Locked On Mariners - Daily Podcast On the Seattle Mariners - Seattle Mariners 2024 Midseason Farm System Re-Rank: The Top 10

Episode Date: August 20, 2024

Ty and Colby wrap up their 2024 midseason re-rank of the Mariners' farm system with the top-10 prospects.Ask us questions!Follow the show on Twitter: @LO_Mariners | @TyDaneGonzalez | @CPat11Support Us... By Supporting Our Sponsors!TonaITonal is the world's smartest and most effective strength training system that helps get you stronger. Right now, Tonal is offering our listeners $200 off your Tonal purchase with promo code LOCKEDONMLB. That’s Tonal.com, and use promo code LOCKEDONMLB for $200 off your purchase.   Liquid IVNo more thirsty summers when you indulge in hydration with Liquid I.V. Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to LIQUIDIV.COM and use code MLB at checkout. SupplyHouseSupplyHouse.com is the reliable way to get parts fast. Shop for your next plumbing, h-vac, or electrical job and get fast shipping from coast to coast. PrizePicksGo to https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONMLB and use code lockedonmlb for a first deposit match up to $100! eBay MotorsFrom brakes to exhaust kits and beyond, eBay Motors has over 122 million parts to keep your ride-or-die alive. With all the parts you need at the prices you want, it’s easy to bring home that big win. Keep your ride-or-die alive at EbayMotors.com. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. FanDuelNow through September 22nd, ALL FanDuel customers can bet FIVE DOLLARS and get a THREE WEEK free trial of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV. Visit FANDUEL.COM/LOCKEDON to get started. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Today we finish off our mid-season re-rank of the Marriss Farm System with, of course, the top 10. Let's get into it. Colby, hit it. You are Locked-on Mariners, your daily Seattle Mariners podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Ahoy, sailors, it is Tuesday, August 20th, 20, 24. This is Tiding Azores and Colby Patnaud for the Lockdown Maris Podcasts, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. We're going to be unveiling our top. 10 Mariners prospects on today's show.
Starting point is 00:00:38 But before we do that, shout out to our title sponsor today. FanDuel. Now through September 22nd, all FanDual customers can bet $5 and get a three-week free trial of NFL Sunday ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV. Visit FanDul.com slash locked on. That's LOCKD-O-N to get yourself started. And if you want to hear from me and Colby even more and help support the show, check out our Patreon.
Starting point is 00:01:01 The link is in the description and you can sign up for a free seven-day trial. All right. Let's kick off our top 10 Mariners prospects with Mariners second round prep pitcher Ryan Sloan. And Colby at 18 years old, the first thing that stands out for Ryan Sloan, this kid is built. Not much filling out he's going to have to do physically. Yet there still might be a little bit to add on. He's 6'5 and 220. So there might be a few more pounds of muscle to add on. But yeah, he is like the prototypical when scouts talk about like, oh, he's got the body of an innings eating ace, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Starting point is 00:01:39 Like they're talking about like Ryan Sloan. And the fact that he's 18 years old, there's, can't even say for sure that he's not going to add a couple of inches and that he can't add 20, 30 pounds. So he might not be done growing yet. But as he stands right now, he looks like a major league, you know, innings eater type of guy. Like he has that build. And yeah, the stuff is really excited. It is already plus fastball value. He can really make that fastball do whatever he wants to right now.
Starting point is 00:02:11 And the interesting thing about Sloan is that it's not the slider or the breaking ball that is his best secondary pitch, although that appears like that is going to be an above average offering for him as well. It's actually the change up that he has a really good feel for. So we're talking about above average fastballs and change up at 18 years old with his build, with his size and his, repeatable delivery. He throws a lot of strikes. And the slider is hardly a tag-along pitch. Like that is a legitimate slider that has a chance to give him three plus pitches with his size and his strike throwing ability. Sloan is a guy that, you know, obviously the Mariners really loved and it's easy to see why. It checks a lot of the boxes that they look for in pitching. You know, he's just, he's just young. He's 18 years old. So it's probably going to be a little while before we see
Starting point is 00:02:59 him. But it's pretty advanced for an 18-year-old, both in size and stuff. command, control. So there's a chance we see him before too long, relative to most prep arms. It takes them a while. Obviously, he's got to stay healthy, but so far so good. And it is a really fun profile,
Starting point is 00:03:17 and it is a lump of clay that, you know, the Mariners player development gets their hands on. Like, who, this kid could be at the top of the rotation arm. He has that kind of upside. There's just a little more risk since he's a prep guy. Coming in at number nine is type. Pete, 19 years old, got hurt earlier this year. Hasn't been a great year in his first full season in professional baseball at Loe Modesto.
