Seattle Mariners: Time to Trade Emerson Hancock
The Seattle Mariners farm system is flushed with highly-touted talent, making them one of the best in the league. Not every one of these prospects will succeed in the MLB. Knowing which ones will and won’t is difficult. Now might be the right time to deal away one of the top prospects for proven MLB help.
The Seattle Mariners have arguably the best farm system in the MLB. It’s loaded with top talent. While M’s fans want all the prospects to hit, the reality is not all of them will. Unfortunately, no one knows who the successful ones will be. One current prospect reminds me of a former top prospect who never made it due to injuries.
Of course, I’m referring to Emerson Hancock reminding me of former M’s draft bust Danny Hultzen. For those who are still reading, hear me out. Hultzen was a top prospect and a high draft pick for the Seattle Mariners, similar to Hancock. Both players gave fans thoughts that they’ll be frontline rotation pitchers. Hultzen never panned out. Hancock still has a chance.
Another similarity the two have is injuries while still being in the minor league. Hultzen suffered shoulder injuries and surgeries that basically ended his career before it could ever start. He eventually made it to the Show in 2019 after signing as a minor league free agent with the Cubs. Hultzen’s brief MLB career consisted of 3.1 innings over 6 games. Now, the Seattle Mariners have another pitcher who is in the minors whose development has been impacted in back-to-back years by injury.
Injuries
In 2020 the Seattle Mariners drafted Emerson Hancock with their first-round pick. He slipped a little in the draft (was considered the number one pitcher) due to a lat injury he suffered late in 2019. The 2020 season was interrupted by COVID, so all prospects suffered an unusual minor league season. However, Hancock dealt with minor arm tenderness and was subsequently limited to just a few live batting practices at the alternate site and Arizona Fall League.
Finally, in 2021 he got to experience a regular minor league season. Unfortunately, the M’s shut down his season early due to a shoulder injury. This came after Hancock missed the Future’s Game during All-Star Weekend because of a shoulder injury. The power righty recently said he’s fully recovered from his season-ending right shoulder impingement.
“This experience is just another opportunity to get better.” @EmersonHancock_ continues his journey towards big league dreams. #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/uH9Oc1X7P2
— Mariners Player Development (@MsPlayerDev) January 14, 2022
The Seattle Mariners are looking to break their playoff drought this year. There are also reports that they might be more active via trade than in free agency. If the Seattle Mariners want to land some more top MLB proven talent, moving a potentially oft-injured Hancock might be the right call.