Seattle, WA
Why Seattle Mariners could go new route with first-round draft pick
When it comes to this year’s MLB Draft, the Seattle Mariners’ scouting department knows one sure thing: It will need to be ready to think on its feet.
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After having a whopping three first-round selections in a top-heavy draft last year, the Mariners hold the 15th overall pick in 2024. Exactly who will be available when Seattle is on the clock will be quite the mystery, even to the organization’s dialed-in scouting department.
“This was a different one,” Mariners director of amateur scouting Scott Hunter said about this year’s draft on Wednesday. “It’s going to be more of a challenge. I think we’re gonna have to do a lot of heavy lifting and figuring out (how to extract) the players that really we believe in for what the Mariners do.”
The 2023 draft was stocked with talented high school position players, which resulted in Seattle going that route for all three of its first-round selections. According to Hunter, this year’s draft – which begins with the first and second rounds July 14 and runs through July 16 – doesn’t have near the caliber of depth at the top.
“The depth of the draft is a lot different. It’s a weird class,” Hunter said. “… It’s a little thinner than last year’s at top of the draft. I think there’s about nine or ten players we think are going to be off the board before we pick, and then after that, we’re pretty much saying it’s dealer’s choice for what organizations are going to do.”
A different route for M’s?
Over the past several years, Hunter and his staff have hit on a number of early-round picks. First it was a run of college pitchers picked in the first round in consecutive years, starting with Logan Gilbert in 2018, then George Kirby and Emerson Hancock. In the three drafts since, Seattle has shifted its focus to high school bats, selecting catcher Harry Ford in the first round of 2021, shortstop Cole Young in 2022 and infielders Colt Emerson and Tai Peete and outfielder Jonny Farmelo in 2023.
Gilbert, Kirby and Hancock have all reached the majors. (Hancock is currently in Triple-A, which is more of a testament to Seattle’s pitching depth than Hancock’s talent). Ford, Young, Emerson and Farmelo are all rated as top-100 prospects by either Baseball America or MLB Pipeline, or both.
With that type of success, it appears Seattle is doing something right when it comes to scouting high school bats and college arms. However, they may have to go a different route with their first-rounder this month.
“There’s a lot of high school pitching, which I know we haven’t really done much at the top of the draft, but it’s actually really in play for us because we have to consider every demographic in the draft,” Hunter said. “And we don’t want to make poor decisions, but we also want to make sure we’re giving our best ourselves the best chance to make a good decision. Sometimes the high school pitcher could be that guy.”
Seattle hasn’t taken a high school pitcher in the first round since Hunter was hired following the 2016 season. The highest prep hurler taken during that stretch was right-hander Sam Carlson going in the second round at N0. 55 in 2017. Carlson’s career has been hampered by injuries, but Seattle is seeing some good early returns from a recent high school pitcher it drafted. Michael Morales, a third-rounder in 2021, is with Double-A Arkansas at just 21 years old and is the Mariners’ No. 12 overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
Hunter said the injury risk and time it takes to reach the majors are some of the cons of taking a pitcher out of high school. However, he also noted that high school pitchers are starting to have more success early on in the minors than in the past, and they’re entering pro baseball with better raw stuff and understanding of analytics than ever.
“If you pick the right high school pitcher, you usually have a lot of success,” Hunter said, “but there is a lot of landmines and risk that goes into that.”
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Cooper Kupp played eight seasons for the Rams, highlighted by his 2021 performance, when he was the NFL’s offensive player of year and the most valuable player of Super Bowl LVI.
On Sunday, the Rams will play against Kupp for the first time when the Seattle Seahawks visit SoFi Stadium for a game that will determine first place in the NFC West.
Kupp, released by the Rams last March after they could not find a trade partner, is a complementary piece of a Seahawks offense that features quarterback Sam Darnold and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is on pace to break the NFL season record for yards receiving.
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Gary Klein breaks down Sunday’s matchup between the Rams and the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium.
But Kupp, who has 26 catches for 367 yards and a touchdown, is still on the minds of Rams players and coaches.
“I’m glad he’s feeling good and ready to rock and roll,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “He’s a lifelong friend of mine. Obviously, we’ll be competing against him this weekend, but it’ll be good to see him.”
Kupp played “an instrumental role” in building the Rams’ culture, coach Sean McVay said.
“He modeled the way,” McVay said, adding, “He’s elevated a lot of people in this building.”
Receiver Puka Nacua benefited from Kupp’s tutelage.
“A foreign feeling for sure,” Nacua said when asked what it would be like playing against Kupp for the first time. “I know I’m excited to see him.”
