With the 49th pick in the 2013 MLB draft, the Seattle Mariners select: Austin Wilson, outfielder, Stanford University.

Austin Wilson: H/W: 6’5, 245 LBS, B/T: R/R

Over the last three years the Mariner’s have spent their second-round pick on shortstops, and it’s nice to finally see that trend come to a close. With Nick Franklin making strides, it looks like Jack-Z is finally happy with his middle infield options.

However, the one trend that did stick was Seattle’s brass taking a hitter in the second-round of the draft.

Balancing picks

The M’s made a smart pick in the first-round by taking DJ Peterson, a third baseman from New Mexico. While Peterson has solid upside, he also possessed one of the highest floors in the draft.

Austin Wilson is arguably the opposite. The 21-year-old has massive upside, but also a low floor—don’t expect to see him in the Majors as quickly as Peterson.

Both picks were smart strategy on Zduriencik. Peterson’s high floor will provide a quick return for Seattle, and if he ends up being a bust the high-upside of Wilson can provide Seattle with massive draft returns.

We call that hedging your bets.

Just like Peterson, Wilson was drafted out of high school before attending college. He was a top-rated pick that year (2010, drafted by St. Louis), but he stuck to his commitment to Stanford. He should be an easy sign for the M’s the second time around.

Tools breakdown

Wilson has some great tools, with all the potential to be a power-speed threat at the Major League level.

The Stanford product has great athleticism and a solid approach at the plate. His hit tools are still developing—don’t expect him to win any batting titles—but the building blocks are there. He’s definitely too much of a swing and miss hitter right now.

His top tool is his power. Wilson has strong wrists and solid bat speed. He currently relies too heavily on his upper strength, but his power will be off the charts once he learns to utilize his whole body.

The M’s land high-upside OF Austin Wilson in the second-round of the 2013 draft. (Photo: SFGate.com)

Wilson doesn’t have game changing speed, but he’s far from a slug. Could hit the 15-20 stolen base benchmark in his prime.

With moderate range and a strong arm, with solid accuracy, Wilson profiles best as a right fielder. Has the flexibility to play center in stretches if need-be.

Despite his injury-limited 2013, Wilson hit .288/.387/.475 this season with five home runs and stolen bases, respectively. He has experience in the Cape Cod and made strides there in 2012.

Outfield remodel

With plenty of big-time prospects making headlines in the infield, it’s time Seattle turns its attention towards the outfield.

From injuries to busts, the M’s outfield has been its weakest link over the last few seasons. Despite lots of promise in 2013, not much has changed. Franklin Gutierrez and Michael Morse haven’t been able to stay healthy, and Michael Saunders has lost his magic.

Out of those three, Morse is the only one worth keeping long-term—let’s face it, Guti is never staying healthy—and Seattle lacks any top-tier prospects at the position.

Wilson does have a long way to go in his development, but his ceiling is massive. Seattle hasn’t had a reason to be this excited about an outfielder since Adam Jones was still in the system.

Combined with the upside of D.J. Peterson, the Seattle Mariner’s are on their way to a fantastic 2013 draft.

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With the 12th pick in the 2013 MLB draft, the Seattle Mariners select: D.J. Peterson, third baseman, University of New Mexico.

D.J. Peterson: H/W: 6’1, 205 LBS, B/T: R/R

Since taking over as Mariner’s GM in 2009, Jack-Z has spent all but one of his top picks on college players—the exception being Taijuan Walker in 2010.

So it was no surprise when Seattle kept to the script Thursday, drafting New Mexico’s D.J. Peterson. The M’s actually took a run at Peterson as a high-schooler in 2010, so it’s no surprise they made sure to nab him the second-time around.

How does this align with Seattle’s goals?

Seattle landed college baseball’s purest hitter in last year’s draft with Mike Zunino, and they may have just done the same thing this year.

Peterson’s mechanics are sound, and his development shouldn’t take long. If he signs quickly—like Zunino did last year—he could be seeing time in the Majors as early as next August/September.

The AL West is a division up for grabs, and with Seattle’s future rotation is pretty much built the team continues to look for answers in the lineup. With Peterson the M’s not only get a sound all-around hitter, but someone who can make a difference sooner than later.

