Seattle Mariners Preliminary Prospect List

by John Sickels on Dec 5, 2025 7:46 PM EST

I started off with 52 names and have that cut back to 43. I need to get this below 40. Comments welcome.

Seattle Mariners 43 players

Jean Acevedo 3B
Jabari Blash OF
Tyler Burgoon RHP
Jose Campos RHP
Carter Capps RHP
Andrew Carraway RHP
Dan Carroll OF
Phillips Castillo OF
Vinnie Catricala 3B
Chih-Hsien Chiang OF
Johermyn Chavez OF
Cavan Cohoes SS
Dan Cortes RHP
Anthony Fernandez LHP
Nick Franklin SS-2B
John Hicks C
Cameron Hobson LHP
Danny Hultzen LHP
James Gilheeney LHP
James Jones OF
Alex Liddi 3B
Marcus Littlewood SS
Jack Marder C
Tyler Marlette C
Francisco Martinez 3B
Mike McGee OF
Nathan Melendres OF
Brad Miller SS
James Paxton LHP
Martin (Esteilon) Peguero SS
Guillermo Pimentel OF
Steve Proscia 3B
Stephen Pryor RHP
Dennis Raben 1B
Erasmo Ramirez RHP
Stefen Romero 2B
Chance Ruffin RHP
Victor Sanchez RHP
Jordan Shipers LHP
Carson Smith RHP
Forrest Snow RHP
Carlos Triunfel SS
Taijuan Walker RHP

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Read More: Johermyn Chavez (LF - SEA), Carlos Triunfel (SS - SEA), Alex Liddi (3B - SEA), Dan Cortes (P - CIN), Nathan Melendres (CF - ), Mike McGee (LF - ), Andrew Carraway (P - SEA), Nick Franklin (SS - SEA), James Jones (RF - SEA), Francisco Martinez (3B - SEA), Chih-Hsien Chiang (RF - SEA), Chance Ruffin (P - SEA), Danny Hultzen (P - SEA), Seattle Mariners

Comments

marlette

glad to see he made the list.ive heard some good things about him and am interested to see john’s opinion on him

by scoods on Dec 5, 2025 8:04 PM EST reply actions

littlewood

Did his transition to catcher fall through?

by mrkupe on Dec 5, 2025 8:26 PM EST reply actions

I think the plan was (and still is) for it to be an offseason thing.

by Kaorikaze on Dec 5, 2025 9:02 PM EST up reply actions

If your going to pare the list down,

I would cut:
Acevedo
Melendres
Smith

Although all 3 merit some consideration, I don’t think any of those 3 has performed enough to make me more interested in them as prospects yet.

by bp42810 on Dec 5, 2025 9:09 PM EST reply actions

I agree on cutting Acevedo and Melendres.

Smith has stuff that might merit consideration though. That last name is going to be difficult. I’d probably end up taking off Gillheeney just on lack of velocity.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors

by JY on Dec 5, 2025 10:15 PM EST up reply actions

yeah

yeah both those guys are marginal. Carson Smith stays. Good stuff with that arm.

by John Sickels on Dec 5, 2025 10:19 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed.

Those two names stuck out for me glancing through the list, and I’m glad to see it confirmed by Jay.

I’m also interested in Burin, as someone stated below, for what it’s worth. Was he on the pre-cutback list?

by Andy Stallings on Dec 6, 2025 12:05 AM EST up reply actions

I also agree on cutting Acevedo and Melendres

by silverbook1 on Dec 6, 2025 4:00 AM EST up reply actions

Felipe Burin

I would add Felipe Burin to the list. He killed the VSL this year before getting a stateside callup, where he more than held his own in a limited sample, at age 19. I don’t know much about his physical profile, though he seems to lack size and power. Good idea of the zone though. He essentially did what Jean Acevdeo did last year, but a year younger.

by Kaorikaze on Dec 5, 2025 9:14 PM EST reply actions

Burin may also end up at second, whereas Acevedo has been pushed to the corners a few times already.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors

by JY on Dec 5, 2025 10:19 PM EST up reply actions

Felipe Burin = Luis Nunez version 2.0

Good organizational player, bat won’t play against advanced competition. Extreme, extreme long shot. If forced to pick who I was dropping from the organization I’d take guys like Efrain Nunez and Gabriel Guerrero - less impressive statistical record but better scouting profile - over Burin in a heartbeat.

by slamcactus on Dec 5, 2025 11:03 PM EST up reply actions

Alfredo Morales

Overall it looks like a pretty darn solid list, but I would definitely add Morales. He might be top 15-20 and surely he’s a better prospect than gillheeney, cohoes, acevedo, melendres, carroll, romero, and several others.

