Updating the Mariners' Top 10 Prospects: Cole Young, Harry Ford, Colt Emerson, Jonny Farmelo, Tai Peete and More

Let’s continue the series where we look at how every MLB team’s top 10 prospects are faring in the minor leagues.

We have covered the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets and Colorado Rockies and are now going to tackle the Seattle Mariners. 

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Mariners’ Top Prospects

Cole Young is the Mariners’ top prospect. The 20-year-old middle infielder is playing in Double-A and was taken with the 21st pick in the 2022 MLB Draft.

He’s got a 60 grade for his hitting, 55 marks for his running and fielding and a 50 grade in fielding. His lone below-average grade is 45 in power.

Across parts of three minor league seasons, Young has a .279 average and .387 on-base percentage. He has 20 homers across 217 games played, along with 40 stolen bases. Young has 150 strikeouts and 136 walks.

Seattle is leading the American League West, so the organization is likely going to buy at the trade deadline. That could mean Young is on the move, which could accelerate his MLB debut to late this season.

I’d think Seattle does its best to keep Young in the organization, meaning his first chance at the big leagues will likely be in 2025. Because he can play second or shortstop, Young should be able to make his way into an MLB lineup sooner, especially if he continues to hit at a good clip.

Harry Ford is the No. 2 prospect in Seattle. The 21-year-old catcher is also in Double-A after being selected with the 12th pick in the 2021 draft.

Ford is a career .263 hitter in the minor leagues, while getting on base at a .407 clip. He has 34 home runs, 71 stolen bases, 247 walks and 308 walks across 317 games played.

He’s graded as at least average in all five tools, with 60 grades in run and arm and a 55 mark in power.

Cal Raleigh is blocking him in the big leagues, and with the Mariners being contenders, Ford very well could get moved at the deadline. If Seattle keeps him around, I’d expect Ford to get his MLB debut in 2025. If Ford is traded to a rebuilding team, he could be a September call up.

Colt Emerson is the team’s No. 3 prospect. He’s 18 years old and playing in A-ball. He was the 22nd pick in last summer’s draft and also is a middle infielder.

He’s also at least average in all five tools. He’s got a 60 mark in hitting and 55 mark for his arm.

Emerson hit .374 and got on base at a .496 clip in 24 games last season. In 24 games this season, Emerson has a .292 average and .434 OBP. He has four homers among his 60 total hits, 12 stolen bases, 36 walks and 37 strikeouts.

I’m curious to see what Seattle does with Young and Emerson. They could end up being the shortstop/second baseman of the future, but I think it’s more likely one of them is dealt at the deadline.

Having Young traded could mean Emerson has a chance to debut sometime in 2025, but keeping both around likely pushes Emerson’s ETA back to 2026. 

Regardless of what unfolds, I really like what Emerson brings to the table. He needs more minor league seasoning, but in time, Emerson could be a top-end prospect in all of baseball.

Lazaro Montes is the Mariners’ No. 4 prospect. He’s 19 years old and playing in High-A. He was signed by the team in 2022 and is an outfielder.

Montes has a 65 grade for power, average marks in hit, run and arm and a 40 mark in field. In parts of three minor league seasons, Montes has a .298 average and .419 OBP. He has 37 home runs, seven stolen bases, 136 walks and 222 strikeouts in 200 games played.

Strikeouts might be an issue with Montes, but his power is undeniable. If he can continue to hit for a solid average, he can still be a very productive fantasy player when/if he makes the big leagues.

Montes has a ways to go before making the big leagues, but if he continues to rake, I don’t think it’s crazy to maybe expect him in the MLB in 2025. I’d think by 2026, he’s up in the big leagues for sure.

If your dynasty fantasy baseball team is in a deep rebuild, Montes is a great player to target and stash for a couple years.

Felnin Celesten is Seattle’s No. 5 prospect. He’s 18 years old, plays shortstop, is a switch-hitter and was signed in 2023. Celesten is getting his first minor league action in rookie ball now.

In 31 games so far, Celesten has a .341 average and .423 OBP. He’s got 17 extra-base hits (including three homers) among his 42 total knocks, along with five stolen bases, 18 walks and 28 strikeouts.

He’s got above-average marks in hit, arm and field (all 55s) and run (60). Celesten’s power grade is a 50. He was the No. 2 international prospect in the 2023 class according to MLB.com.

Celesten has a long way to go, but he’s off to a great start. If he can put it all together, he looks like a top-end MLB prospect. We’re probably talking at least a 2027 MLB debut, if not sometime in 2028, but if your league is deep enough or you are building toward a brighter future, Celsten is an intriguing option.

Jonny Farmelo is a 19-year-old outfielder playing in A-ball. He was the 29th pick in last summer’s draft and has an ETA of 2027.

In his first minor league action this season, Farmelo has a .264 average and .398 OBP. He has four homers, 18 stolen bases, 36 walks and 52 strikeouts.

He’s got at least average marks in all five tools, with his best tool being run (65). Farmelo is a long way from the majors, especially looking at some of his early numbers, but if he can put it all together, his steals and power could make him a decent fantasy option.

Tai Peete is the No. 7 prospect in Seattle. The 18-year-old shortstop was the 30th pick in last year’s draft, is playing in A-ball and has an ETA of 2027.

He’s got 60 grades in run and arm, 55 marks in power and field and a 45 mark in hit. Peete has a .281 average and .359 OBP across parts of two minor league seasons so far. He’s only got three home runs in 94 games - he also has 47 walks and 122 strikeouts.

Peete is hitting fairly well for a below-average graded hitter. His strikeouts are a problem, but he’s also got time to try to iron that out. I think the 2027 ETA is a pretty good guess, although that could change one way or the other depending on how he adjusts.

Tyler Locklear is the No. 8 prospect and has already reached the MLB once. The 23-year-old first baseman was a second-round pick in 2022 and is back in Triple-A for now.

In the minors, Locklear has a .285 average and .393 OBP. He has 32 homers, 17 stolen bases, 90 walks and 182 strikeouts in 180 games. In 11 MLB games, Locklear is 6-for-30 with two homers, one stolen base and walk and 12 strikeouts. 

Locklear doesn’t have much less to prove in the minor leagues and should get another crack at the big leagues this season - he could be traded at the deadline if the team the Mariners trades with isn’t going for a deep rebuild.

Infielder Michael Arroyo is the team’s No. 9 prospect. He can play second, third and short and was signed by the team in 2022. Arroyo is 19 and has a 2027 ETA.

He’s got a 55 grade in hit, 50 marks in run, arm and field and a 45 mark in power. In parts of three minor league seasons, Arroyo has a .278 average and .419 OBP. He also has 22 stolen bases, 20 homers, 115 walks and 167 strikeouts across 182 games. 

Because he can play all over the infield, that should help Arroyo get to the big leagues quicker than most. He’s a few years off yet, but the early results are definitely positive.

Jonatan Clase is the No. 10 prospect and already has made his MLB debut. He’s 22 years old, is a switch-hitter and was signed by Seattle in 2018.

In 15 MLB games, Clase has a .176 average and .200 OBP, with one extra-base hit among six total knocks. He has one walk, 13 strikeouts and two stolen bases.

Clase is a career .264 hitter in the minor leagues and strikes out a bunch, but getting MLB experience at a young age could help him tremendously going forward. I’m not super high on him, but he’s worth monitoring at the very least.