​In the MLB Draft, the big action usually happens in the early rounds, but plenty of valuable players can still be found in the later ones, particularly rounds 5 through 10. Bryan Woo, a common Day 1 draft comparison, was selected in the sixth round. Digging a bit deeper, Ty France—an adored former Mariner who has carved out a long major-league career—was famously drafted in the 34th round, a round that no longer exists in today’s draft structure. There are baseball player-shaped cathedrals everywhere for those with ears to listen.
The Mariners hold picks at 162 in Round 5 and 191 in Round 6, with subsequent selections occurring every 30 picks thereafter (221, 251, 281, 311, 341, 371, and so on). There are still a few names from Day 1 left on the board: only a couple of college players remain after being picked up early, leaving John’s choice, the fiery Tre Phelps, the Georgia third baseman, and Kate’s solid, steady pick Tate McKee, a right-handed pitcher from Georgia Tech, as the remaining college options. A number of prep players remain from our initial selections, including two of Kate’s favorites—right-hander Hudson DeVaughan and shortstop Will Plunkett—as the market for prep pitchers, in particular, continues to develop slowly.
Thanks to some moderate Day 1 savings, the Mariners have around $300,000 extra to allocate to Day 2 signing bonuses. While for many people that amount might feel life-changing, in the context of the MLB Draft it’s a welcome but modest bonus—more a cherry on top than a life-altering sum. If those prep players haven’t been selected by now, it seems increasingly likely they’ll head to campus, especially in an era of NIL.
With that in mind, here are a few deep, and very deep, sleepers to consider for Day 2 of the draft: Connor Griffin, right-handed pitcher from Binghamton. Griffin stands at 6’5” and throws a fastball around 95 mph, with the potential to reach triple digits, though command can be an issue. In my view, he profiles as a reliever with a fastball-side portion to his repertoire, but he’ll need to refine his control to land his strikes. At this stage, you’re betting on upside, and for a college arm, Griffin has a great deal of it. A notable bonus point: in interviews, he comes across as intelligent, thoughtful, and well-spoken, which feels very Mariners-y to me. — Kate
Blake Morningstar, right-handed pitcher, Wake Forest. Morningstar’s numbers aren’t dazzling, but he hails from the pitching pipeline that produced Mariners prospect Teddy McGraw (Curveball Jesus), who recently transferred to Miami. Standing 6-foot-4 and listed at 230 pounds, Morningstar offers a moldable frame, a biting curve, and a fastball that has touched 97 mph. He also brings a starter’s mix of pitches, giving the Mariners’ player development department plenty to work with. — Kate
Justin Leguernic, left-handed pitcher, Clemson. A lefty reliever may not seem exhilarating, but Leguernic could move quickly and provide value beyond immediate excitement. He has the potential to become a reliable bullpen asset, adding depth to the organization as he progresses through the system.