Starting point is 00:03:43 He was number four on our list the last time we did this. He falls to number nine. So what are your feelings on Pete's first year in Pro Bowl? Overall, pretty encouraging. He just turned 19, about 10 days ago. So he played pretty much all this season as an 18. year old. He had to battle through some injuries. That stuff's going to happen. And you look at what he's done at 18 years old in Modesto. 258, 338, 386. Obviously, there's some concern or, well, that's not what you
Starting point is 00:04:15 would love to see. But he is, again, playing professional baseball as an 18 year old, pretty much the entire year. So it has some good things like 36 stolen bases, seven triples, six homers, 19 doubles. he has struck out 142 times and just 396 at bats. So obviously that's something he's got to cut way down on. But again, he's basically played this entire season at 18 years old. It is his age 18 season. He is 19 now. He'll probably reset at Modesto next year.
Starting point is 00:04:45 And there's high probability he's going to get to Everett. I think yesterday he actually played a little bit of left field. So they're still trying to move him around a little bit. He obviously is one. of the best athletes in the entire system. He's one of the best athletes in the minors. It is just tools on tools on tools. He can he's got a great arm. He's got good raw power, maybe even plus raw power. He's a great athlete. He runs well. He feels pretty well at shortstop. He might be at play third. He might play center. This kid is just a great athlete. He's tooled up.
Starting point is 00:05:20 And he's having a pretty decent year, statistically speaking. And again, considering his age and the level competition he's playing at right now. He has been, you know, he's been totally fine. It's been a little start, stop because of the injuries. The strikeouts are a bit of a concern, but we're seeing the raw power. We're seeing the athleticism. We're seeing what he can do on the bases. And we're seeing the versatility he brings.
Starting point is 00:05:42 So plenty of reason to be really excited about Tai Pete. Coming in at number eight is the mayor's first round draft pick this year at pick number 15, Gerangelo, Sanja, the switch pitcher who comes in as spoiler alert. are our number one pitcher in the Mariners Farm System. Colby, tell us a little bit about Geranzlo St. Joe. Yeah, switch pitcher. That's kind of the gimmick, but, you know, not unlike a guy like Sloan, not a ton of projection in terms of the frame.
Starting point is 00:06:13 He's 5-11. He's about 200 pounds right now. He's pretty much tapped out on the physical side of things. And, you know, to me, the whole switch pitcher thing didn't help or hurt his rank at all. to me he is a right-handed pitcher. That's how I view him. And then maybe occasionally he'll throw a left-handed. But from the right side is where you want this guy.
Starting point is 00:06:33 This is where it's basically he ditched the switch pitching thing about halfway through this season for Mississippi State. And from the right side, it is, you know, a plus fastball, above average slider, average fringe average change up. Throw strikes, command, not quite where you want it to be, but good athlete. There's going to be a lot of, you know, a lot of. you know, a lot of Marcus Stroman comps because they're both smaller guys. They're both really good athletes. They both are going to throw strikes.
Starting point is 00:07:02 And it's, you know, not so much swing and miss stuff. At least, you know, as you would think of for a guy who's going to grab. Sanchez already mentioned that he's his favorite pitcher or two. Right. So it's a really easy comp to make. There's quite a bit of velocity from Sanja,
Starting point is 00:07:17 despite his size. You know, 5-11, you typically don't think of a guy thrown in the high 90s. But Sanjay can get there. There right now he's mostly 94, 95, but he can definitely top out 98, 99. And again, this is a guy who kind of like Sloan, it's two plus pitches now and pretty good shape and feel for a plus third pitch. So yeah, I think Sanja probably has a lower ceiling than a guy like Sloan, but he's almost certainly going to be at least the number four starter, strike throw, get some ground balls, you know, get a few swing and get a little bit of swing and miss going. but ultimately I don't think he's a top of the rotation guy.
