Seattle Mariners Preliminary Prospect List

by John Sickels on Jan 3, 2026 12:01 PM EST

38 below the fold.

Seattle Mariners 38 players

Dustin Ackley              2B
Jorge Agudelo              OF
Blake Beavan               RHP
Jabari Blash               OF
Andrew Carriway            RHP
Vince Catricala            1B
Johermyn Chavez            OF
Ji-Man Choi                C-1B
Dan Cortes                 RHP
Jose Flores                RHP     rule 5
Nick Franklin              SS
Jimmy Gillheeny            LHP
Greg Halman                OF
Steve Hensley              RHP
Jonathan Hesketh           LHP
James Jones                OF
Alex Liddi                 3B
Marcus Littlewood          SS
Josh Lueke                 RHP
Matt Mangini               3B
Yoervis Medina             RHP
Brian Moran                LHP
Ramon Morla                3B
Carlos Peguero            OF
Guillermo Pimentel         OF
Michael Pineda             RHP
Steve Poythress            1B
Stephen Pryor              RHP
Dennis Raben               OF
Kevin Rivers               OF
Mauricio Robles            LHP
Kyle Seager                3B
Jordan Shipers             LHP
Luke Taylor                RHP
Nate Tenbrink              OF
Richard Vargas             RHP
Taijuan Walker             RHP
Mickey Wiswall             1B

Tweet Comment 61 comments | 2 recs |

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Comments

Notable exclusions

Anthony Vasquez
Anthony Fernandez
Forrest Snow
Alexy Palma
Brandol Perez
Erasmo Ramirez
Estellion Peguero
Phillips Castillo

I’m guessing leaving out Triunfel was pretty much intentional. Any reason behind leaving some of these names off?

by junglist215 on Jan 3, 2026 12:28 PM EST reply actions

+1 on Brandol Perez

Doesn’t throw that hard yet, but very projectable at 17.

by MaineChief on Jan 3, 2026 1:07 PM EST up reply actions

+1

by dbreer23 on Jan 3, 2026 1:35 PM EST up reply actions

can't

by John Sickels on Jan 3, 2026 1:44 PM EST up reply actions

no way

no way to include all of those guys and I seldom write about guys in the latin summer leagues.

by John Sickels on Jan 3, 2026 1:46 PM EST up reply actions

why

because i don’t have enough room to go 50 deep on every organization. I am pushing it at 38 and people will get cut as it is. I’m close to 1200 player in the book

by John Sickels on Jan 3, 2026 1:50 PM EST up reply actions

fernandez

fernandez is pretty interesting, i’ll stick him in and dump hensley.

Carlos Triunfel sucks and is boring.

by John Sickels on Jan 3, 2026 1:52 PM EST up reply actions

LOL

This is a fantastic answer. It may not be poetic but it sums up Triunfel to perfection. Well done Mr Sickels!!!

Dewey and KBR are just.......too........sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!!!

The Wolfpac is looking for new soldiers! Change your logo to the black and red!!!

by King Billy Royal on Jan 3, 2026 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

As a Mariners fan

Sadly I agree. In all honesty he would crack the top 20 in this organization because the tools are still there (especially bat speed and contact ability) but I don’t have a problem with him being left out

by MatthewD on Jan 3, 2026 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

Important to remember

Stats aren’t there but he’s only 20. He was recovering from a missed year and while I’m not really high on him he still has amazing tools.

by Homi on Jan 3, 2026 3:11 PM EST up reply actions

All he has left is age.

And he’ll soon no longer have that.

by ThomasG on Jan 3, 2026 8:32 PM EST up reply actions

Understandable

You really do have to draw a line somewhere. However, when you have this kind of young talent beginning to pile up at the lower levels I tend to look at it as a testament to the great job the FO has done in turning this system around and creating depth. Gone are the days when a player such as Triunfel gets rushed because there’s just a lack of a better option to promote.

by junglist215 on Jan 3, 2026 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

Two more plus Paxton

Josh Fields
Tom Wilhemson
and maybe some Paxton speculation.

by goyo70 on Jan 3, 2026 12:34 PM EST reply actions

Quick typo as well

It’s Rich Poythress not Steve.

by junglist215 on Jan 3, 2026 12:37 PM EST reply actions

fixed

already fixed

by John Sickels on Jan 3, 2026 1:44 PM EST up reply actions

solid system

Dewey and KBR are just.......too........sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!!!

The Wolfpac is looking for new soldiers! Change your logo to the black and red!!!

by Dewey Finn on Jan 3, 2026 1:10 PM EST reply actions

Damn straight

I think I would have them 4-6 range.

Dewey and KBR are just.......too........sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!!!

The Wolfpac is looking for new soldiers! Change your logo to the black and red!!!

by King Billy Royal on Jan 3, 2026 2:16 PM EST up reply actions

Really?

I’m an M’s fan and I like what they’ve done. I figured they’d be top 15, maybe 10, but didn’t think they had made 4-6. I will say that when people look at the system it may not seem deep, but when you start looking at it it’s deeper than it seems.

by 200tang on Jan 3, 2026 2:18 PM EST up reply actions

I am not an M's fan but I really like what they have done

Lots of high upside guys here.

