Mariners prospect Felnin Celesten named Northwest League MVP

Seattle Mariners shortstop prospect Felnin Celesten was named the High-A Northwest League’s 2026 Most Valuable Player on Wednesday.

Cohesion will be key as Mariners move on from 2026

Celesten slashed .314/.409/.534 with 13 home runs, 18 stolen bases and a .943 OPS in 80 games with High-A Everett this season before earning a July 20 promotion to Double-A Arkansas. He had a 25-game hitting streak early in the year and then unleashed an uptick in power, blasting eight homers over his final 26 games in Everett.

A 21-year-old switch-hitter, Celesten struggled after his promotion. He batted .171 with three homers, seven steals and a .507 OPS in 31 games with Arkansas before missing the final few weeks of the season with what the Mariners termed a minor groin issue.

Celesten is ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 49 overall prospect and Baseball America’s No. 97 overall prospect.

Long touted for his tantalizing five-tool potential, Celesten signed with the Mariners for $4.7 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2023. It was the largest international bonus signing Seattle had ever made, according to Baseball America.

Celesten’s first two pro seasons were marred by injuries. He missed the entire 2023 season with a hamstring strain and then had his 2024 campaign cut short by a wrist injury that required surgery.

During his first full pro season in 2025, Celesten hit .273 with six homers, 21 steals and a .721 OPS across 104 games with Low-A Modesto and Everett.

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