Tools breakdown

Peterson is a pure hitter, with solid power potential, quick wrists and great bat speed. His best developed tool is his patience, as he already displays a mature command of the strike zone.

D.J. Peterson is officially on his way to the show (Photo: Eric Sorenson / College Baseball Today)

Sound familiar? That’s because it’s exactly what everyone was saying about Zunino just one year ago.

The junior finished his season batting .408/.520/.807 with more walks (46) than strikeouts (35). He had five stolen bases and 47 extra base hits (18 home runs) in 55 games played.

The biggest question mark right now is what position he’ll play at. Given his size, it’s doubtful he’ll be able to stay at third in the long-term. That’s not a big deal, since Seattle already has Kyle Seager manning the hot corner.

The most likely landing spot for Peterson is first base, which has been a bit of a rotating door for Seattle—unless you believe Justin Smoak is the long-term solution there.

Overall this is a solid pick, even if Peterson ends up moving to a less vital defensive position further down the line.

Where do we go from here?

With another first-round in the bag, Seattle continues to build it’s lineup. Jack-Z’s seen a lot of early success with these first-round bats, bringing in top prospects Mike Zunino, Nick Franklin and Dustin Ackley—his only one real disappointment.

The maturity of Peterson’s tools is very similar to what we saw from Zunino last year, which means Seattle could be seeing this pick pay off very soon.

If Peterson moves to first base it would finally give the M’s a player who could lock down the position for years to come.

He may not have the top-end power of other first baseman, but given his floor—arguably the highest of the draft—20 home run power seems like a given.

All-in-all this is another solid pick for Jack-Z and crew. Combined with the Zunino pick from last year Seattle has built it’s offensive core for the foreseeable future.

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The Oregon State football team surprised everyone last season, and the 2013 team has a chance to be even better. But that can’t happen unless players are ready to step up.

That statement is truest on offense. The Beavs scored a lot of points in 2012, but inconsistencies and cold-stretches were the reason behind too many sloppy losses.

If Oregon State is to be better in 2013, it will be up to the youngsters to step up. The team was dealt a big blow in losing Marcus Wheaton to the NFL draft, but it has enough talent to stay on track this season.

Here are some names you won’t hear much of heading into 2013, but you’ll certainly know by season’s end.

Richard Mullaney, WR

If you’ve read my write-ups on NWSB before, you know that I love Richard Mullaney. At the end of the day, Mullaney is the reason I’m not worried about OSU losing Wheaton.

This kid has a lot of talent, and he needs to be a big contributor for Oregon State in 2013. The sophomore averaged 12 yards a catch in 13 games last season as a redshirt freshman. Combined with Brandin Cooks, Mullaney will help retain Oregon State’s lethality down field.

With good speed, ridiculous catching ability and a head for the game, Mullaney has the chance at a 2013 breakout reminiscent of Cooks’ last season.

Expect plenty of these from Mullaney in 2013. (Photo: @Rmullaney08 / Twitter.com)

While he’s yet to be named OSU’s second starter—he didn’t practice in spring due to shoulder surgery—I have no doubt he’ll emerge from the summer in that role.

Chris Brown, RB

The Beaver’s lost Malcolm Agnew this season after the running back made the choice to transfer to Southern Illinois, and that’s opened up a spot for Chris Brown on the roster.

The redshirt freshman will play backup to Storm Woods and Terron Ward this season, but Woods’ injury history—and Riley’s love for versatile backs—will provide Brown with plenty of playing time.

At 5’10, 198 pounds, Brown is one of OSU’s more versatile running backs. He put together 77 total yards in OSU’s spring game, and has the talent to be a very James Rodgers-esque weapon.

Caleb Smith, TE

Caleb Smith was a recruit that made a lot of noise in 2012, graduating early in order to enroll at Oregon State last spring. And while it wasn’t shocking to see the true freshman make the team last season, it was surprising how little he got to play.

Smith played in 13 games last season, but only had two catches. The emergence of Colby Prince and Connor Hamlet limited what Smith got to do on the field.

While Prince is now graduated, there’s still some discourse over who Oregon State’s other starting tight end will be. Junior Tyler Perry is currently the front runner, despite having less on field experience than Smith.