Starting point is 00:07:56 But there's upside here. There's certainly upside. You know, he's probably starting next year in Modesto, but there's a chance he might start in Everett. Like it's certainly not something that you could write off entirely. So, yeah, he has a shot to get to the big leagues within two years. It kind of depends on what they want to do with him from the left side. But yeah, he's obviously fascinating because of the switch pitching thing.
Starting point is 00:08:20 But for me, he's just a right-handed pitcher. And because of the polish, because of his, his age and because he has less development to go. He goes ahead of Ryan Sloan, but I think that gap is actually closer than people think. All right. So that is the first three of our top 10 Mariners prospects. We still got seven to go and we're going to get into some of those in just a moment.
Starting point is 00:08:38 But first, a reminder, this episode of the Lockdown Marries podcast is brought to you by Fanduel. You've heard me talk a lot about Fanduel, which of course is America's number one sportsbook. Well, I have something a little different for you today. Now through September 22nd, all Fandulul, customers can bet $5 and get a three-week free trial of NFL Sunday ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV. Then with a YouTube TV base plan, you'll be able to watch every regular season Sunday afternoon out-of-market game. All you need is a Google account and a current form of payment and you can cancel any time. Just visit fendul.com slash locked on. That's L-O-C-K-D-O-N to download America's number one sportsbook.
Starting point is 00:09:20 And you're listening to the Locked-on Marrars podcast tonight. You can catch all the action between the Marrers and the Dodgers. on the Mariners Hometown Broadcast with SiriusXM via the SXM app. All you have to do to find that is search the word mariners. We are ranking our top 10 Mariners prospects here on today's episode, wrapping up our top 30 midseason re-ranking. Coming in at number seven is Felnin Seleson, the 18-year-old infielder, who played all year in the complex league or tried to play all year in the complex league.
Starting point is 00:09:55 but injury after injury inhibited him from being able to build up any sort of consistency. So you do worry about that, but the raw tools here are still so, so intriguing that I don't want to push him too far down our list, even though we didn't really learn a lot about him. Now, when he did play, it was pretty good this year. But again, the problem was he just couldn't find the field.
Starting point is 00:10:25 Colby, how are you feeling about Celestin right now? Still really good. You know, he'll be 19 years old in about a month. So it's plenty of time to develop here. The tools are still off the charts. There's still projection in his frame, even, 6-1, about a buck-70, buck-80 is what he's listed at. So there's still might be room to add another 15, 20 pounds.
Starting point is 00:10:51 The numbers that he put up in the ACL were all, fantastic. He's probably the most talented player in the ACL at pretty much any time he played. He was the most talented guy in the field. So this is still a super tooled up guy. This is still a super talented guy. Again, it's just he's at least three years away from the big leagues. He didn't put, he didn't get a full season's worth of work this year, which is going to, I don't want to say stunt his development, but it is going to, you know, kind of slow down the ascent up these ranks if you don't play. So, So Celestin might be in a year from now.
Starting point is 00:11:27 He might be the number one prospect in the Mariners system, which is saying something when you consider the guys at the top, particularly the guy at the top of both of our list. Celestin might be better than him. That's really saying something. But until you play, until you produce every day and tell you, you know, get in the lineup and stay in the lineup, it's kind of tough to have you ranked, you know, much higher. And honestly, the fact that he's in the top 10 still speaks to his insane talent level. Coming in at number six is Lazaro Montes, who is now in high A. Everett at 19 years old. Colby had him ranked six on his list. I had him in my top five, had him at fifth.
Starting point is 00:12:08 He was sixth the last time we did this. Las is the most polarizing prospect in the Marys Farm System by far. There's some people that think he's the best prospect in this farm system. There's some people that think he's at least top three. And then for us, I think we're both kind of the lowman on LAS because he really only has one path to being a quality big leaguer. And that's he's got a hit and he's got to hit well, right? It's not just he's got to be a league average hitter. No, he's got to be like a 120, 1.30 WRC plus guy for him to kind of hold this status within the Marr's farm system at the very least.
