Key Highlights
- The Seattle Mariners landed four prospects on Baseball America’s first top 100 for the 2026 season.
- The team had eight players ranked in the final major top 100 update last August, but now has only four.
- Colt Emerson, Lazaro Montes, Kade Anderson, and Ryan Sloan are among the prospects making the list.
- Outfielder Michael Arroyo fell out of the rankings due to uncertainty about his position change from second base to left field.
The Seattle Mariners’ Prospects in 2026
On January 21, 2026, Baseball America released its first top 100 prospects list for the upcoming 2026 season. Among the highlighted players are four from the Seattle Mariners organization: shortstop Colt Emerson, outfielder Lazaro Montes, left-handed pitcher Kade Anderson, and right-handed pitcher Ryan Sloan.
The Mariners’ presence in this year’s top 100 is a noticeable dip compared to last August when they had eight prospects ranked. One of those players who fell off the list was catcher Harry Ford, who was ranked 99th in Wednesday’s update before being traded to the Washington Nationals for left-handed reliever Jose A. Ferrer.
Colt Emerson: The Young Talent
Colt Emerson, a first-round pick from 2023, is currently ranked at No. 7 on the list. His 2025 minor league stats include a .285/.383/.458 batting line with 28 doubles, six triples, and 16 home runs in 130 games across High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. Emerson made an impressive debut at the age of 19, going 8 for 22 with two homers in six Triple-A games during September.
At just 20 years old, Emerson will have a chance to make the big league club out of spring training. Even if he doesn’t, his path to the majors seems almost certain barring any injuries.
Kade Anderson: The MLB-Ready Pitcher
Kade Anderson is ranked at No. 25 on this year’s list. He had a stellar college season with LSU, posting a 12-1 record, 3.18 ERA, and striking out 180 batters in 119 innings pitched over 19 starts. Despite his heavy workload, Anderson did not pitch at the minor league level after being drafted by the Mariners in July.
Anderson is considered the most MLB-ready pitcher from his draft class and is expected to debut sooner rather than later. His college performance suggests he could make an immediate impact on the big leagues.
Lazaro Montes: The Power Outfielder
Lazaro Montes rounds out the top four with a No. 58 ranking. In 2025, his minor league stats were impressive, hitting .241/.354/.504 with 32 home runs and 89 RBIs across High-A and Double-A. However, his average dropped to .213 in 64 Double-A games as he faced better pitching.
Despite the drop in average, Montes still has strong power potential and is a candidate for a call-up this season if he continues his current trajectory.
Ryan Sloan: The Rising Star
Ryan Sloan, a second-round pick from 2024, had an impressive first pro season. He recorded a 2-4 record with a 3.73 ERA and struck out 90 batters in 82 innings pitched across Single-A and High-A. Although he may not reach the big leagues this year, his performance suggests he could be on the roster by September.
At just 19 years old and having not pitched above High-A, Sloan’s future with the Mariners looks promising.
The Context of This Year’s Rankings
The drop in the Mariners’ prospects from eight to four this year can be attributed to several factors. Outfielder Michael Arroyo, outfielder Jonny Farmelo, and switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje were among the players who fell out of the rankings. However, Arroyo did appear on Baseball America’s list of 20 prospects who just missed the top 100.
Baseball America editor-in-chief JJ Cooper explained that Arroyo’s drop was due to uncertainty about how he would handle his new position as he transitions from second base to left field.
This change in position is expected to give him a clearer path to the big leagues, making his debut more likely this season.
The Mariners’ focus on developing these young prospects reflects their long-term strategy for rebuilding and improving their team. With four promising players on the radar of Baseball America, there is hope that some of them could make significant contributions in the upcoming 2026 season.
