Mariners Conclude 2018 MLB Draft
After selecting an offensive player with their last five first round picks, the Mariners used this year’s 1st round selection—14th overall—on Stetson University right hander Logan Gilbert. The Mariners’ lack of top flight pitching prospects was magnified with the recent departures of RHP Andrew Moore and Tommy Romero, so re-stocking the system with arms was thought to be a priority headed into the draft. Gilbert, who stands 6’5” 195 lbs, put an exclamation point on an already impressive 2018 campaign on Saturday, striking out 14 through 7.0 innings against Oklahoma State in the NCAA Regionals. M’s fans can get a look at their future top pitching prospect this weekend when Stetson takes on UNC. In addition to established major leaguers RHP Corey Kluber and RHP Jacob deGrom, Stetson has also produced Mariners farmhand RHP Lindsay Caughel in recent years. The Mariners selected Gilbert over several projected early picks, including college RHP Brady Singer who was expected to be the first college arm off the board following #1 pick Casey Mize, as well as prep LHP Matthew Liberatore and 3B Nolan Gorman. Gilbert uses an advanced four pitch arsenal that consists of a fastball that touches 97mph, slider, curve, and change, none of which grade lower than 50. The Florida-native threw up a 0.80 WHIP this past season en route to winning the Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Year Award, cutting his walk rate down 1.8 K/9 and seeing his strikeout rate jump up to 12.9 K/9. He was equally impressive last summer in the Cape Cod League, where he posted a 1.72 ERA and 0.90 WHIP against the game’s top prospects. While there were a few good options available for Seattle at this point, Gilbert is pretty universally viewed as one of the better arms in the draft, and immediately slots in as Seattle’s top pitching prospect. He will begin in Everett (A-) and could possibly be in Modesto at the start of next year.
The Mariners have also made their second pick of the 2018 MLB draft, and it’s toolsy Louisville OFer Josh Stowers (pronounced “stores”) with the #54 overall pick. He’s an elite base-stealer, nabbing 36 bases this season while only being caught 7 times. He performed well on the Cape this past summer and was one of the quickest risers leading up to the draft thanks to just powering through the first few rounds of the NCAA tournament. Beyond what he brings on the field, Stowers is a leader off the field as well, and fits in with the importance of character we’ve seen emphasized on the farm in recent years. Stowers has an easy uppercut swing with power to the pull side. Stowers will start in Everett as well (A-)
Cal Raleigh is a 6’3”, 225 lb switch hitting catcher from Florida State. Raleigh comes from a baseball family, with a father and uncle who both played at Western Carolina. His dad went on to coach at his alma mater and at Tennessee, while his uncle spent 10 years in the Minor Leagues. The younger Raleigh jumped on the map as a freshman at Florida State, scuffled as a sophomore, but has bounced back with a strong junior season, at least with the bat. The switch-hitting backstop has swung the bat well, especially in the second half of his junior season, using an advanced approach at the plate to hit for average and power while drawing a ton of walks. It’s more power over hit, with some concern over him hitting enough at the next level to tap consistently into that raw pop. Raleigh’s defensive game, however, has not taken the same step forward this year. Not overly athletic, he hasn’t been very agile behind the plate and his blocking and receiving have been inconsistent, as has been his arm. College catching is always hard to find, and Raleigh has done it for three years at Florida State. Teams will be buying the bat here, with the hope that he’ll defend just well enough to stick there as an offensive-minded catcher. He will also start in Everett (A-)
After taking a catcher in the previous round, the Mariners went back to the college ranks again, this time taking 6’2” lefty Michael Plassmeyer from Missouri. This isn’t the first time the Mariners have taken a Tiger pitcher—RHP Reggie McClain, currently with Modesto, is also a Mizzou grad. He will pitch in the AZL this year with an oppurtunity to start in Clinton or Modesto next year.