Smith is a big tight end with the athleticism to control his body and make great catches. When he was first recruited he was compared at times to Rob Gronkowski. So you know at some point that talent’s going to shine through.

Gavin Andrews, OL

Gavin Andrews was another player from the 2012 recruiting class who made a lot of noise, made the team as a true freshman, but didn’t get any playing time.

Now that 2013 is here, and starting tackle Colin Kelley is gone, Andrews will get his opportunity to shine.

At 6’5, 327 pounds, Andrews is a physical blocker with the fundamentals to be a great contributor in the passing game. Combined with Isaac Seumalo—who could move to left tackle this season—Oregon State could have two of the Pac-12′s best tackles in 2013.

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With the recent callup of top prospect Nick Franklin there’s some questions surrounding the long-term outlook of the Seattle’s infield. Specifically the future role of shortstop Brendan Ryan.

The M’s were lucky that the struggles of second baseman Dustin Ackley gave them an avenue in which to bring up Franklin without having to do something about Ryan.

But if Ackley turns things around, or Brad Miller—another top prospect who plays at short—continues on his path to the Majors, the Mariner’s are going to find themselves in a sticky situation.

Logistics

No matter how you write it up at some point Seattle’s going to have to decide what to do with Ryan. And I’m here to tell you keeping the shortstop on the team is the right move.

Keeping Ryan at short can be done. As Franklin fills out his body will become more suitable for a position like second, and Kyle Seager has a lock on third.

This makes either Ackley or Miller the odd-man-out, which isn’t a bad thing. Either player can be groomed to play in Seattle’s anemic outfield. And if the M’s stick with Ackley, Miller then becomes a valuable trade chip at baseball’s thinnest position.

Now that we’ve established keeping Ryan around doesn’t put any kinks into Seattle’s future plans, we have to tackle the difficult question of why he deserves to stay.

Offense

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Brendan Ryan is a light-hitting shortstop. His career slash line is an unsavory .241/.303/.324 and it’s gotten progressively worse with the Mariners. He’s currently hitting just .204 with a .543 OPS in 2013.

With that said Ryan provides the best outs in baseball: valuable ones.

There’s a reason Brendan Ryan is still on this team (Photo: CBS Sports)

His high strikeout rate is actually a boon, because it limits the chances of double plays—he’s averages 5.7 grounded into double plays a year. And since joining Seattle in 2011, Ryan leads the team in sacrifice flys (12) and sac-hits (20).

In that same time frame he’s third on the team in walks with 88.

So yes, Brendan Ryan does have a weak bat, but he limits the detrimental damage he does to the lineup. With that out of the way we get to the real saving grace behind Ryan: his glove.

Defense

While Brendan Ryan has never won a golden glove award—a true travesty—he’s arguably one of baseball’s best defenders today.

Since joining the M’s, Ryan has led the team with a total UZR of 26.8. That mark is only 1.6 points less than the combined total of the second, third and fourth place defenders.

He’s been responsible for 50 defensive runs saved, more than double that of second-place Dustin Ackley.

Let’s expand this to the Major Leagues. Since becoming an everyday player in 2009, Ryan has led the MLB in defensive runs scored with a total of 94. That’s 30 more than second-place Evan Longoria. In that same time he’s totaled a 47.3 UZR, good for fourth-place.

If advanced metrics aren’t your thing, just know he owns a .980 fielding percentage at shortstop.

Conclusion

Translating these stats to wins, Ryan has a total WAR of 4.4 in his time with Seattle. That’s second on the team in that time frame, behind only Kyle Seager‘s 6.0.

Since this is a lot of information to process, here’s a summary:

Brendan Ryan is not a great hitter, but he is effective. He finds ways to get on base, while creating valuable outs. And once you combine that with his stellar defense you get one of Seattle’s—a team that thrives on defense and pitching—most valuable players.

Which is why, at just 31 years old, Ryan deserves to be in the team’s future plans.

Advanced metrics derived from FanGraphs

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It’s a day of change for the Seattle Mariners with the report that the M’s have optioned Dustin Ackley to Triple-A Tacoma in order to call up top prospect Nick Franklin.

From Ackley to Jesus Montero, Seattle’s had trouble finding success with its top offensive prospects. But Franklin is a different beast, and the hope is he’ll finally be the one to break the curse.

With an air of optimism surrounding Seattle today, here’s a look at five things to expect from Franklin’s Major League debut.

1. An adjustment period

When a top prospect comes up, everyone wants that player to contribute immediately. Especially when that prospect’s been as successful in the upper minors as Franklin.

Remember, it’s always better to temper expectations. An adjustment period should always be expected when making the jump from the minors to the Majors.

Keep in mind, last season with his first call up to Triple-A Franklin struggled to hit .243/.310/.416 in 64 games. But after starting this season at the same level he’s managed to hit .324/.440/.472. Even if Franklin starts slow, the talent and ceiling is still there.

2. Doubles

There’s a misconception about Franklin that he has a lot of power. While he does have a strong bat, don’t expect tons of home runs from the 22-year-old.

It’s official: Nick Franklin’s time has come (Photo: AP)

Franklin looked like a middle of the order bat in 2010 after hitting 23 home runs. Since then he’s only managed double-digit home runs in one other year.

While Franklin might not smack more than 15 home runs in a single year, he’s still got power. He managed 32 doubles and nine triples last season, and he’s averaged 30 extra base hits a year across his five seasons in the minors.

3. Middle infield offense

Seattle’s offense has been struggling this season, and no more than in the middle infield. Outside of Kyle Seager there’s been no production from the left side of the field.

The hope is that Franklin will change that. The switch-hitter is a shortstop by trade, but he also has 122 games at second base.

With an ability to play multiple positions across the infield—and provide some offensive punch in the lineup—the M’s should finally get some offense from their infield.

4. Top of the lineup production

Seattle’s offensive woes can be traced to the top of the order, where the M’s have failed to find any support. Every team needs a good leadoff man, and Michael Saunders has not been that man this year. But Franklin could be.

Across the minors Franklin’s managed to post a .360 OBP. He currently has a .440 OBP at Triple-A with 30 walks and just 20 strikeouts.

The infielder also has speed, having stolen 63 bases in the minors. With an ability to get on base, as well as a combination of power and speed, Franklin could finally provide some leadoff production for the Mariners.

5. Solid defense

The M’s are a pitch-first team, and every solid rotation needs a strong supporting cast on defense.

Ackley was a good defender, but inconsistent—and not great. Franklin has a solid glove, smooth flow and a solid combination of quickness and range. The infield D won’t be losing any steps with Franklin, and with any luck it should even improve.

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A month and a half into the season and the Seattle Mariners are four games under .500 and third in the AL West. That’s the bad news. The good news is that this organization is incredibly top-heavy in the minors, and it’s top prospects could be coming to the rescue very soon.

But because Seattle’s roster is—for lack of a better word—bloated, finding the time and place for those prospects to make contributions is easier said than done.

Looking at Seattle’s five top prospects, we’re breaking down the best roles for those players throughout the current MLB season.

1. Mike Zunino – Catcher by July

Mike Zunino started his season at a torrid pace, and though he still has six home runs and 17 extra base hits, his average and OBP have since fallen to .222 and .299, respectively.

Despite his recent slump, Zunino is still Seattle’s No. 1 prospect by far. He is bound to make his Major League debut at some point this season, at which point he’s likely to take over as the M’s everyday catcher.

That’s why a takeover is doubtful until we get closer to July. At that point Seattle can trade someone—my money’s on Justin Smoak—allowing the proper position changes to make room at catcher.

2. Taijuan Walker – Minors

Hands down the best pitching prospect in Seattle’s system, Taijuan Walker is finally dominating Double-A after struggling at the level last season.

Through eight starts Walker has a 2.09 ERA and 9.9 K/9 in 47.1 innings pitched.

Despite his dominance, it’s doubtful we’ll see Walker before 2014. The electric armed prospect is still only 20 years old and has yet to play above the Double-A level. He’s bound to hit Triple-A by some point this season, but his meteoric rise won’t proceed beyond that.

Nick Franklin’s time is coming, and soon (Photo: AP)

3. Nick Franklin – Infielder no later than July

Of all the players on this list, it’s likely Nick Franklin will be the first to crack the Major League roster.

