Format = Position Player | Age on 4/1/2025 | Highest Level Played | Estimated Time of Arrival
1. OF Lazaro Montes | 20 | A+ | 2026
At 6’4” 256 lbs with a picturesque swing from the left side, Montes invites visual comps to Yordan Alvarez and embraces them, incorporating regular video study and modeling his own game after the Houston slugger’s. In 116 games across two levels, he slashed .288/.397/.484 with 21 home runs, five stolen bases and 105 RBIs. I don’t mention RBIs much around here, but that’s almost a ribbie per game, which you don’t see a lot these days in the minors, especially among guys who take their walks (14.4 percent for Montes in 2024). All in all, I’ve been among the high rankers on Montes throughout his pro career, ranking him first on this list last season. He’s still ranked after Cole Young and Colt Emerson by a lot of outlets despite both of those guys having down seasons in 2024. That’s understandable given they were young for their levels, and Young had to hit in tough park at Double-A Arkansas, but if Montes produces power at 20 years old in that setting, he should earn the prospect shine elsewhere that he’s been getting here.
2. SS Felnin Celesten | 19 | CPX | 2028
A poorly timed hamstring strain stopped Celesten from making his professional debut in 2023 after signing for $4.7 million. The club jumped the 6’1” 175 lb switch hitter over the DSL in 2024 and sent him straight to the complex, where Celesten responded by slashing .352/.431/.568 with three home runs and five stolen bases in 32 games before injury tripped him up again: a hamate issue that required surgery in August. Hand injuries are scary for hitters, but if Celesten is healthy in 2025, he might race through the lower minors in search of a level that can challenge him.
3. SS Cole Young | 21 | AA | 2025
A left-handed hitter with middle-infield athleticism on defense and a plus hit tool on offense, Young was selected 21st overall in 2022 and has played well throughout his climb. He’s an easy eval on the eyes as it doesn’t take much to see his swing and think “oh that looks good.” Also has the arm to make up for a split second here or there on defense. In 124 Double-A games, he slashed .271/.369/.390 with nine home runs and 23 stolen bases. The way their infield looks now, with Dylan Moore at second base and Donovan Solano at first base, Young could make a push to claim the job with a scorching spring. More likely he heads to Triple-A until he’s the obvious best option.
4. C Harry Ford | 21 | AA | 2026
The 12th overall pick in 2021, Ford offers a unique look for our game: a signal caller with speed. In 116 Double-A games, Ford swiped 35 bases and generated a 119 wRC+ on the strength of a .377 on base percentage despite a .367 slugging percentage and .249 batting average. He has posted that general shape of slash line in each of his full-season showings, leaving us with some questions about his ultimate upside alongside some greed for speed.
5. OF Jonny Farmelo | 19 | A | 2028
A left-handed hitter at 6’2” 205 lbs, Farmelo went 29th overall in the 2023 draft and drew rave reviews when he got into the building. The team sent him to Low-A, and Farmelo slashed .264/.398/.421 with four home runs and 18 stolen bases. The club knew he’d be impressive from a speed and power perspective, but the patience and impact in Low-A were probably both pleasant surprises. A torn ACL ended his season early or he might’ve played his way to the top of this list.
6. SS Colt Emerson | 19 | A+ | 2026
After the success of Cole Young, the Mariners went for a similar prospect at the 22 spot in the 2023 draft: Colt Emerson, a left-handed hitting middle infielder at 6’1” 195 lbs with excellent hands in the batter’s box. He came roaring out of the gate in his draft season but battled injury in 2024, missing two stretches and playing 70 games total, the final 29 coming at High-A, where Emerson was overmatched for the first time as a pro, slashing .225/.331/.317 with two home runs and nine stolen bases. If you’re looking at this ranking and thinking he’s way better than most guys you find in the sixth spot, you’re right. The Mariners have a handful of 50’s here; you could toggle them three-through-six to your specifications.
7. SS Ryan Bliss | 25 | MLB | 2024
If we go by the KISS policy of Keep It Simple, Stuped when evaluating Bliss, we see a second baseman who has stolen 55 bases in consecutive seasons, tacking on 23 home runs in 2023 and 14 in 2024. Even drinking a part-time cup of coffee for a contending team last year, he posted a 101 wRC+ with two home runs and five stolen bases in 71 plate appearances. Give him 500 PA’s, and he was running at a pace for about 14 home runs and 35 stolen bases in the big leagues. He’s not an off-the-bus all-star at 5’7” 165 lbs, but Bliss gets the most from his ability and produces all-fields pop.
8. SS Michael Arroyo | 20 | A+ | 2027
Like Bliss, Arroyo doesn’t make many jaws drop when he steps off the bus. He’s listed at 5’8” 160 lbs but he hits a ton, slashing .285/.400/.509 with 23 home runs and 18 stolen bases in 120 games split evenly between the two A-levels. He was actually a hair better in High-A as he seemed to improve in just about every way throughout the season. The real hurdle in this system is Double-A, so the prospect escalator is calling to Arroyo if he can start the season hot.
9. RHP Jurrangelo Cijntje | 21 | NCAA | 2026
A true baseball rarity, Cijntje is a switch-pitcher with legitimate upside from both the right and left sides, touching 98 with the heat and 91 with a slider from the right side and living in the low 90’s from the left, where he features a solid sweeper. Seattle selected him 15th overall in the 2024 draft after he pitched two seasons in the SEC for Mississippi State. He was much better as a sophomore than a freshman, posting a 3.67 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 90.2 innings pitched.
10. 1B Tyler Locklear | 24 | MLB | 2024
A right-right, corner-only prospect, Locklear was a 2nd round pick out of Virginia Commonwealth in 2022 because the Mariners thought he could rake, and so far so good on that front. He cruised through the lower minors and set himself up for a 2024 debut after slashing. 272/.382/.468 with 16 home runs and 9 stolen bases in 111 games across Double and Triple-A in 2024. He didn’t hit during his 16-game stretch drinking Seattle’s Best, but that’s certainly not disqualifying.
Thanks for reading!
