The Seattle Mariners made it back to October for the first time in over 20 years in 2022. Seattle’s constructed one of the game’s best (and controllable) pitching staffs in the game — and their work in the draft is a big reason why. So, here’s a look at the Mariners’ best and worst MLB Draft picks of the last decade, lists that include some familiar names.
Best Mariners Draft Picks Over Last 10 Seasons
| Name | Position | Year Drafted | Round | Career bWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Yarbrough | P | 2014 | 4 | 4.5 |
| JP Sears | P | 2017 | 11 | 5.6 |
| Logan Gilbert | P | 2018 | 1 | 9.8 |
| Cal Raleigh | C | 2018 | 3 | 11.2 |
| George Kirby | P | 2019 | 1 | 7.2 |
| Bryce Miller | P | 2021 | 4 | 4.6 |
| Bryan Woo | P | 2021 | 6 | 3.0 |
If there’s one word to describe the Mariners’ draft results over the last 10 years, it’s complicated. Seattle didn’t get much from the 2014-17 draft and we’ll get into that in the next section. However, their recent work helped build a dominant, homegrown rotation.
Seattle grabbed former Stetson standout Logan Gilbert in the first round in 2018. Gilbert went to the same school that produced Jacob deGrom and Corey Kluber and while he’s not like either, Gilbert’s been impressive. He’s recorded 180+ innings every year from 2022-24 and in 2024, led the Majors in WHIP (0.89), thanks in large part to a devastating splitter and hard slider.
George Kirby was drafted by the M’s a year later. Kirby’s a different pitcher than Gilbert. Thanks to a great sinker and plus command, Kirby is among the game’s best strike-throwers. No starter between 2022-24 had a lower BB/9 than Kirby (1.1).
Between 2022-24, Gilbert (111) and Kirby (110) were among the top 25 starters in the league in ERA+ (min. 400 IP).
The 2021 MLB Draft saw Seattle grab two more talented young starters in Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo. Miller excelled in 2024, as he struck out 171 over 180.1 IP and beat hitters with a wide swath of pitches. Woo posted a 0.90 WHIP over 121.1 IP in 2024.
It’s also a good idea to mention Cal Raleigh in here. Raleigh turned into an exceptional framer behind the plate and a slugger at the plate. Raleigh hit a career-high 34 home runs in 2024.
There are, however, names who don’t fit in either the best picks or worst picks section. One is Emerson Hancock, the M’s first-round pick in 2020. Hancock likely won’t live up to the #1-#2 starter expectations he had out of Georgia. But, Hancock could still be a valuable arm if he can stay healthy.
The other one is Kyle Lewis (1.1 career bWAR).
Lewis was a standout at Mercer University, not a power school in college baseball. The former Mariners outfielder hit for power and average both at Mercer and the Cape and was expected to be a top-five pick in 2016. Lewis fell to Seattle at #11.
Lewis struck out a lot in the Minors but hit well in his first taste of the Majors. He hit .268 (.885 OPS) with six home runs over 18 games in 2019, then 11 home runs over 58 games in 2020. He wound up winning the 2020 AL Rookie of the Year.
However, his offensive production slipped from there. Lewis hit .203/.281/.342 (.623 OPS) with Seattle and Arizona between 2021-23.
Worst Mariners Draft Picks Over Last 10 Seasons
| Name | Position | Year Drafted | Round | Career bWAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Jackson | C/OF | 2014 | 1 | -1.4 |
| Gareth Morgan | OF | 2014 | 2 | Never played in MLB |
| Nick Neidert | P | 2015 | 2 | 0.4 |
| Joe Rizzo | 3B | 2016 | 2 | Never played in MLB |
| Evan White | 1B | 2017 | 1 | -0.6 |
| Sam Carlson | P | 2017 | 2 | Never played in MLB |
| Josh Stowers | OF | 2018 | 2 | Never played in MLB |
The Mariners selected Alex Jackson with the sixth overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft. Jackson struggled from the onset in full-season ball in 2015. The M’s then sent him to the Braves in 2016 and Atlanta converted him to be a catcher.
Jackson showed the makings of a power-hitting catcher in the Braves’ farm system but like many prospects, had swing-and-miss troubles. Those haunted him during his brief time as a Major Leaguer, as he posted a 41.8% K% in parts of five MLB seasons.
Another name familiar to MLB fans is Nick Neidert, although this is largely due to health issues. Neidert dealt with significant injuries over his career, including a torn meniscus in 2019 and knee surgery in 2022.
Seattle also whiffed on several bonus babies out of high school. The Mariners gave $2M to Gareth Morgan in 2024. Morgan hit 70 Minor League home runs over seven seasons and made it as high as Double-A. Sam Carlson bypassed a scholarship with the University of Florida for $2M as a second-round pick. As of 2024, Carlson was in Double-A as a reliever in the Brewers organization.
But perhaps the most notable name listed here is Evan White. White showed promise as a hit-first, on-base machine in the Mariners organization. He batted .297 between 2018-19, reaching Double-A. Then, the Mariners gave White a six-year extension worth $24M with three club options in 2019, before he made his MLB debut.
It was a risky gambit, one that had it paid off, would have given the Mariners a controllable first baseman for years to come. It didn’t. White struck out 41.6% of the time in 2020 and posted a .598 OPS. White got 30 more MLB games in 2021 before Seattle sent him down. He never played in the Majors afterwards and was traded to Atlanta in December 2023 along with Jarred Kelenic and Marco Gonzales.
Draft picks who did not sign are included in these lists. bWAR figures as of October 2024. Take a look at how other AL West teams, including the Athletics and Angels, have done in the MLB Draft recently.