Starting point is 00:12:51 right at the very least he has to be that obviously there's been the baby yordon comps and all that now when we did this ranking he was really struggling down in everett over the last week or so he's been hitting out of his mind now he's still striking out like 32 and a half percent of the time which is but he's also 19 years old in high a it's not like he's 22 23 years old doing that in high a so certainly a bit of leeway should be given there to young Lazz but yeah been kind of an interesting year for him he had a great great year and Modesto and honestly it felt for a while that he was down there for a little too long seemed like he had already outgrown low A I don't know 30 or so games into his season he ended up playing about 60 or so down there before getting the call-up to
Starting point is 00:13:47 Everett. But again, you know, started to struggle a little bit down in Everett to start things off. But it seems like he's starting to figure it out and get a little bit more comfortable. So we'll see if he's able to to end the season on a high note. But Laz right now for me, again, because it's just one path, he's really not going to be able to give. I know he's, we've seen a couple of nice catches out in the outfield from MILB Mariners on Twitter. He's not an outfielder, guys. He's going to be a first base DH type when it's all sudden done. I mean, he might play outfield in the way that Yordon Alvarez plays outfield, which is he stands out there.
Starting point is 00:14:23 He stands out there. Yeah. If you have a small ballpark, you know, you don't have to cover much ground. Like, yeah, five, whatever. Yeah. He'll probably do that for a couple of years. But, I mean, we're still assuming that Las Montes, like, isn't even like he's listed at 6.3, 2.10. Seems like he's going to get bigger even than that. And he's going to add weight to his frame.
Starting point is 00:14:45 He's a decent runner still. right now, but the routes, the angles, the jumps are all mediocre at best. So is it possible that he gets better as an outfielder and he can actually play a legitimate corner spot like an average be a corner average corner outfielders offensively. Sure, it's possible. I consider it unlikely. So yeah, there is just the one path. He has to hit.
Starting point is 00:15:07 He has to crush. And, you know, he did struggle in Everett. He's got one fewer strikeout. He had one fewer strikeout in, uh, sorry, one fewer strikeout in Everett than he did in Modesto, but he's got about 100 more plate appearances in Modesto than he does Everett. So the fact that he's striking out basically is the same number of strikeouts with 100 fewer plate appearances in Everett.
Starting point is 00:15:32 Obviously, he struggled a little bit. And the numbers will back that up. And honestly, that's a good thing. You want to see guys struggle. You want to see them have to make adjustments and things like that. And Montez really never has had to do that. He's always been just crushing wherever he's been. And so it was nice to see him, you know, have to make that adjustment.
Starting point is 00:15:48 And obviously he has made some kind of adjustment. And I'd say this for Prospect 6 through like 2, you can put them in whatever order you want. I don't think there's a huge gap between any of them. But to me, because Montes has one path to be a good big leaguer, it puts a lot of pressure on the guy who's 19 years old to be, you know, a 135 WRC plus guy, since I'm getting no defensive value and probably very little base running value. but again, it's, it's happened before. We've seen guys, young guys be like, yeah, he's probably going to add more weight. He's probably going to, you know, slow down a little bit. And then, oh, look at that.
Starting point is 00:16:25 It's Julio Rodriguez. No, he can actually be six foot four, two, two, 30, 240 and still be one of the fastest guys in the big leagues. Like, yeah. So could something like that happen with last? Yeah. And if it did, he's probably, you know, top three. If you told me he was going to be an average right fielder, like he could play the field at an above average rate or an average rate even, then, yeah, his bat alone probably.
Starting point is 00:16:45 he puts him in the top three but because there's only one path that I see to him being an everyday big leaguer i got to knock him down a couple spots but you can put him two if you like if you told me he's the second best prospect in the marrissism i disagree but i'd be like yeah fine like you can make that argument but to me i think this is where he belongs coming in at number five this one's going to be pretty interesting because colby you had him at number three on your list i had him at number six i'll explain why in a second here he was number nine the last time we did this Johnny Farmello, another one of those first round picks of the mirrors back in 2023.
