The Seattle Mariners group of young pitching prospects got bigger and better on Wednesday and Thursday. The Mariners draft team capitalized on their six picks in the abbreviated draft, and they continued to bolster their farm system.
First Round (#6) Emerson Hancock RHP Georgia
The team added 6’4 starting pitcher Emerson Hancock with the #6 overall pick. Ranked by many as the top-RHP pitcher in the 2020 draft. The college junior has a four pitch mix highlighted by an electric fastball.
Eventually, the Mariners 2020 first round draft pick will be a top of the rotation starter at the MLB level. He joins Justin Dunn, Logan Gilbert, Justus Sheffield and George Kirby who will all be given the opportunity to become starters at the MLB level. With the quality of his stuff, Hancock has the potential to be the best pitcher in this group.
Second Round (#43) Zach DeLoach OF Texas A&M
The Seattle Mariners couldn’t help themselves as they added another outfielder with huge upside at the plate. The organizations outfield position group is loaded with talent. The selection of Zach DeLoach in the second round emphasizes the teams commitment to control the strike zone at the plate. He takes walks and shows plus power although he did not dazzle in his two full collegiate seasons.
What the Mariners saw in him was what he displayed last summer in the Cape Cod League, where he won the batting title with a .353 average. Additionally, he followed by leading the nation with a 1.336 OPS in 18 games. If the real Zach DeLoach is the guy seen lately, he could make his way to Seattle quickly.
Comp Round B (#64) Connor Phillips RHP McLennan CC (TX)
With an extra competitive balance pick acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in the Omar Narvaez deal this off season. The Mariners chose to add another right-handed pitcher with huge upside and a four-pitch mix.
Connor Phillips was selected with the 64th pick in the 2020 draft by the Mariners. Although he is far from as polished, he throws hard. His fastball is what got him drafted this high, and his secondary pitches are what will get him to the big leagues.
If Phillips is able to develop his changeup, slider, and curveball he will no doubt someday be a force on the mound in Seattle. If he can just consistently throw two out of those three pitches for strikes, he will be an impact player for the Mariners in the future.
Third Round (#78) Kaden Polcovich 2B Oklahoma State
When looking at the depth of the organization, two weak spots are arguably second and third base. Therefore, it makes sense that the Mariners would select players in the 2020 draft to bolster those two positions. They did just that, selecting Kaden Polcovich 78th overall.
He was unranked by MLB.com, but Kaden has played both second and third base in his college career. Besides his versatility defensively, he brings a switch-hitting ability at the plate. The quality the Mariners like in Polcovich are his makeup, and he has shown the ability to overcome obstacles. At 5’8 Kaden has always played with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, and he is known as a grinder. The 2020 third team collegiate All-American will be given an opportunity to show what he can do as a professional.
Fourth Round (#107) Tyler Keenan 3B Mississippi
There are questions on where Tyler Keenan will fit defensively. However, there are no questions about his bat. At 6’4 and 250 pounds, Tyler showed the ability to hit for power throughout his career at Ole Miss.
He exploded in the shortened 2020 season hitting .403 with seven home runs and 33 RBI in 17 games. He has the arm strength to play third base, but he will need to develop his footwork to stick at the hot corner moving forward. If he ends up being a first baseman or designated hitter and is able to hit 30 home runs every year, the Mariners will be happy with this year’s fourth-round draft pick.
Fifth Round (#137) Taylor Dollard RHP Cal Poly
Taylor Dollard is a right-handed pitcher with control. He has pitched mostly out of the bullpen in college, but has showed the ability to be a starter in his junior season at Cal Poly. His fastball has a natural sink to it, and he can move inside or outside with ease.
Dollard’s ceiling may be lower than the two pitchers the Mariners selected ahead of him, but he has more polish at this point in his career. His changeup is an effective pitch and he uses two distinct breaking balls to get batters out. Taylor could translate as a back of the rotation starter or work out of the bullpen.
All in all, Jerry Dipoto and the front office look to have done a good job to further along the Mariner rebuild.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
