The Mariners have drafted really, really well lately, and this class was no different. Beginning with arguably the best pitcher in the class to add to the embarrassment of riches in their rotation, Seattle focused the majority of its bonus pool on three big picks at the top: lefty Kade Anderson ($8.8M), catcher Luke Stevenson ($2.8M), and prep shortstop Nick Becker ($2.75M), with no other draftee receiving more than $640K. It was a pitching-heavy class that saw them take nine arms in their first twelve picks, but they did look at Cal Raleigh up in the big leagues and decide they wanted three more, taking a trio of power hitting college catchers in Stevenson, Grant Jay, and Luke Heyman. The three have combined for 135 home runs over 472 games in their college career and in the eight seasons under their belts, none have ever hit fewer than a dozen home runs in a single year.
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Note that the number before a player's name indicates their draft position. For example, "2-50" would indicate that a player was taken in the second round with the fiftieth overall pick.
1-3: LHP Kade Anderson, Louisiana State
Slot value: $9.5 million. Signing bonus: $8.8 million ($704,400 below slot value).
My rank: #3. MLB Pipeline: #2. Baseball America: #4.
Kade Anderson's meteoric rise has been something to behold, and in an organization that develops pitching as effectively as Seattle, it's a downright scary match. Anderson immediately took on a large role as an LSU freshman in 2024, earning second round projections for himself coming into the 2025 season as a projectable lefty with a nice combination of stuff and pitchability. He continued creeping up draft boards by striking out at least eight batters in each of his first six starts, then rocketed forward with a fourteen strikeout, complete game shutout against Oklahoma on April 3rd. By mid-season, he was a mid-first rounder. When he took the mound on June 21st for the opening game of the College World Series championship, there was already buzz about the first overall pick. All Anderson did that day was toss another complete game shutout, allowing just three hits and striking out ten against a Coastal Carolina team riding a 26 game winning streak, cementing his spot as one of the top pitchers in the class. His $8.8 million bonus was the largest given to a pitcher in this year's class, and now he projects to become an ace in Seattle someday soon. The fastball has moderate velocity, sitting in the low 90's and touching 97 at peak, but plays up with its life that helps it sneak past bats in bunches. He has long relied on a plus curveball with huge spin rates and deep finish, while this season he successfully added a sharper cutter/slider into the mix. His changeup, which has taken a step forward this season as well, gives him a fourth above average pitch and a weapon against right handed hitters. The 6'2" lefty is still a skinny kid who may lack a ton of projection, but the now product is exceptional and he answered durability questions in a big way by leading NCAA Division I with 119 innings pitched (and 180 strikeouts). Anderson fills up the strike zone with all four pitches and projects for at least above average command, repeating his simple delivery well to conserve energy and last deep into starts without sacrificing stuff. He has earned comparisons to pitchability lefties like Cole Hamels, Max Fried, and J.A. Happ, though he's not quite as big. Anderson seems like a likely #2 starter who could glide to the big leagues quickly and hold down a rotation spot for a long time. To boot, he was a draft-eligible sophomore who only turned 21 in July, making him younger than most college draftees.
CBA-35: C Luke Stevenson, North Carolina
Slot value: $2.76 million. Signing bonus: $2.8 million ($41,700 above slot value).
My rank: #25. MLB Pipeline: #33. Baseball America: #25.
