Mariners have 3 prospects in top 10 of new Baseball America rankings

The Seattle Mariners have three of the top 10 prospects in Baseball America’s updated Top 100 rankings, which were unveiled on Wednesday.

Mariners will have one big advantage at the trade deadline

Shortstop/third baseman Colt Emerson moved up one spot to No. 3 following his recent MLB promotion, right-handed pitcher Ryan Sloan surged to No. 7 after a strong May and left-handed pitcher Kade Anderson remained at No. 9 amid his scorching first pro season.

The big mover was the 20-year-old Sloan, who climbed 13 spots from BA’s May Top 100 update and is now the top overall pitching prospect.

The 6-foot-5 Sloan sputtered early on this season at Double-A Arkansas, but has found his stride of late. The 2024 second-round draft pick has a 1.83 ERA in 19 2/3 innings over his past four starts, including a perfect six-inning masterpiece this past Saturday when racked up 11 strikeouts and retired all 18 batters he faced. For the season, Sloan has a 4.34 ERA with 49 strikeouts and 10 walks over 37 1/3 innings.

Anderson, the No. 3 overall pick in last summer’s MLB Draft, has been just as impressive. The 21-year-old southpaw has a Texas League-leading 1.43 ERA through his first nine starts at Arkansas this season, with 67 strikeouts and just seven walks in 44 innings. Anderson also leads the league with both a 0.75 WHIP and a 41.9% strikeout rate, and has allowed one run or fewer in eight of his nine starts.

Emerson made his MLB debut on May 17 and has excelled as an everyday starter in Seattle’s lineup. The 20-year-old former first-round pick is slashing .271/.352/.583 with three home runs, one triple, four doubles and a .935 OPS through his first 15 MLB games, while providing steady play at third base.

BA still considers Emerson a prospect, as he’s only had 48 MLB at-bats. He will graduate from prospect status once he reaches 130 MLB at-bats.

The Mariners have five Top 100 prospects in BA’s update, with outfield slugger Lazaro Montes at No. 57 and catcher Luke Stevenson making his Top 100 debut at No. 98.

Stevenson, the No. 35 overall pick in last year’s draft, is slashing .243/.421/.404 with three homers, 13 doubles and a .825 OPS in 40 games with High-A Everett this season.

Mariners second base prospect Michael Arroyo, who was No. 87 in BA’s May Top 100 update, dropped out the rankings.

Seattle Mariners news and more

• Former MLB pitcher pinpoints key to Emerson Hancock’s breakout
• Touted M’s prospect Ryan Sloan spins 6 perfect innings in Arkansas
• Seattle Mariners prospect Kade Anderson turns in another gem

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