Starting point is 00:17:22 His season, which was going very well, was unfortunately cut short due to an ACL injury. And that's ultimately why I didn't get too aggressive on my ranking with Johnny, even though that I do really like him. I really like the profile here. I think there's a ton of upside here. I think Johnny Farmello has the potential to be a really special player. but first season in pro ball first full season in pro ball cut short due to an ACL injury now that might not mean anything really it might not impact him at all in the future
Starting point is 00:17:57 ACL injuries are certainly not the death knell that they used to be in sports but we also don't not know that it's going to be an issue whatever right we we don't know if it's going to be an issue or not so until we we see how he recovered covers how he bounces back because athleticism is obviously a big part of his game being able to cover a lot of ground in the outfield being able to you know cut the base as well and i remember having brodie hopkins on on the show a couple of uh months ago and he talked about how you know in a blink of an eye johnny will hit the ball and then all of a sudden he's on third right like does that is he able to maintain that post injury uh so
Starting point is 00:18:40 put him at number six just to be saying but overall really like Johnny Farmello and by the time we do this next year like the next midseason re-ranked by the time that he's probably playing again I wouldn't be surprised if he's in our top three for sure yeah you know obviously the ACL thing is is legit and and you know he's going to be 20 years old here in a couple weeks so he's a little bit older than guy like Pete but I look at this guy I see probably the best athlete in the in the mariner system pre-injury he is freaky raw power it is plus speed double plus speed i think he's going to be well above average center fielder uh yeah there's a little arm bar thing with a swing but right now it's
Starting point is 00:19:25 working so there's really no reason to change anything until it stops working uh we'll see that eventually catches up to him but when i look at farmello i look at a guy who has the potential to hit 20 homers steal 40 bags and play well above average defense in center field like i think you squint you look at it, Johnny Farmello could be Grady Seizmore. Like, I think that's the level of player we're talking about at the ceiling. And I would rather take a shot on a guy like that than somebody
Starting point is 00:19:51 who we're going to get to here in a second whose floor is just lower. It doesn't mean it's less valuable. It's just a lower floor. And again, Farmello, I have no doubt that he can play center field. Again, we'll see how he looks coming off the ACL. Maybe that changes. But until I see that it's changed, I'm going to assume it's not because
Starting point is 00:20:07 we've made such great, you know, advances with that surgery. To me, I look at a guy I see he's either going to be a plus center fielder and an average hitter. He might be a plus center fielder in a plus bat. Like there is an all-star player in Johnny Farmello. And I don't know if there's all-star players in the next couple guys coming up on this list. And that's why I still have him so high.
Starting point is 00:20:28 All right. So let's get into our top four in just a moment. But first, a reminder, this episode of the Lockdown, Maris podcast is brought to you by Price Picks. prize picks is the easiest and most exciting way to play daily fantasy sports unlike other apps on prize picks it's just you against the numbers all you do is pick more or less on two to six player stat projections and watch the winnings roll in you can now win up to a hundred times your money on prize picks with as little as four correct picks you can turn ten dollars into a thousand dollars thank tyree kill will get more than ninety and a half yards in week one or that caleb will throw for fewer than two hundred and thirty six and a half yards in his debut cook up hot takes with your friends and win real money this football all season when you and your crew run your game on price picks download the price picks app today and use the promo code locked on mlb for first deposit match up to $100 that's promo code l oc kd o nmlb on price picks for a first deposit match up to $100 prize picks run your game and you're listening to the locked on merrers podcast once again tonight you can catch all the action between the merrers
Starting point is 00:21:34 and the dodgers on the merr's hometown broadcast with serious xm via the sxm app all you have to do to find that is search the word Mariners. Probably listen to them help another guy set their career high and strikeouts tonight. All right. Let's get into our top four prospects here as we wrap up our midseason re-rank.
Starting point is 00:21:53 The Marers Farm System. Coming in at number four, it's Michael O'Royo who, I mean, he's having the best year of any Mariners minor leader this year. He is, it's either him or Brandon Garcia. They're the they're the Marys Meyer's minor leaguers of the year to me.
Starting point is 00:22:08 Arroyo has answered pretty much all the questions you would have about him. I mean, the biggest question of all, can he hit for power? Yeah, he's hit 20 home runs as of this recording between Modesto and Everett. He's crushing it in Everett. He's doing even better in Everett than he was in Modesto. It's a ridiculous year that Michael Oroyo is having right now. And he looks like a guy that might be ready for double A soon. Now that might come next year, might not come by.
