dobbs. I feel comfortable with his ranking however because of his amateur pedigree, good numbers in AAA, and low strikeout totals throughout his career. There’s still a small chance he catches on as an everyday player

by MatthewD on Aug 9, 2025 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess I would say there's just a very low chance of Peguero making the majors (His slugging hasn't topped .400 in any month since April) and a guy like Dan Cortes, who is tossing 98 mph out of the pen, most likely will.

But I guess it just comes down to ceiling/floor, etc. A half-decent outfielder is as valuable as a great reliever. I guess I just don’t think much of Peguero once you remove that first month, he’s pretty bad.

by Humbled Fan on Aug 9, 2025 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Basically that sums it up

Both Pryor and Cortes have excellent stuff for a reliever and are not too far away. That is why I would take them over the ones I listed. I was a big fan of Peguero but his lack of hitting outside of April and still worrisome contact issues have really diminished my opinion of his chances. He is playing in a pitcher friendly league and is still relatively age appropriate for the level, so there is still some hope but it is marginal.

by tdot mariner fan on Aug 9, 2025 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions

By the way, I love Tenbrink at 11

I thought he was an interesting sleeper this winter like Dunigan. He has a decent enough bat to be a good backup or 3rd tier starter at 3rd/1B/LF/RF. He has managed to improved his walk rate significantly while leaving High Desert. I think his bat will show a bit more power when he leaves the Southern League and gets into his prime years. The placement might be a bit aggressive right now but might look nice years on.

by tdot mariner fan on Aug 9, 2025 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

You're underselling Tenbrink

I’d have him higher, above Triunfel, Poythress, Halman, and maybe Liddi but below Chavez. He’s got at least league average upside, though I like him more in an OF corner than anywhere in the infield. He’s got the tools to play 3B and I’ve seen him make some highlight-reel plays, but he botches routine grounders all the time.

by slamcactus on Aug 22, 2025 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions

I really have no problem with your top 10.

You got the top 3 right and that’s all the matters. Most of the rest are interchangeable. I would probably flip flop around the guys 11-30 and take some guys out. I’d drop Peguero way down, he’s not much of a prospect at all. Neither is Denny Almonte, but I guess we are splitting hairs all the way down at 28.
I like the aggressive ranking of Erasmo, a personal favorite of mine. It’s really after 15 that I see a few minor issues. I’d move up: Walker, Cortes, Cleto, Pryor. I’d add: Brian Moran, perhaps James Gillheeney, perhaps Matt Lawson, Josh Fields, perhaps Forrest Snow… basically not a whole lot different other than Moran is the biggest omission, and Peguero should be dropped down, and at this point as a potentially dominating reliever, Cortes maybe as high as 16. I don’t think Raben will ever be a regular.

by Humbled Fan on Aug 9, 2025 11:10 AM EDT reply actions

I just don't value relief pitchers that highly

I really like Erasmo because of his increase in velocity into the low 90’s and the fact he should stay a starter. The command and control look special.

I’m actually a big fan of Moran and I really liked this selection when the Mariners drafted him last year. However as a left handed specialist (even one that is likely to pitch in the majors) his value is really limited. His absolute maximum upside is about a 1.5 WAR, I’d rather take a chance on someone like Almonte turning into an average everyday player (which is about 2-2.5 WAR). With Fields, he just can’t seem to stay healthy and the scouting reports indicate a complete lack of consistency with his stuff even when he is functional. Snow just doesn’t have good enough stuff to have success in the majors (but as a fellow UW Husky I’d love to see him maximize his potential).

Lawson I like as a potential utility player, but he’s kind of old for the level and his numbers weren’t great before he joined the Southern League. His scouting reports are kind of ‘meh’ and there’s not much to get excited about tools wise.

I’m not really that high on Raben either, but he has monstrous power, in both raw strength and in-game situations. Peguero and Raben are Seattle’s best bets among left handed power hitters which is perhaps the most valuable asset in Safeco Field.

by MatthewD on Aug 9, 2025 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd say there is almost no chance of Peguero and Almonte making the majors (for any significant amount of time) and Raben is a future platoon backup.

I guess I just like the idea of getting major league caliber players, even if they are relievers. No, you don’t want 20 of your top 30 prospects to be relief pitchers, but if the fact remains that Peguero probably won’t be a 1 WAR player (I just don’t think he will or Almonte) then I’ll take what I can get until the M’s find some real power. And I would say that as a utility infielder, Lawson just has a better shot to be a 25th man than some of those other guys. And 100 times out of 100, I would take Pimental over Peguero. At least Pimental has a good chance left.
Peguero’s wOBA’s by month:
.505, .333, .340, .231, .242
K% by month:
19, 31, 31, 44, 32
He’s been a very very bad hitter since April.
Almonte has a .315 wOBA this year and a 37% k rate despite playing in freaking High Desert. His only claim to fame will be being drafted one spot ahead of Mike Stanton.

by Humbled Fan on Aug 9, 2025 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Pimental over Peguero makes a lot of sense but I was not going to quibble over one spot

Realistically, Pimental has much higher potential as a hitter than Peguero. BA rated his power as a 70/80 while hinting at future potential growth. They also suggest that he can hit for a decent average. Peguero only has his plus-arm and prodigous power. While Pimental will likely be a well below average outfielder or 1B, Peguero is not going to rate much higher. Pimental has much greater projection and has not yet had the years of conditioning and coaching that have failed to elevate Peguero to a major leaguer.

by tdot mariner fan on Aug 9, 2025 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions