Mariners draft tracker: Seattle selects 3 pitchers, 3 position players in shortened draft
While the 2020 MLB Draft was much shorter than usual — only five rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic — the Seattle Mariners still jumped on the opportunity to add some intriguing prospects to their already thriving farm system.
Seattle had six picks during the two-day draft, including the No. 6 overall pick and four in the top 100, and selected an even mix of pitchers and position players.
“We do think we’ve made some impact across our organization, which is going to continue to add to what we’ve been doing over the last few years,” director of amateur scouting Scott Hunter said during a Zoom call with reporters after the Mariners wrapped up their picks Thursday.
Here’s a look at each of Seattle’s new additions, what these players can offer the organization, and what Hunter has to say about each pick:
▪ RHP Emerson Hancock, Georgia (Round 1, No. 6 overall): Georgia’s ace is the third consecutive college pitcher the Mariners have selected in the first round, joining Stetson’s Logan Gilbert (No. 14 overall in 2018) and Elon’s George Kirby (No. 20 overall in 2019), who entered the year as the club’s top pitching prospects. Similar to Gilbert and Kirby, Hancock is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound power right-hander with a four-pitch mix that includes a mid-to-upper 90s fastball, and plus slider, curveball and changeup. He was the third pitcher selected in a draft overflowing with talented college arms, and entered the year in the discussion for the No. 1 overall pick. The 21-year-old’s stock dipped slightly following a lat strain in 2019, and an uneven final four starts with Georgia in a shortened 2020 season, but the Mariners “didn’t see anything of concern with that,” Hunter said. Other clubs cooling on Hancock “probably played up our opportunity to get him,” Hunter said. Hancock made 33 appearances — all starts — in his career at Georgia, collecting 206 strikeouts while walking just 55 in 192 innings. He made four starts for the Bulldogs before the pandemic shut down college baseball, allowing six runs in his opening start, and four in his third. But, he pitched 14 1/3 scoreless frames in his other two starts, including his final college start on March 6, when he fanned a career-high 12 batters in 7 1/3 innings.
Hunter: “The things he’s able to do on the mound and the baseball field is really impressive — not only the pure stuff and power that comes out of his arm, but the ability to harness it. I mean, this kid’s (low walk rate) is well above any expectations of any pitcher, let alone a power pitcher with his arm.
“To find a kid that throws in the mid-to-upper 90s, has all four pitches and just doesn’t walk people, it’s a really special case in our minds.”
▪ OF Zach DeLoach, Texas A&M (2, 43): A swing change last summer unlocked everything for DeLoach, who significantly boosted his draft stock by winning the Cape Cod League’s batting title in 2019. After a slow start at the plate his first two seasons with the Aggies — he hit just .264 as a freshman and .200 as a sophomore — the 6-foot-1, 210-pound left-handed hitter suddenly commanded attention, slashing at .353/.428/.541 with eight doubles, a triple, five homers, 23 RBI and eight stolen bases in 37 games of summer ball. That was enough to capture Seattle’s attention, and DeLoach kept it by carrying that production into a shortened junior season at Texas A&M, hitting .421/.547/.789 with three doubles, six homers, 17 RBI and six stolen bases. The dramatic shift at the plate in those 17 games, paired with what he did at Cape Cod, erased any concerns about consistency the Mariners may have had. They see the 21-year-old as a center fielder to start, but could move him to a corner outfield spot.
Hunter: “We felt he was one of the best hitters coming into this draft after a stellar Cape Cod season. His sophomore year at Texas A&M he had a little bit of, I guess, unfortunate luck not posting big numbers, but he went up to Cape Cod, did a really good job up there and made a few swing changes.
“He’s a guy that’s always controlled the zone. He’s got a pure left-handed swing. You start tapping into some of his power, and we still really believe that the best is yet to come for Zach.”
▪ RHP Connor Phillips, Texas’ McLennan Community College (CBB, 64): The 19-year-old was the first junior college player selected in this year’s draft, and “one of the most upside plays” the Mariners took, Hunter said. Phillips, who is 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, has a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball that can reach 98 mph. If he can make improvements with his command, which Phillips said is a focus of his as he enters the professional ranks, “the stuff could come on really quick,” Hunter said. Phillips passed up offers to turn pro out of high school a year ago — he posted a 1.13 ERA and struck out 125 batters in 92 2/3 innings for Texas’ Magnolia West High School as a senior — and was originally committed to LSU, but opted to attend McLennan so he could remain eligible after his freshman season. “It was just to give myself the best opportunity,” he said. “I felt like being draft eligible was the best for me, and it ended up working out pretty decent for me.” Phillips made six starts for McLennan in his brief stint there, finishing 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA across 25 2/3 innings, and limiting opponents to a .152 average. The Mariners were looking for an impact arm on Day 2, Hunter said, and targeted Phillips with the extra pick they acquired in the Omar Narvaez trade with the Brewers in December.
