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Draft Report Cards: Seattle Mariners
By Jim Callis
October 22, 2010
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QUICK TAKE
Not having a first-round pick because of free-agent signings, and failing to sign Stanek hurt the Mariners. They tried to compensate by doling out $2.5 million in bonuses to Walker, Littlewood and Shipers.
Bonus Spending: $4.0 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: 1B Mickey Wiswall (7) hit just .301 with metal bats at Boston College in the spring, then matched that average in low Class A. » BEST POWER HITTER: Wiswall. He hit nine homers in two minor league stops and ranks second all-time at BC in single-season (19) and career (37) long balls. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Jabari Blash (8) has plus speed once he gets going, though he isn't a big basestealing threat. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: While some scouts believe Marcus Littlewood (2) lacks the range to stay at shortstop, Seattle thinks he covers enough ground and rate his hands, arm, actions and instincts all as above-average.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Stephen Pryor (5) operates at 94-97 mph. He touches 98 mph, as does ultra-athletic RHP Taijuan Walker (1s), who was the club's top pick. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: LHP Jason Markovitz (13) gets by with a high-80s fastball because he has a quality curveball. Walker flashes a 12-to-6 hammer, while RHP Tyler Burgoon (10) attacks hitters with his slider.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: RHP Forrest Snow (36) had a 0.60 ERA, nine saves and 55 strikeouts in 45 innings between two stops. Pryor posted a 2.04 ERA and fanned 55 in 35 innings while reaching low Class A. RHP Tim Boyce (44) was a Rookie-level Appalachian League all-star and led the circuit in wins, going 9-3, 2.98 with 55 strikeouts in 57 innings. He throws 90-92 mph. » BEST ATHLETE: Walker averaged 21 points and 15 rebounds a game as a senior basketball forward and could have played college hoops. Blash, who has raw power and arm strength to go with his speed, is the most athletic of the Mariners' position players. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Unsigned RHP David Holman's (50) father Brian came within one out of throwing a perfect game for Seattle in 1990. Unsigned OF Colton Keough's (49) dad Matt also pitched in the majors, and his mother Jeana is a former Playboy Playmate and cast member of "The Real Housewives of Orange County." RHP Stephen Kohlscheen's (45) father Brian is the Midwest crosschecker for the Phillies. RHP Ben Versnik's (38) dad Ron was a center drafted by the United States Football League's Chicago Blitz. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Flamethrowing relievers like Pryor often move quickly. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: LHP Jordan Shipers (16), who signed for $800,000, has an 89-92 mph fastball and the makings of possible plus pitches in his slider and changeup. Both Snow and Kohlscheen touched the mid-90s after signing. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: RHP Ryne Stanek (3), who has an easy 91-96 mph fastball, could blossom into a first-round pick after heading to Arkansas. Seattle still is negotiating with LHP James Paxton (4), whose stuff was down this spring after he declined to sign with the Blue Jays as a sandwich pick in 2009.
By Jim Callis
October 22, 2010
E-mail Print
QUICK TAKE
Not having a first-round pick because of free-agent signings, and failing to sign Stanek hurt the Mariners. They tried to compensate by doling out $2.5 million in bonuses to Walker, Littlewood and Shipers.
Bonus Spending: $4.0 million
POSITION PLAYERS
BEST PURE HITTER: 1B Mickey Wiswall (7) hit just .301 with metal bats at Boston College in the spring, then matched that average in low Class A. » BEST POWER HITTER: Wiswall. He hit nine homers in two minor league stops and ranks second all-time at BC in single-season (19) and career (37) long balls. » FASTEST RUNNER: OF Jabari Blash (8) has plus speed once he gets going, though he isn't a big basestealing threat. » BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: While some scouts believe Marcus Littlewood (2) lacks the range to stay at shortstop, Seattle thinks he covers enough ground and rate his hands, arm, actions and instincts all as above-average.
PITCHERS
BEST FASTBALL: RHP Stephen Pryor (5) operates at 94-97 mph. He touches 98 mph, as does ultra-athletic RHP Taijuan Walker (1s), who was the club's top pick. » BEST SECONDARY PITCH: LHP Jason Markovitz (13) gets by with a high-80s fastball because he has a quality curveball. Walker flashes a 12-to-6 hammer, while RHP Tyler Burgoon (10) attacks hitters with his slider.
ODDS AND ENDS
BEST PRO DEBUT: RHP Forrest Snow (36) had a 0.60 ERA, nine saves and 55 strikeouts in 45 innings between two stops. Pryor posted a 2.04 ERA and fanned 55 in 35 innings while reaching low Class A. RHP Tim Boyce (44) was a Rookie-level Appalachian League all-star and led the circuit in wins, going 9-3, 2.98 with 55 strikeouts in 57 innings. He throws 90-92 mph. » BEST ATHLETE: Walker averaged 21 points and 15 rebounds a game as a senior basketball forward and could have played college hoops. Blash, who has raw power and arm strength to go with his speed, is the most athletic of the Mariners' position players. » MOST INTRIGUING BACKGROUND: Unsigned RHP David Holman's (50) father Brian came within one out of throwing a perfect game for Seattle in 1990. Unsigned OF Colton Keough's (49) dad Matt also pitched in the majors, and his mother Jeana is a former Playboy Playmate and cast member of "The Real Housewives of Orange County." RHP Stephen Kohlscheen's (45) father Brian is the Midwest crosschecker for the Phillies. RHP Ben Versnik's (38) dad Ron was a center drafted by the United States Football League's Chicago Blitz. » CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Flamethrowing relievers like Pryor often move quickly. » BEST LATE-ROUND PICK: LHP Jordan Shipers (16), who signed for $800,000, has an 89-92 mph fastball and the makings of possible plus pitches in his slider and changeup. Both Snow and Kohlscheen touched the mid-90s after signing. » THE ONE WHO GOT AWAY: RHP Ryne Stanek (3), who has an easy 91-96 mph fastball, could blossom into a first-round pick after heading to Arkansas. Seattle still is negotiating with LHP James Paxton (4), whose stuff was down this spring after he declined to sign with the Blue Jays as a sandwich pick in 2009.