If you think you hate me now, wait until you get to know me.

by Rudolf on Dec 5, 2025 9:52 PM EST reply actions

morales

Blah on performance. Interesting tools though. I’ll fit him in.

by John Sickels on Dec 5, 2025 10:20 PM EST up reply actions

The organization absolutely loves Morales.

Multiple AZL scouts said they preferred him to either Castillo or Peguero this year (yes, he’s a year older but that’s a whole lot of raw tools and money).

by slamcactus on Dec 5, 2025 11:04 PM EST up reply actions

Phillips Castillo

Any particular reason he’s listed as a catcher? Never heard that before.

@zvsanders

by Zach Sanders on Dec 5, 2025 10:07 PM EST reply actions

castillo

just a typo. will fix

by John Sickels on Dec 5, 2025 10:15 PM EST up reply actions

It's "Esteilon" Peguero, not Estelian.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors

by JY on Dec 5, 2025 10:16 PM EST reply actions

Peguero

Well he’ll probably be under “Martin” anyway, lol

by John Sickels on Dec 5, 2025 10:19 PM EST up reply actions

I'm clueless but

I’d drop pitchers. Any M’s farmhand who can lift a bat is in danger of finding himself at Safeco for a month next summer—possibly even batting 4th.

by bookbook on Dec 5, 2025 10:29 PM EST reply actions

Brandon Maurer?

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=maurer001bra

by cohnnd on Dec 5, 2025 10:46 PM EST reply actions

Second this

I love Maurer. I know I’m not the only one following the M’s who does.

Understand how he would get left off a list like this, but just to put in a further vote of confidence.

by Andy Stallings on Dec 6, 2025 12:07 AM EST up reply actions

I would cut...

Melendres, McGee, and Gilheeney. For the record, Tom Wilhelmsen still has prospect eligibility. I guess I can see why you want Dan Carroll on there, but he just seems like the kind of marginal prospect who will be absolutely flattened by the double-A transition next year.

by slamcactus on Dec 5, 2025 11:08 PM EST reply actions

Carroll

Carroll is just plain interesting

by John Sickels on Dec 6, 2025 1:07 AM EST up reply actions

I can see that...

though having seen him many times I just don’t think he has the bat speed or eye to stand in against advanced pitching.

by slamcactus on Dec 7, 2025 11:19 AM EST up reply actions

You might be able to get away with leaving Cohoes off

based simply on ignorance. I’ve heard great things about his athleticism and tools, but there’s virtually nothing else to go on. At this point, leaving him on would only be out of intrigue. I think you could justify it vis a vis Victor Sanchez based on hype.

Gilheeney can easily be dumped. Not sure I’d care much about Anthony Fernandez either.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Dec 5, 2025 11:24 PM EST reply actions

Rich Poythress

Did you consider adding Poythress? I still have a little hope for him.

by ddt58 on Dec 6, 2025 1:35 AM EST reply actions

x2

by Domino427 on Dec 6, 2025 8:20 AM EST up reply actions

Why?

And which of the names not already knocked off the list would you bump to create room for him?

by realitypolice on Dec 6, 2025 10:27 AM EST up reply actions

Poy

He was on the original list but I cut him. Just not much upside there for a 1B.

by John Sickels on Dec 6, 2025 10:44 AM EST up reply actions

Catricala

I think he is one of the most underrated prospects based on his offensive potential in all of baseball

"Hello. My name is Matthew Berry. I am on a Fantasy Jihad. Prepare to die!"

by Dominatio on Dec 6, 2025 1:41 AM EST reply actions

Stefan Romero

could probably be cut. From what I heard he’s going to need his offense to carry him to the majors and based on his performances so far and what I’ve read about his tools he seems to be a bit of a long shot

by Aesop on Dec 6, 2025 3:34 AM EST reply actions

Romero was one I was wondering about.

