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Could Seattle Mariners' injuries hasten prospect callups?
The Seattle Mariners’ infield was already a question mark heading into the season.
After a brutal stretch of injuries, it’s now a major concern.
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Second baseman Ryan Bliss needs surgery to repair a torn biceps and is expected to be out four to five months. Switch-hitter Jorge Polanco, who was slated to be the team’s everyday third baseman, is dealing with a sore oblique that’s limited him to a left-handed designated hitter role.
And with right fielder Victor Robles expected to miss at least 12 weeks with a shoulder injury, Luke Raley is moving from a part-time role at first-base into an everyday role in right field.
With their infield depth stretched thin, could the Mariners accelerate their timeline for calling up highly touted second baseman Cole Young and third baseman Ben Williamson from Triple-A Tacoma?
Mariners insider Shannon Drayer, who was asked that question Friday on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy, doesn’t expect the organization to adjust its plans for either of the two prospects. With Young and Williamson each having spent just two weeks at the Triple-A level, Drayer thinks the Mariners will remain careful not to rush their development.
“I don’t think anybody is going to be rushed – and certainly not at this point of the season – because of what’s going on right now,” Drayer said. “You still have time to give them time, which I’m sure nobody wants to hear right now, but it’s kind of the reality of the situation.
“So I don’t think that we see them right away. I think we see them when they’re ready. … (And) I don’t think either are there right now, so I don’t think that would be an option.”
Young, a 2022 first-round high school draft pick, is MLB Pipeline’s No. 46 overall prospect and Baseball America’s No. 53 overall prospect. At just 21 years old, he opened the season as the second-youngest player in the Pacific Coast League, according to Baseball America.
Known for his smooth left-handed swing and advanced bat-to-ball skills, Young hit .271 with nine home runs and a .759 OPS in 124 games at Double-A Arkansas last year. But he’s gotten off to a slow start at Triple-A Tacoma, batting just .178 with one triple, two doubles and a .569 OPS in 45 at-bats.
Drayer thinks sometime around midseason would be a reasonable point for Young to make his MLB debut.
“These guys coming up – especially your higher-round picks, the guys that you have been touting for a long time – you don’t want them to come up and struggle or fail. … This could be your future second baseman here. You’re going to bring him up at the right time.”
Williamson, a 2023 second-round pick, is a top-15 prospect in Seattle’s farm system according to both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America. The 24-year-old third baseman is known for his elite defense, which he’s already showcased with multiple highlight-reel plays at Tacoma this season.
Williamson doesn’t have much power, with just four homers in 148 career minor-league games. But he does have a .282 batting average in the minors, including a .286 average with three doubles and a .661 OPS in 49 at-bats at Tacoma this season.
Drayer said Williamson’s bat will ultimately determine when he arrives in Seattle.
“Ben Williamson could come up tomorrow and win a Gold Glove at third base,” Drayer said. “That’s probably a little bit of a stretch, but he can be that good from what the scouts are saying, and we certainly saw evidence of that in spring training.
“But if he’s not hitting, that’s gonna affect his fielding as well. So they want to be careful with these guys.”
Listen to the full conversation with Mariners insider Shannon Drayer at this link or in the audio player near the middle of this story. Tune in to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
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