Hunter: “You sit in the stands watching him throw, and you go, ‘Woah.’ You jump back when he rips off a breaking ball and he’s touching 98. Now, everything with Connor is going to be how he harnesses the stuff. He has had some strike zone issues here and there, but it’s really within the zone. He’s not missing by much. It’s just his stuff is so electric at times, and he’s such a live-wired athlete, learning how to control his delivery and control his emotions and control and harness that stuff is going to be key to his progression.”
▪ 2B Kaden Polcovich, Oklahoma State (3, 78): Polcovich has a smaller frame at 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, but the tools are there, Hunter said. “We do think there’s some real power in there for a smaller guy,” he said, noting Polcovich’s strong swing and ability to get “everything out of his body.” The 21-year-old switch hitter was another who caught Seattle’s eye in the Cape Cod League last summer, slashing at .305/.426/.473 with eight doubles, a triple, four homers, 28 RBI and six stolen bases after a pair of productive seasons playing for Northwest Florida State. He hit .271 with 12 homers as a sophomore there before transferring to Oklahoma State for what turned into a shortened 18-game junior season. With the Cowboys, Polcovich hit .344/.494/.578 with five doubles, two triples, two homers, 21 RBI and eight stolen bases. The Mariners will start Polcovich at second base, but he also has experience at third, and could develop into a super utility player. Polcovich’s father, Kevin, was an infielder for the Pirates for two seasons in 1997-98.
Hunter: “He’s hit everywhere he’s gone. Another control-the-zone type of play for us. Father played in the big leagues. Type of kid that brings a lot of energy to his game. He’s a plus runner, loves to play, a lot of good things going on with (Kaden) in regards to his complete game.”
▪ 3B Tyler Keenan, Ole Miss (4, 107): Hunter needs just two words to describe Kennan: “Big power.” The 6-foot-4, 240-pound slugger hit .403/.488/.791 in his shortened 17-game junior season at Ole Miss. The lefty logged five doubles, seven homers and 33 RBI before the college baseball season was shut down. Keenan showcased power to all fields in his career at Ole Miss, slugging above .500 each of his three seasons, and finishing with 23 doubles, two triples, 31 homers and 137 RBI across 139 games. The 21-year-old also took second in the 2019 College Home Run Derby.
Hunter: “The trend of what we look for in hitters is really starting to fall in play for what we did here with Tyler. He’s a third baseman. He’s a big man, so we’re hoping he can stay at third base. If he doesn’t long term he profiles as a first baseman, but he’s kind of terrorized the SEC at Ole Miss over the last three years.”
▪ RHP Taylor Dollard, Cal Poly (5, 137): Dollard was another Cape Cod standout for the Mariners — this time on the pitching side — after posting a 1.56 ERA with 27 strikeouts and just one walk in 11 relief appearances, while also logging five saves. “Cape Cod was such an important event for us, especially in a draft like this,” Hunter said. “Taylor just abused Cape Cod last year. He’s a guy that throws a ton of strikes. He’s missing a lot of bats.” The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder has impressed as both a reliever and starter in the college ranks. He was a reliable reliever for Cal Poly his first two seasons, and at Cape Cod, but converted to a starter for the 2020 season. He made just four starts before it was cut short, but his velocity and command translated well, and he posted a 1-0 record and 1.67 ERA with 36 strikeouts and four walks across 27 innings before the season abruptly ended. In his first appearance as a starter for the Mustangs, the 21-year-old fanned 10 in seven scoreless innings. Dollard never lost a game in three seasons at Cal Poly, finishing with a perfect 9-0 record and career 2.43 ERA. The Mariners plan to keep Dollard as a starter. Hunter said he has heard Shane Bieber comparisons.
Hunter: “Even as a starter, he’s still striking them all out and not walking anybody, and his stuff maintained the velocity and just pure action to his off-speed stuff. He’s the type of kid that we really believe has that upside of being a major league starter someday.”
Following the five-round draft, the Mariners have reportedly signed several undrafted free agents. This list will be updated as more signings are announced:
▪ C Ty Duvall, Vanderbilt: The 22-year-old started 23 games behind the plate as a junior, during which Vanderbilt went 22-1, and started another 14 this season before the season was canceled. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound catcher hit .284/.423/.418 in 127 games across four seasons with 18 doubles, a triple, eight homers and 68 RBI. He was drafted in the 25th round by the A’s last year, but didn’t sign.
▪ INF Justin Lavey, Louisville: The 22-year-old hit .277/.347/.393 in four seasons at Louisville with 31 doubles, three triples, eight homers, 88 RBI and 32 stolen bases. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound infielder appeared at second, third and shortstop during his college career.
▪ INF Ben Rodriguez, Wofford: The 22-year-old hit .294/.419/.401 in four seasons at Wofford with 27 doubles, eight triples, eight homers, 93 RBI and 85 stolen bases. The 6-0, 200-pound infielder split time at second, third and shortstop.
▪ C Matt Scheffler, Auburn: In two seasons at Auburn, the 22-year-old — a Lake Washington High School and Pierce College product — hit .289/.369/.381 with 16 doubles, three homers and 42 RBI. He caught 75 games for the Tigers.
This story was originally published June 11, 2020 at 2:00 PM.