Eventually, they will have to find a position for him or groom him as a bat-first utility player. But his offense thus far has been a selling point, since he led the team in doubles and wOBA (.379) and was a close second in both home runs and slugging percentage, all the while coming off a fractured arm. On top of that, the pre-draft reports had people wondering if he could stay at third, but he spent 42% of his games this season at second base. He’s old for the level and it’s just one year, but I think he’s sufficiently intriguing at this point. I just wish he was capable of playing short in a pinch.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett Mariners Minors

by JY on Dec 6, 2025 3:45 AM EST up reply actions

Romero

To me, he’s sufficiently interesting to warrant making this list. I’ll agree that he’s a long shot, but at the bottom of a 40-player list, who isn’t a long shot?

He started off slowly, which to me is understandable for a guy making his pro debut coming off a fracture.

From about mid-may on, he was a day-in, day-out performer, with significantly improved overall numbers. If it wasn’t High Desert up next, I’d say I’m interested to see what he does next year. But more accurately, I’m more interested in his 2013.

by Andy Stallings on Dec 6, 2025 8:29 PM EST up reply actions

Strongly disagree.

His bat is all kinds of intriguing, and showed good power in a pitcher’s league last year. I expect big numbers in the Cal league this year prompting a fair amount of ink about whether or not he’s “for real” a la Catricala last year and Tenbrink in ’10.

by slamcactus on Dec 7, 2025 11:19 AM EST up reply actions

Catricala is only 14 days older then Romero

and obliterated AA for half a season last year so Romero would have to have one hell of a season to merit a comparison to Cat’s breakout, but I hear ya, Romero’s 126 wRC+ in low A shows he has the potential. Wouldn’t mind seeing him walk a bit more but that seemed to be a theme with our first year guys last season, none seemed to like taking a base much

by Aesop on Dec 7, 2025 8:24 PM EST up reply actions

Carraway...

could be dropped. Not familiar w him, but 25 y/o at AA w so-so stats doesnt look like much of a prospect.

I’d add Julio Morban. Was highly regarded out of the DR and held his own at Lo-A at 19 y/o.

by rhd on Dec 6, 2025 7:40 AM EST reply actions

carraway performed well enough to make me think he could sneak into the majors in '12

by John Sickels on Dec 6, 2025 10:45 AM EST up reply actions

morban

I’d bet $20 he never hits enough to make his tools matter, but OK

by John Sickels on Dec 6, 2025 10:46 AM EST up reply actions

A high floor

I think you’d want Carraway because he has a reasonable chance of contributing something (probably relief) in the majors soon. Oh, I see John has beat me to the drop. I’d echo those suggesting Acevedo, Melendres, Romero, maybe Carson Smith all are either far enough away or minor enough to be cut.

by goyo70 on Dec 6, 2025 10:48 AM EST up reply actions

Carraway

My gut tells me he sees the majors next year. While Anthony Vasquez is a cautionary, Safeco does have a way of making pitchers of his caliber look decent.

by Andy Stallings on Dec 6, 2025 8:31 PM EST up reply actions

+1

by John Sickels on Dec 6, 2025 9:00 PM EST up reply actions

Second on Morban

But I would keep Carraway for another year. He could be a back-end guy and he’s in AAA next year. He’s right there with Erasmo Ramirez.

Add: Morban, Morales, Burin, Wilhelmsen, Maurer.

If you think you hate me now, wait until you get to know me.

by Rudolf on Dec 6, 2025 9:18 AM EST reply actions

even worse

even worse the list is now at 45. I have to cut at least 5.

