Five Mariners Sleeper Prospects to Keep an Eye on

Published January 31, 2012 | By Casey McLain

Every now and then a prospect will jump from the ranks of the unexpected to become a team’s top prospect. Brandon Belt did it in San Francisco the year before last. Michael Pineda did it in Seattle the year before last. It’s entirely possible that none of these guys become great prospects. Likely even. But they possess a couple of key attributes or production points that make them interesting to me.

Janelfry Zorrilla, OF, Dominican Summer League (18.5 years old on average)

21 years old, 6-2, 180 lbs

Bats: Right, Throws: Right

Key Stats: .273 ISO, 12 homers, 21 doubles, 14.1 K%, 9.1 BB%, .998 OPS

Zorilla is basically an unknown at this point. He’s too old for the DOSL, but his production is good.

Tyler Marlette, C, Appalachian League (20.5 years old on average)

19 years old, 5-11, 195 lbs

Bats: Right, Throws: Right

Key Stats: None

The Mariners over paid for Marlette in the 5^th round of last year’s draft. He’s got the highest ceiling of any catcher in their system with potential to hit and field.

Felipe Burin, IF, Arizona League (20.0 years old on average)

20 years old, 5-10, 170 lbs

Bats: Both, Throws: Right

Key Stats: .891 OPS, 30 doubles, 11.2 BB%

Burin came on quickly and was sent stateside after beginning the season in Venezuela. Burin appears to have an advanced bat, but production that was driven by BABIP.

Brian Moran, LHRP, Southern League (24.1 years old on average)

23 years old, 6-3, 185 lbs

Bats: Left, Throws: Left

Key Stats: 9.3 K/9, 3.3 BB/9

Moran is a soft-tossing lefty whose numbers are a bit of a myth. Future LOOGY who is facing more righties than he will in MLB.

Jordan Shipers, LHP, Northwest League (21.3 years old on average)

21 years old, 5-10, 160 lbs

Bats: Right, Throws: Left

Key Stats: 8.5 K/9

Shipers was one of the more anticipated prospects from the 2010 draft, and stumbled a bit in 2011. Power lefty reliever or mid-rotation starter are probably Shipers’ peak.

Casey McLain

Casey is the founder of North and South of Royal Brougham. He's also a senior writer and marketing director at fantasyfootballjungle.com, and has done some work for walterfootball.com. Most importantly though, Casey is a big fan of baseball, football, basketball, red meat, a homebrewer, and a fan of assertively hopped Northwest IPAs.