General manager Jerry Dipoto is the architect of the Seattle mariners rebuild.
The Seattle Mariners are in the midst of a hot streak that has brought them from 10 games under .500 to American League Wild Card contenders. With their current success, it’s easy to forget about adding future players in the Major League Draft on June 17.
Pacific Northwest Sports compiled 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 put together the info for you.
Also, it’s good for Mariners fans to see what the general consensus is among experts in the industry. For this consensus, we used 14 mock drafts from sources such as ESPN, MLB, Baseball Prospect Journal, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, CBS, and Prospects Live.
Over the last several years, the Seattle Mariners drafted quite well in the first round. Players like Kyle Lewis, Evan White, Logan Gilbert, and George Kirby are already part of the M’s roster, some more prominent than others. They will be joined in the few years by Harry Ford and Emerson Hancock.
Of all the major sports, baseball is the hardest to predict a player’s future. It’s a long road from draft prospect to Major Leaguer with many stops along the way. The Seattle Mariners scouting department has made quality picks in the Jerry Dipoto era; they can be trusted to make good decisions about amateur players. This is who the mock drafts think the Mariners will select with the 21st overall pick.
Of the 14 mocks drafts PNWS audited, left-handed pitcher Cooper Hjerpe (pronounced “Jerpy”) from Oregon State was Seattle’s choice four times. Selecting Hjerpe would be in line with the M’s recent draft philosophy.
Three of their last four first round picks, Gilbert, Hancock, and Kirby, were all successful Division1 pitchers. Last year’s selection of catcher Harry Ford was the first time the Mariners selected a high school player in the first round since 2014, a year before Dipoto became Seattle’s General Manager.
Hjerpe led all of NCAA Division 1 with 161 strikeouts in 2022 and did it in just103.1 innings. More fascinating is that Hjerpe fanned so many batters with a fastball that tops out at 95 miles-per-hour.
It’s easy to think he does it with smoke and mirrors. Hjerpe has a full arsenal of pitches which he delivers from a low three-quarters arm angle, somewhat like Milwaukee standout closer Josh Hader.
His best out pitch is a wipeout slider (see Paul Sewald) that he throws in the upper 80s and a nasty curveball. What makes those pitches special is the spin. When the ball leaves his hand, it moves counter to what hitters expect a pitch coming from his arm angle does.
The Seattle Mariners are a very analytics-driven team when it comes to the amateur draft, and again, like college players. They would be happy to select a productive pitcher over a hard thrower.
Despite his impressive strikeout total, he doesn’t have overpowering stuff, and it’s his overall polish that helped him dominate college hitters. That should also allow him to move quickly through the minors. – Joel Reuter, Bleacher Report
A pair of high school infielders were right behind Hjerpe. Cole Young from North Allegheny (HS), Pennsylvania, and Rockwall (Heath HS), Texas star Jett Andrews each appeared on three mock drafts.
At only 18 years old, Cole Young has a very mature approach at the plate. He’s worked hard to improve his swing and consistently makes good contact. Young doesn’t have much pop just yet, but he makes up for it with outstanding speed. Defensively he could stick as a shortstop due to his range and strong arm.
At one point, Young was considered a top ten pick. He’ll fall to mid-round, not because he struggled, but rather because other players passed him by. Additionally, Young committed to Duke, and they have a good track record of holding on to their recruits.
It won’t be a surprise if he was available at 21, but not surprising if he’s long gone by then either.
Jett Williams 5-8, 165-pound frame doesn’t exactly scream future Major League player. But the switch-hitting shortstop from Rockwall, Texas, is an uncommon prospect.
He gets his bat on the ball and drives it to the gaps. Williams also has good power, not just for someone his size but overall. Some scouts believe he has the best hitting skill set among high school prospects in this draft class. Williams is also lightning fast with a 6.67 second 60-yard dash time.
Shortstop may not be his final position. Williams is an excellent fielder, but his lack of arm strength may move him to the outfield.
ESPN has Williams going as high as 11th overall. If he slips (and there is a good chance he will), it’s because teams doubt he can be a productive player with his diminutive size.
Jett Williams is in the conversation for the best overall prep hit tool in this class. Despite his size, many scouts are impressed with his batting practice, and more importantly how that swing translates to games. Williams has always performed well versus high-end velocity with surprising power. – Just Baseball
Others selected to the Seattle Mariners include Dylan Beavers, OF, University of California Golden Bears; Jackson Ferris, IMG Academy; Jordan Beck, OF, University of Tennessee Volunteers; Justin Crawford, OF, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas, Nevada.