The M’s aren’t getting anything from their infielders offensively this season, and Franklin could be the answer. The 22-year-old is currently hitting .319/.446/.496 through 33 games with Triple-A Tacoma.

While a Franklin callup would require as many moving pieces as a Zunino callup, Seattle’s infield situation is less muddled than it’s catcher/DH/first base situation. That’s why we’ll see Franklin sooner than later.

4. Danny Hultzen – Major League Starter once healthy

The M’s aren’t getting anything out of their third, fourth and fifth starters, and it’s likely some help is on its way. Once healthy, that could mean a Danny Hultzen callup.

Before landing on the DL with a rotator cuff strain in April, it looked like Hultzen had returned to form after a rough go at Triple-A last season. Through four starts the left-hander has a 2.78 ERA and 4.17 K/BB with Tacoma.

As long as his rehab and return go okay there’s no doubt we’ll see Hultzen in a Seattle uniform upon his return from the DL.

5. James Paxton – September cup of coffee

James Paxton had the most consistent 2012 of any of Seattle’s Big Three, posting a 3.05 ERA through 21 starts with Double-A Jackson.

Paxton received a promotion to kick off 2013, starting the year at Tacoma. While the results have been good, they’re not great. Paxton has a solid 3.93 ERA and 10.8 K/9, but he’s also averaging less than 5.0 innings per start with a BB/9 of 4.4.

The 24-year-old has great stuff, but he continues to struggle with command. It’s likely he receives some kind of cup of coffee this season, but it won’t be until later in the season.

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Even though we’re only one month into the season, 2013 already looks like another tough year for the Mariners.

As usual Seattle’s pitching is its biggest strength, but the AL West is just too tough this year. But if the M’s rotation is good now, it’s going to be downright dominant in the years to come.

With Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma leading the group, backed up with a corp of top-prospects waiting in the wings, Seattle’s rotation is headed for greatness.

Looking towards the 2014 season, we’re breaking down what to expect from Seattle’s rotation come opening day of next year.

Luckily the King is here to stay. (Photo: NY Daily News)

1. Felix Hernandez

This winter King Felix inked a seven-year $175 million dollar extension with Seattle, so he will remain the ace of the staff for the foreseeable future—as it should be.

Hernandez pitched a perfect game last season, and is off to the best start of his career in 2013 (5-2, 1.53 ERA, 7.00 K/BB). As long as he’s the staff ace the M’s are in good hands.

2. Hisashi Iwakuma

The Mariner’s took a flyer on Iwakuma before the 2012 season, and so far it’s paid off. The Japanese import was 9-5 last year, and so far in 2013 he’s posting a 1.61 ERA, 0.761 WHIP and 5.25 K/BB in 44.2 innings pitched.

Signed through the 2015 season, Iwakuma is set to be a front line starter for the M’s next season.

3. Danny Hultzen

Hultzen is the most polished member of Seattle’s “Big Three,” and his time is coming.

The 23-year-old put up abysmal numbers after his Triple A callup last season, but he looks back on track in 2013. Through four starts the left-hander’s 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA and 4.17 K/BB.

Near the end of April Hultzen was placed on the DL with a rotator cuff strain, but he should return to action soon. As long as he’s healthy Hultzen will get his cup of coffee this season, and be a regular member of the Mariner’s rotation in 2014.

4. James Paxton

Paxton turned in the best numbers of any Big Three member last year, posting a 3.05 ERA in 106.1 innings pitched at Double A. He’s started 2013 off at Triple A, and is currently 2-2 with a 4.35 ERA through seven starts.

The time for Hultzen is soon.

Paxton has some great stuff, but control remains an issue. He owns a career 4.3 BB/9 through four minor league seasons, and his WHIP currently sits at 1.516.

Even with his issues, it’s likely Paxton receives a callup at some point this season. Just like Hultzen, as long as that happens he should remain in the rotation for 2014.

5. Brandon Maurer / Erasmo Ramirez

Despite his impressive minor league stats, Brandon Maurer’s rookie campaign is off to a rough start. Through six starts Maurer has posted a 6.07 ERA and 1.449 WHIP.

The issue with Maurer is his splits, since his slider has only been effective against righties. 16 of his 18 Ks have come against right-handed batters, while lefties are batting .358 against him with four home runs.

