Seattle Mariners 2021 Amateur Draft mock compilation – 2.0

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Jul 3, 2021
Seattle Mariners
Matt McLain, UCLA Bruins.

There are less than two weeks left until the MLB Amateur Draft on July 11. Here is a look at who the Seattle Mariners might take in the first round.

Through the Major League Draft on June 11, Pacific Northwest Sports will compile insights from mock drafts across the internet. Our readers don’t have to scramble all over the web to find out who the Seattle Mariners might draft. We compiled the info for you.

Also, it’s good for Mariners fans to see what the general consensus is among experts in the industry. The sources may change slightly from edition to edition, but they are reliable. This time we used 12 different mock drafts from sources such as ESPN, MLB, Baseball Prospect Journal, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, FanGraphs, and Prospects Live.

Over the last several years, the Seattle Mariners drafted quite well in the first round. Players such as Kyle Lewis, Evan White, and Logan Gilbert are already part of the M’s roster. They will be joined in the next year or two by George Kirby and Emerson Hancock.

Of all the major sports, baseball is the hardest to predict a player’s future. The Seattle scouting department made quality picks in the Jerry Dipoto era; they can be trusted to make good calls on amateur players. This is who the mock drafts think the Seattle Mariners will select with the 12th pick.

Still on Top – Matt McLain, SS, UCLA

Since our last draft consensus, UCLA shortstop Matt McLain solidified himself as the clear favorite to go to Seattle. He’s the choice on 7 of 12 mocks; no other player came up more than twice.

Being a first-round pick isn’t new to McLain. In 2018, the Arizona Diamondbacks selected him 25th overall coming out of high school. He decided to pass up the opportunity to turn pro, instead opting to attend college at UCLA. It looks like that was the right move.

This draft has several highly-rated middle infield prospects, but they are high school players. Mariners General Manager Jerry Dipoto likes college guys, and McLain is among the best NCAA hitters available.

McLain is the best college middle infielder in the draft class by a significant margin, giving him an edge over outfielders Colton Cowser and Sam Frelick. There was a point earlier this year where McLain looked like a potential top-five pick. Getting him at No. 12 would be strong value. – Mike Axisa, CBS Sports

In 2020 McLain started to hit his stride for the Bruins before the season was canceled due to COVID-19. It took him a little bit to shake off the rust this year. He was batting .276 halfway through the season but rebounded to slash .333/.434/.579/1.018.

McLain projects as a solid Major League infielder defensively. He moves well laterally and has good speed on the bases. As a pro, he should be a good hitter for average with low strikeout totals, a nice on-base percentage, and supply a little pop.

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Others in consideration

The big question is will McLain last until the 12th pick? Probably, but it’s not guaranteed. If he is gone when the Seattle Mariners draft, hope is not lost. One of two very good hitting outfielders should be available, Sal Frelick of Boston College or Sam Houston State’s Colton Cowser. Both of them knocked the cover off the ball in 2021.

Out of the 12 mocks, only one had Seattle selecting a pitcher. Right-handed hurler Ty Madden from Texas was the choice. He’s got two excellent pitches but will have to learn a third to become a dominant pitcher.

What are your thoughts about who the Mariners should draft this year? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.

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