Starting point is 00:22:38 the end of this year. But yeah, we're probably talking about Michael O'Royo starting to get close to being on the doorstep of the majors here in about the next year or so. So that's really fun. And again, answered so many questions this year. How you feel about Michael O'Royle? Really good. Because like you said, he's hitting for power. He's got, let's see, he's got 45 extra base hits with a month to go, 20 of those are home runs. He's got seven triples. He's stolen 11 bags. He's walking a ton.
Starting point is 00:23:12 Like he's been pretty much the same player, a little bit better even in high than he was in Modesto. But yeah, the only concern right now, the strikeout rate is pretty high in Everett. But the metrics of like the exit velos and the stuff that he's putting up out of Everett, too, are just like off the charts. So this is the guy who always thought was going to be able to hit a little bit. I think it's legit 60 bat. I think the power, the raw power certainly has to.
Starting point is 00:23:38 to be at least considered, I would say, projects to be at least average. You know, so 20 home runs, I think at the big league level isn't out of the question. Pretty good athlete. He's not going to play short, even if he, you know, could. And I don't think he's terrible there, but he's behind three or four other guys. So he's not going to be a shortstop long term. But it does appear that he can certainly stay on the infield. Probably second base is where he's going to be best suited.
Starting point is 00:24:07 there are some questions about the arm. But if you're getting a second basement who's a 60 hit tool who has average power, can steal 10, 15 bags and is going to have, you know, above average range or whatever, you know, you get that guy. That is a borderline all-star. That's a three, four-win player. And again, he's not 20 years old yet. So there's actually still more to go get.
Starting point is 00:24:31 They still have time to go get more from him. So I look at him and I say, you know, hey, This is a guy who can run a little bit. He can play in the infield. Like you can play second or third, maybe even short. We'll see where the arm ends up. But he's going to play in the infield. He's going to play on the dirt.
Starting point is 00:24:49 He has this pretty high floor because he's going to make contact. He's going to draw walks. He's going to hit a lot of doubles in the gap, at least. That's why I like him more than somebody like Las Montes, who has one path to the big leagues. Michael Oroyo has multiple paths to the big leagues. And while Las probably has the higher ceiling, Arroyo has the more likely
Starting point is 00:25:10 Like he has more chance Like more of a chance to get there And stay there because he can help you in a lot of different ways So I really like Arroyo Having a great year Like you said he might be ready for AA next year At the start of next year You know the Mariners put Cole Young at double A at 20 years old
Starting point is 00:25:27 They could do the same with Michael Oroyo Coming in at number three is Harry Ford Who was number three on this list the last time We did this as well you put him all the way down to five on your personal list Colby and we'll get into that in a second I still kept him at three because I still think there's a lot of upside here there's still the possibility of him catching and being a quality
Starting point is 00:25:50 hitter as a catcher which is very very valuable but if he can't catch I do worry about him just being kind of a guy right wherever else he plays you concerned about that as well Yeah, that's why I have him at five. Now, to be fair, based on what I hear and what I read and all that stuff, I don't see any reason why Harry Ford can't catch. Is he going to be a gold glover back there? Is it a Cal Raleigh?
Starting point is 00:26:18 No. Is he a disaster? No, he's not. So, you know, I think, you know, my concern with Ford right now is more that the in-game power still hasn't shown up. He's only 21, right? He's still young. And he's having a decent year at Arkansas, but- It's been a lot of up and down this year.
Starting point is 00:26:36 I saw questions about his power. I still have a few questions about his approach. He oftentimes looks like he's up there to walk. Like he's, that's his game plan is to draw a walk. And to be fair, he's really good at it. You know,
Starting point is 00:26:48 this has been his low watermark and on base percentage and it's 376. Well, as a 21 year old in double a. Yeah. So obviously, you know, there's still a lot to like here with Ford, but the problem is the slugging percentage is just four points higher.
Starting point is 00:27:04 than that. Right. And to me, like, if he can't catch, okay, is he going to play third base? Well, if he's going to play third base, he needs to hit for more power. Is he going to play a corner outfield spot? Well, if he does, he needs to hit for more power. Can he play up the middle? I don't know. Like, he's, he's already put a lot of, you know, a lot of strain on his body, catching as much as he has, but they've played him in left field a couple times. I think he could probably handle a set. Like, he's still a great athlete, too. Like, it's when you look at Harry Ford, he said, wow, he dropped a five. it makes it sound like, oh, I'm really concerned about Harry Ford.