Dewey and KBR are just.......too........sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!!!

The Wolfpac is looking for new soldiers! Change your logo to the black and red!!!

by King Billy Royal on Jan 3, 2026 2:23 PM EST up reply actions

No Matt Lawson? I realize he was exposed on the Rule 5 draft, but he looks like a solid bench player at least.

by Decatur on Jan 3, 2026 1:21 PM EST reply actions

I was thinking this as well.

I know he’s not a great prospect, but all he did this year was hit well and play at the very least averageish defense all over the field. That at least has to get him some consideration for the back half of 20. I don’t get it.

by 200tang on Jan 3, 2026 1:52 PM EST up reply actions

lawson

He’s boring but I will put him in and cut someone else.

by John Sickels on Jan 3, 2026 1:54 PM EST up reply actions

Just a few to names to add

Brandon Maurer
Seon Gi Kim
Julio Morban
Matthew Cerione

by Homi on Jan 3, 2026 1:24 PM EST reply actions

Also, Dave Cameron and Marc W lie Edward Parades quite a bit as a lefty bullpen arm.

link

by Decatur on Jan 3, 2026 1:27 PM EST reply actions

Estelion Peguero (the Dominican guy we just signed for $2.45m last month) might already be a better prospect than Carlos Peguero (who doesn't show much promise with all his Ks and fielding)

by Decatur on Jan 3, 2026 1:29 PM EST reply actions

Surprised

Peguero actually didn’t make this list with all the type surrounding him all summer. But, there usually is some desparity between Sickles and BA. Two different view points.

by Homi on Jan 3, 2026 1:31 PM EST up reply actions

*hype

by Homi on Jan 3, 2026 1:32 PM EST up reply actions

+1

John seems to shy away from IFAs without much/any data to back up the hype, no matter how high the hype. I’d put P. Castillo into this group as well.

by dbreer23 on Jan 3, 2026 1:37 PM EST up reply actions

estelion

I’ll put him in but i hate writing about these types of guys.

by John Sickels on Jan 3, 2026 1:48 PM EST up reply actions

Peguero is easily a Top 10 talent in the M's system right now.

It’s impossible to write about him given that he hasn’t taken an AB in the US, but it would be odd to do a Top Prospects list and omit a guy who ranks so high

by Rudy4three on Jan 3, 2026 8:17 PM EST up reply actions

False

Carlos Peguero is a poor man’s Greg Halman

by jackyz on Jan 3, 2026 9:16 PM EST up reply actions

Other Peguero

Esteilon Peguero

…they should send down Huntington & Nutting, because they aren’t ready, either. - royshowell

by Marinerfanjake on Jan 3, 2026 9:23 PM EST up reply actions

That would make more sense

by jackyz on Jan 3, 2026 11:27 PM EST up reply actions

Lazy comp.

Blanket statement based on k rate. Probably got it from BP. Halman’s defense and speed grades far above Peguero, even if your calling him a downgraded version.

by Paul5418 on Jan 4, 2026 2:25 AM EST up reply actions

Could also make a case for Ivan Ramirez

Another very young VSL player who could make the jump stateside next season.

by junglist215 on Jan 3, 2026 1:33 PM EST reply actions

nope

not enough room for vsl guys with few exceptions

by John Sickels on Jan 3, 2026 1:48 PM EST up reply actions

A few odd inclusions

I’m pretty deep into this system, and yet don’t much care to hear about Rivers, Agudelo, and Hesketh.

Would be much more inclined to hear about guys like Mario Martinez/Julio Morban, or Tom Wilhelmsen/Anthony Vasquez.

That said, interesting group of players.

by Andy Stallings on Jan 3, 2026 2:20 PM EST reply actions

+1

I also like George Mieses more than Andrew Carraway or Luke Taylor.

Catricala seems another odd inclusion.

by bp42810 on Jan 3, 2026 2:42 PM EST up reply actions

taylor

taylor has been cut for space.

I could dump Carraway easily and Mieses is interesting….good heat but low strikeout rate. I have a reason for wanting Catricala in .

by John Sickels on Jan 3, 2026 2:53 PM EST up reply actions

Love Catricala

I think his bat is legit and will have a monster year in HD. Mieses may not get a lot of strikeouts but those Ground balls are HEAVY!

by Homi on Jan 3, 2026 3:13 PM EST up reply actions

Catricala is easily one of my more favorite players in the system.

way underrated in my opinion

…they should send down Huntington & Nutting, because they aren’t ready, either. - royshowell

by Marinerfanjake on Jan 3, 2026 3:50 PM EST up reply actions

Morban and Martinez

The development of both of these player pretty much stalled this season. Martinez just because he hasn’t performed and Morban because he couldn’t get into games because of a bum shoulder. Their exclusions wasn’t suprising. That said, I’m expecting Morban to rebound quite nicely as the talent is definitely there.

by junglist215 on Jan 3, 2026 2:36 PM EST reply actions

Inclusion, not exclusion

Just to clarify on those two — I was surprised that Rivers, Agudelo and Hesketh were on there, not that Morban and Martinez weren’t.

