Seattle Mariners: Breaking the Status Quo Mentality of the Top 100 MLB Prospects
Let’s talk about wonky
The top three Mariners prospects on the three major lists are J-Rod, N-Mart, and G-Kirb, but here’s where things get wonky. Emerson Hancock is basically contractually obligated to be in the top 100, and there’s a good reason based on his performance when he’s healthy. But honestly, I’d have him near the bottom of our list. There are better prospects, especially at starting pitcher, more on Hancock in a minute.
Got my Baseball America issue with the top 10 #Mariners prospects. They sure do love them some Julio Rodriguez and George Kirby.
— Larry Stone (@StoneLarry) January 11, 2022
The Legend of Matt Brash, a new film
Matt Brash could wind up as the best “player to be named later” the Mariners ever had. During the 2020 deadline swap with San Diego, M’s General manager Jerry Dipoto sent reliever Taylor Williams to the Padres for a PTBNL. 30 days later, Brash came over from San Diego.
In 2021, the Canadian import made the jump from “no one knew anything about him” to a bonafide Major League prospect. Brash is the organization’s fourth-best prospect but isn’t listed on the MLB or Baseball Prospectus top 100 lists, although he’s 45th on the Baseball America.
His 2021 was not great, not amazing, but legendary with a 2.31 ERA and 142 strikeouts in 97.1 innings. He was better at Double-A than he was a High-A despite pitching in the same amount of games. A strikeout machine, Brash should be on everyone’s radar at this point.
I’m tellin ya, get the M’s while ya can, because they got dudes coming. Here’s Matt Brash, currently shredding Frisco. pic.twitter.com/S3mFSpSCEd
— Tepid Participation (@TepidP) August 19, 2021
You Read Those Numbers Right, Check For Yourself
Brandon Williamson’s strikeout numbers were even better than Brash’s last year. Let that sink in for a second.
Williamson struck out 153 in 98.1 innings. The 6’6” right-hander has a plus fastball with a wipeout slider that makes hitters look absolutely foolish at the plate. He is in the top 100 for Baseball America (#83) but doesn’t make the MLB or Baseball Prospectus top 100 for 2022. How does the Minor league leader in strikeouts per 9 not make the top 100 lists for MLB and Baseball Prospectus?
Can This Dude Throw Some Innings, Please?
The final Mariners pitcher that should be in the top 100 is Emerson Hancock. His health has been all over the place, and Seattle had to shut him down at the end of 2021 despite only throwing 44.2 innings. He did okay at Double-A Arkansas and managed to get deeper into games from where he was with Everett. Hancock doesn’t give up long balls. In his 44+ innings pitched last year, he gave up one.
Emerson’s pitches are fantastic. A heavy and hard sinking fastball, wipeout slider, decent change-up, and occasionally a curve or slurve. He’s 6’4” and was the sixth overall pick in the 2020 MLB June Amateur Draft. For some reason, Hancock didn’t make the top 100 for Baseball America but did for MLB and Baseball Prospectus.