Given his struggles, it’s likely that at some point this season Maurer will be demoted to Triple A. At that point his replacement could very well be Erasmo Ramirez.

Ramirez enjoyed a strong rookie campaign last season, posting a 3.64 ERA and 5.13 K/BB as a starter. He’s started his 2013 on the DL with a triceps injury, and there’s no timetable for his return.

This fifth spot will come down to whoever pitches better from now to the start of the 2014 season. If Maurer turns things around, or Ramirez gets healthy, this spot could go either way.

Odd Man Out

Some of you may have noticed that two of the Big Three were included, but not the third—and most promising—prospect: Taijuan Walker.

While Walker has huge upside, he’s still only 20 years old. It’s likely Seattle takes its time.

The young right-hander is currently dominating Double A, posting a 1.54 ERA and 10.0 K/9 through six starts. But even if a callup to Triple A is right around the corner, he’s likely to face some growing pains at that level.

While Walker is bound to make his Major League debut at some point in 2014, chances are it won’t be as a regular member of the rotation nor as a player on the opening day roster.

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The Beavers really turned things around last season, turning one of 2011′s worst offenses into one of 2012′s most efficient. While the improvements on the defensive side of the ball helped, Oregon State has it’s offense to thank for last season’s success.

Though the Beavs lose a major piece this season in Markus Wheaton, the offense should be better in 2013. Mike Riley’s pro-style system is as deep as ever in weapons.

With that said, no unit is perfect. The Beaver’s have a lot of great talent to build off of, but the 2012 team wasn’t without its flaws. And unless they fix those issues, 2013 is going to be a disappointing year.

Make a decision at QB and stick with it

Sean Mannion or Cody Vaz? This question plagued Mike Riley for much of last season, causing the quarterback controversy.

Heading into 2013, it’s time to put the controversy to rest. It was a major distraction last season, and the last thing any offense needs is a rotating door at QB.

Personally, my choice is for Mannion. He has the bigger arm, and makes much quicker decisions. And if you can look past the UW game—since he was brought back too soon for that game—he completed 66 percent of his passes with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Time for Riley to make a decision and stick with it (Photo: Greg Wahl-Stephens / AP)

While either one of these QBs can shred an opposing defense when hot, Mannion is often more consistent. Vaz was prone to epic cold patches last season, which were the culprits behind OSU’s second-half collapses to Stanford and Texas.

But once again, that’s just my opinion. The important thing is that Riley makes a choice and sticks to it for the remainder of the season. It’s time to move on.

Benchmarks to set in 2013: One quarterback starts all games; pass for over 4,000 yards

Continue to evolve the running game

After posting the Pac-12′s worst ground attack in 2011, Oregon State’s running game really turned things around last season. The Beavs rushed for over 1,000 yards on the season, while averaging 124 yards per game.

Storm Woods (940 yards) was a huge reason for the turnaround, but he didn’t do it alone. Terron Ward had himself a breakout year, averaging 6.10 yards per carry. Not to mention contributions from wideouts Markus Wheaton and Brandin Cooks, who combined for () yards on the ground.

Heading into 2013, it’s imperative that the Beavers continue to evolve the ground game.

Woods has to stay healthy, and if he can’t do that Riley needs to find a way to give him more rest. Given their talent at the position, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Beavers run a lot of two-back sets in 2012.

It’s also important to keep the wideouts as part of the attack. OSU has tons of speed at the wings, and Riley is a master at using

Caleb Smith needs to contribute to the offense in 2013 (Photo: Doug Beghtel / The Oregonian)

that in the ground game.

Benchmarks to set in 2013: Woods rush for 1,000 yards; team rush for 1,750 yards

Work the flats

OSU’s passing attack was one of the best in the Pac-12 last season, and they were led by a duo of deadly receivers. But now one of those receivers is headed for the NFL.

The thing about Wheaton was that he was versatile. He could stretch the field vertically, or make short catches in the flats (which he often turned into huge gains with his speed). Now that he’s gone, OSU has to find new ways to stretch the field.

Heading into 2013, I’d like to see OSU use it’s tight ends more. Riley has always ran a pro-style offense, and nowadays tight ends are an integral part to any NFL passing scheme. He needs to adopt that mentality in 2013.

