Seattle Mariners Place 5 in new MLB Hot 100 Prospects
Mariners players in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects.
Emerson Hancock, Georgia Bulldogs. (Photo by Gamecock Central, via Flickr)
44. Logan Gilbert, RHP
Logan Gilbert was the Seattle Mariners 2018 first-round pick (14th overall). After a dominating at three different minor league levels in 2019, Gilbert seemed set to make his MLB debut sometime in 2020. However, changes in the league due to Covid-19 may have altered that plan a bit. A cup of coffee with the big club no longer seems like a guarantee.
The tall, 6-6, pitcher out of Stetson University boasts a well-polished set of four pitches. With a fastball around 92–94 mph, Gilbert relies on above-average control and the ability to mix his pitches to support his high strikeout rates effectively. Expect to see him at T-Mobile by May of 2021 at the latest.
39. Emerson Hancock, RHP
Even with their highest draft pick since 2014, the M’s still needed plenty of luck to land Emerson Hancock with the sixth overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft. The former Georgia Bulldogs star entered the 2020 college season as the top pick in many draft boards.
Hancock profiles perfectly as a starter with four solid pitchers and a fastball that sits around 95 mph. While he is likely the last player out of these five prospects to debut, his experience in the loaded SEC over the past three years sets Hancock up for a 2022 debut. At 6-4, he could be an absolute force on the mound. The real trick, however, will be in avoiding injury.