2022 Seattle Mariners weekly prospect update 5/5/2022
Clint Prasky
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This is the first in our 2022 series about the top prospects in the Seattle Mariners system.
The Seattle Mariners have one of the best farm systems in baseball. With the first month out of the Major League season down, we begin our series on how the M’s prospects are doing.
Hot Pitcher
We start with Seattle Mariners’ number one pitching prospect George Kirby. The 2019 first round draft pick has gotten off to a great start with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers.
He’s currently 2-0 through 24.2 innings with 32 K’s and 1.82 ERA. Kirby is known for his great command, and he turned up the gas last year as well. His strikeout percentage has climbed to 34.4% of his total batters faced. Couple that with his usual low 5.4% walk percentage, and it’s just not fair for opposing batters.
Those hitters are batting a mere .195 against him when they finally get their bats on the ball. Kirby also sports a 90.4% left on base percentage as well. So even when opponents get on base, runners don’t typically come around to score.
George Kirby was good again. Final line: 5IP, 3H, 1R, 2BB, 5K, 76-47.
— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) April 26, 2022
In 4 starts:
1.37ERA, 19.2IP, 13H, 5BB, 25K. pic.twitter.com/hKANd6E4hD
Top Position Prospects
Next up is shortstop Noelvi Marte of the High-A Everett Aquasox. After Julio Rodriguez, Marte is the M’s next big-time prospect as a position player. He’s only 20 years old and is hitting .260 with 3 dingers, 8 RBI, and 2 stolen bases. Even though he currently plays shortstop, many expect him to be Seattle’s third baseman of the future.
Zach Deloach is yet another in the Seattle Mariners system’s long line of outfielder prospects. A second round pick by the Mariners in 2020.; he begins the 2022 campaign in Arkansas. Currently, Deloach is batting .253 with 1 home run and 11 RBI.
He’s a high-level prospect and one to watch going forward. His bat carries him, which he showed in 2019 by leading the Cape Cod League with a .353 average in the 2019 Cape Cod League. Deloach followed that performance up in the shortened 2020 season when he led Texas A&M with a .421 average and 6 homers in just 18 games. Expect to see him in Triple-A Tacoma sooner than later. He might even be a September call-up.
Lower Minors
Harry Ford was the Seattle Mariners’ 2021 first round pick. He’s a catcher but has the athletic ability to play anywhere on the diamond. In his first full pro season, Ford has gotten off to a bit of a slow start hitting just .215 and is currently on the 7-day injured list with a lat issue. Hopefully, it doesn’t linger, and he can continue to get in games and show his skills.
Jonatan Clase is getting his at bats for the Low-A Modesto Nuts and is hitting .256 with 3 home runs, 14 RBI, and 12 stolen bases. His strikeout percentage is still quite high with 32 K’s in 97 plate appearances, but his speed and defense are good. Clase already has 12 stolen bases in his first19 games of the season to go along with 13 walks, leading to a .371 OBP.
Other names to watch this year include Alberto Rodriguez, OF, Everett; Milkar Perez, 3B, Modesto; Starlin Aguilar, INF, DSL Mariners; and Sam Carlson, SP, Modesto.
Related Story: The Mariners are better than a sub .500 team
Harry Ford singles to RF & Jonatan Clase scores from 1st as the ball is booted by the outfielder. pic.twitter.com/7pZFBkti0q
— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) April 29, 2022
Pacific Northwest sports will keep an eye on all these Seattle Mariners’ prospects and more during the season.