Using the team’s TEs more often opens up whole new realms of possibility. The offense gets better in the redzone, it spreads the defense and it allows the quarterback to make more conservative throws.

The real difference maker will be Caleb Smith. Smith was a freshman last year, and he’s been the talk of the program since being recruited. If he can be a big contributor in 2013, the Beavers offense will be unstoppable.

Benchmarks to set in 2013: TEs combine for 750 receiving yards; have one TE with at least 50 catches

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Before the regular season we took a look at the best positional prospects in the Mariners farm system. Today we take a look at Seattle’s crown jewel: the pitching prospects.

It’s well known that the M’s have three of the best pitching prospects in baseball. That trio has been dubbed “the big three,” and consists of starters James Paxton, Taijuan Walker and Danny Hultzen.

But there’s way more depth to this system than those three stars. With a look toward the 2013 season, here’s the best Seattle has to offer on the mound this season.

5. Brandon Maurer, RHP

Drafted in the 23rd round of the 2008 draft, Maurer’s name has been on the rise for some time in Seattle. He has posted an 8.4 K/9 and 3.05 K/BB across five minor league seasons, with his highest stop coming last season at Double A Jackson.

Despite his lack of higher-level experience, Maurer’s impressive spring (1.50 ERA, 24 innings pitched, 25 Ks) was enough to earn him a spot as the Mariner’s fifth starter.

It could be time Maurer heads back to the farm.

Things haven’t gone so well since then. Maurer has managed only 6.2 innings pitched in his first two starts, giving up 12 runs on 15 hits.

Even though a demotion may be around the corner, it doesn’t mean Maurer is a bust. He’s a 21-year-old rookie who has never pitched above Double A, and despite his Major League struggles he’s only given up one walk—proving his control is for real.

With a mid-90s fastball and a wide arsenal of pitches, the best is yet to come from Maurer.

4. James Paxton, LHP

This is a low ranking, especially given that Paxton had the best 2012 out of any of the big three.

Paxton has very good stuff. His mid-90s fastball and big curve is very reminiscent of a Josh Beckett caliber pitcher—that kind of comp used to be a compliment.

His ceiling showed last year, as he racked up 110 Ks and a 3.05 ERA and 106.1 innings of work at Double A.

The troubling thing with Paxton is that he’s always been a bit wild. His 4.6 BB/9 and 1.411 WHIP last year were the highest of his minor league career. Things didn’t look much better in spring training, where Paxton walked four and surrendered six hits in 3.2 innings.

Keep in mind, he’s also the oldest of the big three—currently 24 years old.

With a very dangerous repertoire Paxton has the upside of a fringe ace, and he should be making his Seattle debut at some point this season. But, unless he can get his control to a more consistent level the results might not be pretty.

3. Carter Capps, RHP

I’m not usually big on closers, but I’ve always liked Carter Capps.

Capps got his first taste of Major League action last season, firing 25 innings out of the bullpen. In that time he had his growing pains (11 walks), while flashing wicked stuff (28 Ks).

Capps has everything you’d want from your closer of the future:high-90s fastball, good control and some solid secondary offerings.

The other option here would have been Stephen Pryor, but I like Capps more. He’s younger, has shown better control in the minors and his fastball is just a tick better.

So far in 2013, Capps has worked 4.1 innings out of the bullpen, walking one batter while striking out seven.

Tom Wilhelmsen has a hold on the closer role now, but he’s someone Seattle could get a return from around the trade deadline. If that’s the case, expect Capps to step into the 9th-inning role in his stead.

2. Danny Hultzen, LHP

This is a ranking based purely on upside, and it could change drastically as the season goes on.

Hultzen was a big name in Seattle last year, and for a while he was earning it. The then 22-year-old started his minor league career at Double A, where he pitched to the tune of a 1.19 ERA and 9.4 K/9. After 13 starts he was promoted to Triple A.

Hultzen and Walker, the future of Mariner pitching (Photo: AP).

That’s where Hultzen hit a wall. His walk rate rose to 8.0 BB/9, and hitters were suddenly averaging 9.1 H/9. Oddly enough his K-rate did rise at the same time, to 10.5 K/9.

Hultzen posted a horrid 5.92 ERA in 12 Triple A starts, averaging 4.0 innings per start—compared to 6.0 at Double A.