Starting point is 00:27:37 Not really. Like to me, I just wonder, like, is the power ever going to show up? And if the answer is no, then he kind of has to catch to be an everyday big leaguer. And I mean, catch pretty well. Like, he has to be able to catch four or five times a week. And I'm still, I'm still betting he could because if he didn't, he wouldn't be five. I do think he's going to be able to catch. But he's 21 years old.
Starting point is 00:28:00 You know, he's, he still hasn't shown that in-game power yet. not enough of it to say like, well, if you can't catch you, just put them at third base. He'll be fine. I'll give you that kind of production. And I do still have concerns about the approach that's just a little too passive. And the strikeouts are up a little bit this year too.
Starting point is 00:28:18 But at worst, he's a guy who can play catcher, you know, two or three times a week without killing you. He's the guy who will draw walks. He'll hit some line drives, run into some power, might steal some bases for you.
Starting point is 00:28:30 It's probably athletic enough to play a couple days in the outfield or at third base and catch a couple of, is like he's still an incredibly valuable piece but they're just concerns about his game right now all right coming in at number two it's cole young just recently turned 21 years old in his first full season in double a also like harry ford been a little bit of uh you know up and down up and down in terms of the production uh in double a he's been red hot though as of late has your opinion at all changed on him not really uh you know i i still see him as a guy can play shortstop if you need him to absolutely he can do it probably best suited
Starting point is 00:29:12 for second base that's probably his going to be his best position it's probably where he's going to land i still have questions about how much power you're actually going to get out of him uh but i do think he's going to hit for a high average i think he's going to draw walks i think he's going to play above average defense up the middle and i think he can steal you you know 15 20 bags at the big league level uh it's just a really solid profile and it is an everyday guy who's going to play either shortstop or second base. There's not a lot of those guys out there who can not only stay up the middle, their entire time is a prospect status,
Starting point is 00:29:46 but they also are going to give you something at the plate. Koyung is going to hit for an average. He's going to hit doubles. He's going to hit line drives. There still might be some power to get, although he's pretty much maxed out, I think, physically. I think he's going to be about six foot tall, about 180 to 200 pounds, somewhere in that range.
Starting point is 00:30:05 Yeah, it's just, There's a lot, to me, there's just a lot of, you know, 50 tools across the board. And then to me, the hit tool is a 60. And because we know he can play shortstop and second base, there's really no concern that he's not going to play off the middle. There's less pressure on him to develop that power to, you know, anything close to average. Right now, I'd say the raw power tool is probably below average even. But we have seen stretches where he's, you know, he's pulled the ball. He can get to the pole side to get some home run.
Starting point is 00:30:31 So no, my, you know. I mean, he's slugging more than Harry Ford this year. Right. But, you know, eight home runs. Yeah. But 23 doubles. So a couple. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:30:43 Like I think Cole Young is what he is. I think he's going to be a solid major leaguer. I think he's probably going to play 10, 15 years at the big league level and probably just put up a bunch of two, two and a half win seasons. And, you know, at his prime, he might be a three, three and a half four win player because maybe he taps into a little bit of power. Maybe, you know, finds a stroke at the plate. And he's hitting 280 with a 360 on base. and he's slugging 15 homers and stealing 20 bags while playing above average defense at second base. I can totally see that.
Starting point is 00:31:10 Cole Young is just a really good, good prospect. Yeah. Yeah, that's why I have them right here because I just, I feel confident that he's just going to be a solid big leaguer, right? Like, I don't know if he's ever going to be an all-star, but I feel like he's a surefire two and a half three-win guy on a year-to-year basis. You want me to make the comment section go crazy right now? Oh, boy.
Starting point is 00:31:29 All right. Go ahead. Cole Young is going to be what Jack's a rinsic. thought Dustin Ackley was going to be. All right. Well, coming in at number one, it's no surprise. It's Cole Emerson once again. Best prospect since Julio in the system.