It would seem odd to leave off Triunfel but include Martinez, obviously.

But interest? I’m still interested in both. Whereas, while I’ve followed Rivers/Hesketh/Agudelo, I don’t have much interest in them.

by Andy Stallings on Jan 3, 2026 2:48 PM EST up reply actions

comments

Hesketh and Agudelo are already out in order to get others in.

by John Sickels on Jan 3, 2026 2:51 PM EST up reply actions

Nope

They were excluded from the list not included. Although, I did type “wasn’t” when I meant “weren’t” if you want to get technical.

by junglist215 on Jan 3, 2026 2:52 PM EST up reply actions

Erasmo Ramirez should definitely be here

I’d take him over Agudelo, Blash, Carraway, Flores, Gilheeny, Hesketh, Medina, Rivers, Taylor, and Vargas without a second thought. A case could also probably be made for George Mieses, Josh Fields, and Dennis Raben to be included over some of the names listed above

by MatthewD on Jan 3, 2026 2:56 PM EST reply actions

Raben is on the list.

by 200tang on Jan 3, 2026 3:01 PM EST up reply actions

erasmo

You can have Erasmo but I’ll have to cut Matt Lawon. I don’t get the Lawson love.

by John Sickels on Jan 3, 2026 3:04 PM EST up reply actions

Touche on Raben, I didn't catch him

I for one would much rather read about Ramirez than Lawson however, much more interesting prospect in my opinion. The control looks special and I’m curious if the reports on his fastball moving into the low 90’s have any truth to them. Most people view him as a non-prospect because last year it was being reported he only threw mid 80’s, but I do think there’s something there

by MatthewD on Jan 3, 2026 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

Cliff Lee was traded

and brought us Willy Bloomquist v2.0

by Homi on Jan 3, 2026 3:25 PM EST up reply actions

um....

Richard Vargas is about right behind George Mieses in terms of “stuff”. Don’t be so quick to toss him or Yoervis Medina out for someone who is most likely a back-of-the-rotation-arm. Both have yet to produce “big” stats, but the periphels are there for a much higher ceiling.

Vargas has the stuff to be a “number two guy” much like Michael Pineda. Medina is more likely a middle of the rotation guy if the arm holds up.

by Homi on Jan 3, 2026 3:33 PM EST up reply actions

vargas

Vargas is in, so is Mieses and Medina.

by John Sickels on Jan 3, 2026 3:42 PM EST up reply actions

Vargas is a RP not a "number two guy"

Though I suppose Medina vs. Mieses might be just a matter of preference

by MatthewD on Jan 3, 2026 5:08 PM EST up reply actions

Vargas is only 19

It’s premature to say that he’s a reliever just yet. His build, athleticism, and comparable stuff to Pineda. While sitting around 93 and sustaining through 4-5 innings. Lets see what happens in the Northwest League this coming season before using the jump to conclusions mat.

Baseball America has a good article on him.

by Homi on Jan 3, 2026 7:33 PM EST up reply actions

other

I’m going to have to cut Kevin Rivers for Triunfel I’m afraid. Too many people ask me about Triunfel to leave him out. Sort of like with Tim Alderson. Triunfel sucks but i have to include him.

by John Sickels on Jan 3, 2026 3:10 PM EST reply actions

I think that's fair

What Rivers did in the NWL as a non-drafted player was interesting, but he’s not really a prospect in my opinion

by MatthewD on Jan 3, 2026 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

Rivers doesn't have much of a future

He just had a good year in SS

by Flamefox111 on Jan 3, 2026 6:38 PM EST up reply actions

I don't know how Peguero isn't on this list..

He may be one of the Top 5 players in the system right now. I know he hasn’t played stateside, but it just seems odd to totally leave out a player who is at worst a Top 10 talent in this system.

by Rudy4three on Jan 3, 2026 8:14 PM EST reply actions

Johermyn Chavez

High K rate is a problem and High Desert is a great place to hit, but you can’t ignore the kind of line he put up last year. Kid has some serious pop. Hard not to put him in the top 10.

by istealllamas on Jan 3, 2026 11:19 PM EST reply actions

Mieses and Vasquez are the two most notable snubs off the original list. Mieses in particular definitely deserves a writeup. The only position player I’d say you missed who has a chance to be pretty notable is Matt Cerione.

Most obvious cut is Agudelo, with Carraway close behind. Brian Moran probably doesn’t need an extensive writeup either - there’s nothing wrong with a solid left-handed reliever, but that’s all he’ll ever be, and that’s if he hits his upside. Not super exciting.

by slamcactus on Jan 4, 2026 10:33 AM EST reply actions

Oh, and 'Rasmo

I’m not a big fan of Erasmo Ramirez, but he deserves to be mentioned if you’re going 40-deep in a not so deep organization like this one. I’ll slam anyone who tries to rank him high in this system based on age and performance alone, but he’s still more interesting than guys like Luke Taylor and Mickey Wiswall.

by slamcactus on Jan 4, 2026 10:35 AM EST up reply actions