The Mariners saw what Cal Raleigh was doing this year and decided to pick up a very similar player in Luke Stevenson. One of the centerpieces of UNC's freshman recruiting class two years ago, Stevenson immediately took over as the program's starting catcher and has blasted 33 home runs in two seasons for the Tar Heels, holding down first round projections throughout. Lauded for his pop, he can drive the ball to all fields with authority with a compact, explosive left handed swing that elevates the ball consistently and produces plus power. His 19 home runs in 2025 finished fourth among Division I catchers, tied with Seattle's twelfth rounder Grant Jay. Stevenson is an extremely disciplined hitter that knows how to work counts and find his pitch, running some of the lowest chase rates in the 2025 draft class while walking over 20% of the time. That trait is important because he has below average pure bat to ball, which can get him in trouble against pitchers who know how to execute in deep counts. Stevenson projects as a three true outcomes hitter who could hit 25+ home runs per season, which alone would make him a valuable asset as a catcher, while running low batting averages buoyed a bit by higher walk rates. Key to his development going forward will be learning to execute against quality stuff in the zone as pro pitchers get more aggressive attacking him at his weak spots. Behind the plate, his glovework has come a long way and he now projects to not only stick as a catcher but excel in that regard with the requisite actions, blocking, and framing. His above average arm, too, is an asset. There are a ton of parallels to Raleigh in this profile and the Big Dumper shows Mariners fans exactly what could happen in Stevenson reaches his ceiling, though his bat to ball has a ways to go in order to get him there. Like Kade Anderson, he was a draft-eligible sophomore who did not turn 21 until July.
2-57: SS Nick Becker, Don Bosco HS [NJ]
Slot value: $1.64 million. Signing bonus: $2.75 million ($1.11 million above slot value).
My rank: #46. MLB Pipeline: #51. Baseball America: #79.
Using their entire savings from Kade Anderson and then some, Seattle brings in a big time talent in Nick Becker whom they signed for roughly the value of Luke Stevenson's #35 pick here at #57. Becker brings a great combination of present ability and future projection. A cold weather bat who grew up in New York and attended high school just across the border in New Jersey, he already brings a very advanced game as the younger brother of UVA shortstop Eric Becker and the son of former minor leaguer Jeff Becker. He takes great at bats and has performed consistently against top arms and warmer weather competition that may have had more reps, with great pitch recognition that helps him pepper line drives to all fields and continue to be a thorn in pitchers' sides. While he's hit over power right now, he is still growing and now stands 6'4" with bushels of room to get stronger. As he tacks on strength, he has a chance to grow into average or better power as he grows out of being a line drive bat. Similarly, he is an advanced defender with good body control and enough arm to stick at shortstop, elevating the profile considerably. Becker is an above average runner as well and figures to be a mobile threat on both sides of the ball even as he gets bigger and potentially slows down a tick. While he lacks a plus tool, he has All Star upside as a potential high average type that can hit 15-20 home runs per season and stick at shortstop. Shortstops who can near the middle of the order are hard to come by and get MVP votes when they do come around.
3-91: RHP Griffin Hugus, Miami
Slot value: $851,800. Signing bonus: $640,000 ($211,800 below slot value).
My rank: #126. MLB Pipeline: #169. Baseball America: #113.
Griffin Hugus spent two years at Cincinnati, where he served primarily as a reliever to middling results, then transferred back home to Miami where he blossomed into one of the Canes' more reliable starting pitchers. He capped off the season with a complete game win over Ivy League champion Columbia in the Hattiesburg Regional for his second to last start, and ultimately brings the Mariners a nice combination of stuff and pitchability for a discount. The fastball sits low 90's and touches 95, playing above its velocity with run and ride that help it hop through the zone. He throws a plus slider with late bite that functions as his best pitch, while truer curveball is more of an average breaker to catch hitters off balance. Hugus throws a changeup too, though it's a fourth pitch at this point. While the South Florida native showed below average command back at Cincinnati, it sharpened up during a very strong Cape Cod League run (2.31 ERA, 24/4 K/BB in 23.1 innings) and held closer to fringy during the 2025 season. Additional fine tuning would likely do him good as he gets better as at repeating his uptempo delivery that features some drop and drive to generate power. The 6'2" righty has the size and stuff to stick in the rotation, and now he just has to prove that he can throw enough strikes and repeat his delivery late into games. If starting doesn't work out, his fastball could tick closer to the mid 90's and he can lean more heavily on his banger slider in short stints as a reliever.
4-122: LHP Mason Peters, Dallas Baptist
Slot value: $617,200. Signing bonus: $550,000 ($67,200 below slot value).
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: unranked. Baseball America: #312.