Starting point is 00:31:46 Now, how close is he to Julio? I guess that's the next question. There's some distance there. Yeah. I mean, Julio is just a freak. Right. Julio's 6.4, 230, and he's got 70, 80 grade speed with, you know, at his best eight, you know, 80 grade defense and center.
Starting point is 00:32:05 Field. Emerson is 6'1, 195. But he can definitely play shortstop. He's got the arm to play third base. You need him to? Like, I don't know. It feels to me like his floor, Emerson's floor. And obviously, this isn't the case because to say a guy's floor is the player I'm about to say is utterly ridiculous. His floor to me feels like Kyle Seeger. Like he legitimately feels like, yeah, he's going to hit 250, 260, hit 25 homers, you know, above average defense at third base. Like, that's what he's going to be. And to say somebody's a 19 year old's floor is like a 25 win player in their career, feels ridiculous.
Starting point is 00:32:43 But I just feel that good about the bat. I feel that good about the hit tool. And if you want a ceiling, you don't have to look, you don't even have to leave that family tree. The ceiling is Corey Seeger. Like there's a lot of similarities between Corey Seeger and Colt Emerson. I love Colt Emerson. To me, there is no debate. If anybody is trying to tell you that Colt Emerson isn't the best prospect in the Mariners system,
Starting point is 00:33:03 they do not know what they're talking about. about do not listen to them. It is Emerson gap, two through six. And the gap between two and six, it's very small. But Emerson is significantly better than everybody else. Again,
Starting point is 00:33:17 just 19 years old. He's already at Everett. He's going to make his debut in Arkansas at some point next year, assuming you can stay healthy. It is an above average hit tool, maybe even plus. It is an above average raw power, maybe even plus.
Starting point is 00:33:30 It is at least average defense at short. It is at least an above average arm. and oh, by the way, he's actually a pretty good runner too. You can actually move a little bit. Like he's, that's the one thing where he's not quite Kyle Seeger and he's not quite Corey Seeger. You can move.
Starting point is 00:33:45 You can move a little bit. So to me, Colt Emerson again, obviously you can tell I like him because I just comped his floor to Kyle Seeger and his ceiling to Corey Seeger. Like, yeah, those are like,
Starting point is 00:33:57 I basically just said his floor is an all-star third baseman. And his ceiling is MVP shortstop. yeah i like colt emerson quite a bit yeah so do i i mean it's very easy to see why especially with how much he dominated modesto um right out of high school too right like dude didn't waste any time going from the prep uh circuit to pro ball and just destroyed pretty much everyone in his path along the way uh and yeah hi-a um You know, it's only been 11 games. He's not hitting for a high average or anything right now.
Starting point is 00:34:37 It's just been. 3.85 on base. Yeah, it's just, it's just been a, you know, a fine start. Like, he's walking a lot. That's really it. That's the big thing. But like, it's, it's only a matter of time before he starts smoking that league as well. Yeah, he's right now, like, he just, it just ended.
Starting point is 00:34:54 But he's, he was on a pace or he was on a streak where he had reached base in like 47 consecutive games. Then it broke. he broke that streak. Then the next day, I think he had three hits, including a home run. So he has reached base in like 52 of his last 53 games.
Starting point is 00:35:10 Yeah. Yeah, he's a pretty, he's a pretty special player. Yeah. For sure. Yeah. All right. So that's our top 10.
Starting point is 00:35:19 Hope you guys enjoyed this series, our top 30 series. If you missed prospects 30 through 21 or 20 through 11, go watch those episodes now. Before we get out of here, a reminder that locked on has launched the first ever national Sports 24-7 streaming channel on YouTube, and now it's also available on Amazon Fire TV and the free Fire TV channels app. Locked-on Sports Today is here for you 24-7 covering the top sports
Starting point is 00:35:42 stories of the day with the local experts of Locked-on, plus our national shows covering every league. Find Lockdown Sports Today now available on the free Fire TV channels app. Thank you so much for joining us here on the Lockdown Merrers podcast for Colby Pat. I'm Tiding Azzalus. Be sure give us a follow on Twitter at L-O-N-Earer's. You can follow me at Tiding Azales and Colby at CPAT-11. that's CPAT 1-1. You can also find all that stuff in the description of this episode. Now head on over to Locked-on Seahawks to get all the latest on the Hawks from Corbyn Smith
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