Jabari Blash OF
Tyler Burgoon RHP
Felipe Burin 2B
Jose Campos RHP
Carter Capps RHP
Andrew Carraway RHP
Dan Carroll OF
Phillips Castillo OF
Vinnie Catricala 3B
Chih-Hsien Chiang OF
Johermyn Chavez OF
Cavan Cohoes SS
Dan Cortes RHP
Anthony Fernandez LHP
Nick Franklin SS-2B
John Hicks C
Cameron Hobson LHP
Danny Hultzen LHP
James Jones OF
Alex Liddi 3B
Marcus Littlewood SS
Jack Marder C
Tyler Marlette C
Francisco Martinez 3B
Brandon Maurer RHP
Mike McGee OF
Brad Miller SS
Alfredo Morales OF
Julio Morban OF
James Paxton LHP
Martin (Estelian) Peguero SS
Guillermo Pimentel OF
Steve Proscia 3B
Stephen Pryor RHP
Dennis Raben 1B
Erasmo Ramirez RHP
Stefen Romero 2B
Chance Ruffin RHP
Victor Sanchez RHP
Jordan Shipers LHP
Carson Smith RHP
Forrest Snow RHP
Carlos Triunfel SS
Taijuan Walker RHP
Todd Wilhelmsen RHP

by John Sickels on Dec 6, 2025 10:47 AM EST reply actions

Wilhelmsen

Wilhelmsen’s first name is Tom, not Todd. And while he still has rookie eligibility, apparently, he’s a known quantity for most Mariner fans (at least). Leaving him off wouldn’t be the end of the world.

by robbbbbb on Dec 6, 2025 12:05 PM EST up reply actions

He's one of the top 20 prospects in the organization.

Hands down. He is a potential late inning reliever who already has success in the bigs. Can’t leave him off.

by slamcactus on Dec 7, 2025 11:20 AM EST up reply actions

Is Trayvon Robinson no longer a prospect?

My opinion would be that you could drop Morban, Burin, McGee, Romero, Smith even though I’d love to hear about them all.

by goyo70 on Dec 6, 2025 10:53 AM EST reply actions

Trayvon is just past rookie limits.

I really don’t want to cut McGee…he’s a Grade C at this point but has always played above his tools and could put up pretty numbers in High Desert. Same thing with Romero.

Smith…maybe I could cut him. I’m not big on Morban but i understand the arguments to include him

by John Sickels on Dec 6, 2025 10:55 AM EST up reply actions

Possible cuts

I’m pretty surprised to see that Ruffin still has eligibility, but obviously belongs if so.

I was going to say McGee, but if John’s got a good feeling on him, that’s reason enough not to quibble.

I’d rather see Morales on the list than Morban. Watching the system every day for the past few seasons, I’ve been pretty underwhelmed by Morban. I know he’s got the tools and all, but as with guys before him like Mario Martinez and etc., I’d like to see him do something worth paying attention to before getting him on here.

To me, Tyler Burgoon would be a decent cut. I like him myself, but the organization kept him locked up in Clinton all year in spite of a good showing, which makes me think they might not like him as much as some of the other relievers on the list. Nothing but speculation.

by Andy Stallings on Dec 6, 2025 8:36 PM EST up reply actions

Keep 45?

by goyo70 on Dec 6, 2025 10:56 AM EST reply actions

no. I don't have room. I'm already going to have to cut players I've already written up. At current pace I will be about 50 pages over my limit

by John Sickels on Dec 6, 2025 10:57 AM EST up reply actions

cuts

I tihnk I have to cut Shipers and McGee.

by John Sickels on Dec 6, 2025 11:02 AM EST reply actions

Dang

would have liked to read the writeup on Shipers. Seems like there is at least some potential there.

by aCone419 on Dec 6, 2025 11:11 AM EST up reply actions

I'd rather you cut...

Chavez and James Jones. I can’t imagine there’s anything interesting to say about them at this point.

Maybe the book designer can reduce the leding and squeeze room for a few more C prospects? I’d gladly squint in order to see what you have to say about McGee

by bookbook on Dec 6, 2025 11:09 AM EST reply actions

chavez

yeah chavez sucks. Jones I have not given up on.