This feels on brand for the Mariners, who grab one of the tougher lefty relievers out there for a slight discount in the fourth round. Mason Peters spent two seasons at Temple JC in Texas, where he improved significantly from one year to the next and earned a spot at Dallas Baptist for his junior year. Spending most of the season in the bullpen, he did make a few starts including an absolute masterpiece against Liberty in May in which he retired eighteen of the nineteen hitters he faced and struck out ten over six no-hit innings. Peters sits low 90's and touches 96 at peak, coming in with tough angle especially for lefties. His curveball is his best pitch, a two-plane banger that dives across the plate with hard finish and helps him rack up most of his strikeouts. An average slider rounds out the arsenal. Everything plays up for the Waco native because he hides the ball well from a closed off, crossfire delivery that puts nice angle on his pitches. His command has improved to fringy and looks like it should be plenty playable in pro ball. Listed at just 5'11", 175 pounds and utilizing an uptempo delivery, he likely sticks as a reliever long term and focuses on his fastball and curveball. He's likely a bit short across the board between size, arsenal depth, and command if he wants to start. Still, the fastball/curveball combination from a tough lefty angle should make him a valuable reliever, and given the investment here, the Mariners likely see late inning upside.
5-152: OF Korbyn Dickerson, Indiana
Slot value: $461,100. Signing bonus: $461,100.
My rank: #66. MLB Pipeline: #83. Baseball America: #120.
This is a really nice pickup for the Mariners in the fifth round. Korbyn Dickerson put his name on the map with a huge senior season at powerhouse Trinity High School in Louisville back in 2022, then made it to campus at Louisville just across town. Things didn't quite work out with the Cardinals as he sat on the bench his freshman year and received just 22 plate appearances as a sophomore, so he transferred to Indiana for his junior year. Being back in his home state (he crossed the bridge every day to attend Trinity) ended up being just what the doctor ordered, as he exploded for 19 home runs and a .314/.381/.632 line across 56 games for the Hoosiers and made the Big Ten all conference team. Dickerson has massive power, generating everything from an explosive right handed swing and lean strength in his 6'1" frame. The hit tool has taken a big step forward but remains below average as he tends to expand the strike zone but lacks the pure bat to ball to make it work once he starts seeing better pitching in pro ball. His 18.8% strikeout rate was not outrageous this past year, but Indiana did not play the same grueling schedule as many SEC and ACC clubs and Dickerson only got one game against schools from those conferences, putting up a 1-3 performance against his former mates at Louisville. Priority #1 for the Mariners will be helping Dickerson shore up his approach and prepare for better pitching. If he does so and can continue to tap his power, he has star potential. He's also a force on the other side of the ball, showing off above average speed and plus instincts in center field to play Gold Glove defense in the grass. As a right handed hitter who can get streaky at the plate, that glove should give him every opportunity to win an every day role regardless. Dickerson could top out at 25-30 home runs per season while playing a strong center field, albeit with low on-base percentages. He is a true four tool player with everything but the hit tool.
12-362: C Grant Jay, Dallas Baptist
Slot value: up to $150,000. Signing bonus: $150,000.
My rank: #164. MLB Pipeline: #170. Baseball America: #128.
Grant Jay represents great value in the back half of the draft. A three year starter at Dallas Baptist, he leaves as one of the greatest hitters in school history and as their all time leader in home runs (61). In his three years, he never hit fewer than 19 home runs in a season, never hit below .300, never put up an on-base percentage below .400, and never slugged below .650. Jay flicks the barrel through the zone with shocking ease while generating borderline plus-plus raw power from his compact right handed swing, playing up in games as he consistently elevates the ball with authority. He crushes fastballs, but so far, he has had no answer against quality offspeed stuff. He struggled mightily on the Cape last summer (.141/.299/.295, 43.3% strikeout rate) and has never struck out fewer than 71 times in a season, running a career 29% strikeout rate at Dallas Baptist with his 25.6% mark in 2025 representing a career best. Jay has well below average bat to ball that might translate to a 30 grade hit tool in pro ball, though his success at DBU lends hope that Seattle's player development can get him right. The power is so impressive that if he can get even to a 40 grade hit tool, he could hit his way up as a power-first catcher. The Mobile native is built like a catcher at a stocky 6', 225 pounds, and his glove is trending in the right direction to keep him behind the plate. His strong arm is a help back there, but he will need to continue to make strides with his defense to stick as a catcher and handle high octane arms in pro ball. If he has to move out, he runs well enough to hold down a corner outfield spot, but pressure will then ratchet up on his hit tool and 40 grade might not be enough. It is in Jay's best interest to further hone his glovework behind the plate, where his power should be enough to carry him up the ladder as a power-over-everything backup catcher. That climb is a lot steeper if he's an outfielder.