Hultzen doesn’t have wicked stuff, but his control and ability to mix pitches makes it devestating. His fastball sits in the low-90s with good movement, and his changeup is arguably his best offering. His slider is developing.

Hultzen is polished and has a great repertoire. As long as he refines his control issues, he has all the upside of an ace at the Major League level. Here’s hoping 2013 is a new start for the youngster, who could see time in Seattle very soon.

1. Taijuan Walker, RHP

Walker saw his fair share of struggles at Double A last season, but as the youngest pitcher in the Southern League (19 years old) that’s understandable.

While Walker has the longest to go of any of the big three, he has the most upside as well.

Featuring a mid-90s fastball with late movement and a developing changeup, Walker has his one-two punch. He also features a curve, which could give him a solid three-pitch mix at the Major League level.

Walker posted a 4.69 ERA last season at Jackson, but a lot of that came from an ugly June. Overall he pitched well for such a young player, posting an 8.4 K/9 while showing good control (3.6 BB/9) and averaging around 5.0 innings per start.

Now a 20-year-old at Double A, Walker will most likely remain in the minors this season (a strong showing could have him in Triple A by mid-season). That leaves a mid-2014 call up in the realm of possibilities.

With a long way to go, Walker remains the biggest risk/reward player in Seattle’s system. But given his maturity and athleticism—and at such a young age—the upside to develop into an ace is there.

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The minor league season is only a few games-young, but even so it’s impossible to ignore what Mike Zunino is doing down at Triple A Tacoma.

It always seemed like a fact that Zunino would make his Mariner debut at some point this season. The real question was when. Would it be a mid-season call up in June, or a September cup of coffee?

I will admit I originally planned for the latter, but now I’m second guessing myself.

In four games (19 at bats) Zunino is hitting .500/.526/1.375 with three home runs, 12 RBI and 22 total bases for the Rainiers. Of his eight hits, seven have been for extra bases.

It won’t be long until this dream is reality (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Turns out the 2012 MLB draft’s most polished college player truly was the draft’s most polished college player. Given his torrid start, he could be the first prospect from that draft class to make their MLB debut.

Of course, it is still early and expectations need to be tempered. Zunino is off to a hot start, but it hasn’t exactly been against “elite” competition.

The best starter Tacoma has faced so far was Fresno’s Michael Kickham—a top prospect in the San Francisco Giant’s organization—and Zunino didn’t even play in that game.

For all we know, Zunino is about to hit a slump or could get injured. Even though the start has been incredibly impressive, to talk about a call up now is a tad bit premature.

Another thing to consider is logistics.

Zunino is a catcher, and a much better one than Jesus Montero. That means any Zunino call up would have to coincide with a permanent move of Montero to DH—something Seattle was gun-shy about last season, despite how well John Jaso was playing.

If those two moves happened, then the Mariners are faced with figuring out what to do with Kendrys Morales—who has served mainly as the team’s DH. Given how well he’s played, he would make a move to his natural position of first base.

Which in turn displaces Justin Smoak. See how complicated this gets?

That’s why it makes sense that Seattle would wait on a call up of Zunino until further into the season. Once players have a time to flush out their stats, the Mariners can decide who stays and who goes in the long-run.

The odd man out (*cough* Justin Smoak *cough*) would either be released or traded. If Seattle wants to trade said player, the team would most likely wait until at least late-May or early-June, which is when things go in motion leading up the July trade deadline.

If by that time Zunino is still destroying Triple A pitching—which I suspect he will be—it’s very likely Seattle makes the transition.

The thing to remember is that these things are hard to predict. Buster Posey hit .349 with 21 extra base hits in 47 Triple A games before the Giants called him up in 2010. And Bryce Harper had a .690 OPS at Triple A last year, but it only took 21 games before he was in a National’s uniform.

For now, just remember the things that count. Seattle just won it’s home opener, the team is at .500 and playing well and the organization’s top prospects look great in the early goings.

Time to sit back, relax and let the season play out.

Last Call (Tuesday Night)

Mike Zunino grand slam. Rainiers up 9-4. The kid has serious power.

— Mike Curto (@CurtoWorld) April 10, 2013

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