Acutally I would rather write about McGee than Chavez

by John Sickels on Dec 6, 2025 11:15 AM EST up reply actions

Seattle Mariners 41 players

Jabari Blash OF
Tyler Burgoon RHP
Felipe Burin 2B
Jose Campos RHP
Carter Capps RHP
Andrew Carraway RHP
Dan Carroll OF
Phillips Castillo OF
Vinnie Catricala 3B
Chih-Hsien Chiang OF
Dan Cortes RHP
Nick Franklin SS-2B
John Hicks C
Cameron Hobson LHP
Danny Hultzen LHP
James Jones OF
Alex Liddi 3B
Marcus Littlewood SS
Jack Marder C
Tyler Marlette C
Francisco Martinez 3B
Brandon Maurer RHP
Mike McGee OF
Brad Miller SS
Alfredo Morales OF
James Paxton LHP
Martin Peguero SS
Guillermo Pimentel OF
Steve Proscia 3B
Stephen Pryor RHP
Dennis Raben 1B
Erasmo Ramirez RHP
Stefen Romero 2B
Chance Ruffin RHP
Victor Sanchez RHP
Jordan Shipers LHP
Carson Smith RHP
Forrest Snow RHP
Carlos Triunfel SS
Taijuan Walker RHP
Tom Wilhelmsen RHP

by John Sickels on Dec 6, 2025 11:24 AM EST reply actions

Wilhelmsen...

has already appeared in 25 games at the MLB level (albeit with only 32 IP). Maybe he no longer qualifies? We all pretty much know the story by now, anyhow.

by dbreer23 on Dec 6, 2025 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

yeah

Yeah I think I’m gonna cut him.

by John Sickels on Dec 6, 2025 2:13 PM EST up reply actions

I guess we should wait a year

but I’m more interested to know what Cavan Cohoes could be than I am about Burgoon or even Ramirez. I understand you’ve got to winnow it down somehow, and there’s probably nothing much to say yet. I like the list.

by goyo70 on Dec 6, 2025 11:54 AM EST reply actions

The problem with Cahoes is basically that.

We don’t know much about him. The Mariners liked him enough to pick him and sign him to a decent bonus, and we know other teams were interested, but beyond that? Not much. Even trying to write about him is a struggle. The most that writers get is that he’s been in Germany and his family is military and he’s always wanted to play in the majors. If you’ve got anything else, I’m willing to listen.

I think he’s probably a worthy talent to be on the list, but there’s nothing to say yet. We know jack snot about Cahoes.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Dec 6, 2025 2:31 PM EST up reply actions

The only information I have on Cavan Cohoes

The only information I was able to gather about him is that he was clocked at 91 mph from the infield, and 94 mph throwing from the outfield. He also runs as fast as a NFL RB at 4.33 seconds 40 yard dash, and a 60 yard dash of 6.4 seconds. I think this was in Summer of 2010 when he came to the States to put on a show so that colleges can’t get a good look at him.

by ryujin on Dec 7, 2025 9:42 PM EST up reply actions

Matthew Bischoff

I’m guessing he didn’t make the cut because of the whole age vs league thing. However, he is Purdue’s all time strike out leader and he has done nothing to embarrass himself so far. I’d really like to see the M’s be more aggressive with him next season.

by junglist215 on Dec 6, 2025 3:53 PM EST reply actions

Of those players not deserving of a write-up

which do you think has the greatest chance of surprising next season? Players like Chavez, Almonte, Baron, Poythress, Saunders (not a rookie), Wilson, Limonta, Tenbrink, Sorce, Zamarippa, Choi, Cohoes— I’m sure the list could be longer- all have good reasons to be left off the discussion for top 40. Of these players, who strikes you as having the greatest potential to turn a corner?

by goyo70 on Dec 7, 2025 9:41 AM EST reply actions

From your list

I would say the most potential for next year is Zamarippa. He is so young and seems very toolsy. I’d love to see if Choi could return healthy, if Almonte can cut down on Ks and maintain power, and if Sorce can move up to AA without struggling. The rest of those that you named don’t excite me much for next year.

by bp42810 on Dec 7, 2025 1:31 PM EST up reply actions