14-422: C Luke Heyman, Florida
Slot value: up to $150,000. Signing bonus: $230,000 ($80,000 against bonus pool).
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: unranked. Baseball America: #127.
Yet another power hitting catcher, Luke Heyman has a long track record with scouts dating back to his prep days. A star prep prospect, he had plenty of day two draft interest but wound up on campus at Florida, where he has been the starting catcher for three years and clubbed double digit home runs in each season for a total of 41. Heyman had been draft eligible in 2024, but returned to Florida and put up his best season yet in 2025 despite missing the end of the season with a forearm injury. Listed at 6'4", 220 pounds, he is an imposing presence in the box and hits from a wide base, really channeling his strength into a loud barrel that produces plus raw power. That power plays closer to average in games because he doesn't always square it up and because in 2025, he focused more on contact than he had in the past. The result was a jump in batting average from .246 to .301 and a drop in strikeout rate from 24.3% to 18.5% without too much sacrificed power. The hit tool is still fringy and he carries a career .217/.353/.339 line and a 25.2% strikeout rate over two seasons in the Cape Cod League, so Heyman will likely always be power over hit. He's not the most mobile catcher in the world but has gotten better back there, where his plus arm gives him a chance to stick. The Orlando-area native will need to watch his conditioning and maintain his flexibility as he ages if he wants to remain a catcher, especially given the newfound catching depth in Seattle's system. With well below average speed, first base is just about the only other option, and as a right handed hitter, he'll really need to hit to carve out a role in that regard. Heyman likely projects as a bat-first backup catcher who can pop a few home runs, not too dissimilar to Grant Jay. He is old for a college junior and turned 22 before the draft.
20-602: SS Estevan Moreno, Notre Dame
Slot value: up to $150,000. Signing bonus: $150,000.
My rank: unranked. MLB Pipeline: unranked. Baseball America: unranked.
Estevan Moreno, like Luke Heyman, was a well-known prep prospect that had interest in the top five rounds or so. Spurning those offers, he became one of the better recruits to reach campus at Notre Dame in recent years, where he jumped into the starting lineup immediately as the starting second baseman and held that role until sliding in as the starting shortstop in 2025. While Moreno hasn't put up particularly loud numbers in South Bend – he's a career .236/.334/.484 hitter, albeit with 30 home runs in 153 games – he brings plenty of upside on both sides of the ball relative to his draft position in the final round. He generates plenty of torque in his right handed swing, with an explosive barrel that makes the ball really jump when he squares it up. Noted for his polish as a Chicago-area prep, his approach has stagnated somewhat in college with career strikeout and walk rates of 30.1% and 8.1%, respectively, with his 7.6% walk rate in 2025 representing a career-low. It's probably average power with a below average hit tool. Still, Moreno is a talented hitter that moves well in the box, and if he can work with Seattle's player development to rekindle a better approach at the plate, he has what it takes to become a productive hitter. Interestingly, he has gotten more mobile while in college and his move to shortstop for 2025 might have been a surprise in 2022, but his arm and mobility have worked there for now. Even if he has to slide back to third base, his defensive outlook is stronger than it was and it buys a little bit of time for his bat to develop. Moreno is known as a baseball rat with a strong work ethic and in the twentieth round where most players don't get above A ball, it's a nice roll of the dice.