Is there a postgame jersey swap planned?
“Honestly, I’m hoping that he doesn’t take it off because if I see him take it off for somebody else, I might hit somebody on our team, respectfully,” Nacua said, laughing.
SEATTLE – Heavy rain is sweeping through the Seattle area on Friday, creating widespread water-accumulation problems in low-lying and urbanized districts.
While rain-soaked roads and standing water are common during seasonal storms, Friday the breadth and speed of accumulation have been notable. Urban drainage systems are being challenged.
In particular, neighborhoods with older infrastructure or heavy pavement cover are seeing water pooling at intersections, storm drains backing up, and slower-moving surface runoff.
Keep reading for live updates on weather in western Washington.
10:27 a.m. – Snoqualmie road report
Transportation officials say roads are bare and wet with areas of standing water along I-90 in and out of Snoqualmie. WSDOT has a mountain pass travel time report available on their website.
9:12 a.m. – Car slides up over I-5 highway barrier
The high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane was blocked just after 9 a.m. on Friday as commuters navigated increasingly slick roads due to quick accumulation across the Puget Sound region.
WSDOT reports a car ended up hanging over the concrete highway barrier along I-5 South just past NE 130th in Seattle.
8:54 a.m. – Crash on West Seattle Bridge
A crash on the West Seattle Bridge was blocking the right westbound lane just west of SR 99 for about an hour-and-a-half.
8:40 a.m. – Safety precautions urged for residents and drivers
Officials advise residents and motorists to exercise caution. The AlertSeattle system emphasizes:
8:30 a.m. – What this means for the coming hours
Heavy rain caused flooding on Seattle roads on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (FOX 13 Seattle)
According to forecasts and past storm-behavior for the region:
- Additional rainfall could further saturate soils and drainage systems, increasing the chance of flooding, especially during any short bursts of heavier showers.
- Roads may become slick and visibility reduced; hydroplaning risk is higher when standing water remains.
- Smaller creeks and drainage channels are likely to remain elevated, potentially spilling over into adjacent streets or properties if the rain persists.
- Once rainfall eases, water may remain standing for longer periods in flatter neighborhoods or where drainage capacity is constrained.
8:25 a.m. – How residents can prepare now
- Sign up for flood alerts from King County and AlertSeattle.
- Avoid all shortcuts through flooded streets; turn around rather than risk getting stuck.
- Move vehicles off low-lying streets if flooding is anticipated.
- Clear leaves and debris from gutters and near storm‐drain inlets; blockages slow drainage.
- If your home begins to flood, turn off utilities (electricity, gas) if safe to do so and move valuables to higher ground.
Urban flooding in the Puget Sound region is not uncommon during late-fall and early-winter storms, especially when heavy rain coincides with saturated ground, clogged drains or elevated tides. Past events have shown how quickly streets can become impassable and how much strain storm-water systems can face. For instance, heavy rains and strong winds have previously caused roads to flood and trees to topple in Western Washington. FOX 13 Seattle+1
While today’s event appears within the range of expected seasonal flooding, the combination of rain intensity and urban drainage stress makes it important for residents to remain alert until conditions stabilize.
8:22 a.m. – Abby’s forecast for western WA
MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
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To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
The Source: Information in this story came from FOX 13 Seattle meteorologists and various local agencies like WSDOT, Seattle DOT and others.
SEATTLE – Mostly cloudy skies and a few light showers moved back into Washington Wednesday, and steadier rainfall continues tonight.
Mostly cloudy skies and a few light showers moved back into Washington Wednesday, and steadier rainfall continues tonight.
Steady morning rain can be expected across the Puget Sound. Widespread showers will continue through midday, with more scattered showers by the evening.
Steady morning rain can be expected across the Puget Sound.
The heaviest rainfall Thursday will be around the north sound and along the coast. Showers will continue Thursday night into Friday with snow levels slowly dropping to a rain snow mix at the major mountain passes.
Heaviest rain Thursday will be around the north sound and along the coast.
Showers and breezy wind at times will continue into the weekend. We will see mild temperatures through the weekend as well.
Showers and breezy wind at times will continue into the weekend.
MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
Tacoma celebrates milestone anniversary
Glacier, WA community rallies to keep historic post office open
Why experts say impacts of government shutdown could linger after it reopens
Rad Power Bikes faces permanent closure at Seattle site
Seattle named most expensive US city for takeout
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
The Source: Information in this story came from FOX 13 Seattle Meteorologist Claire Anderson and the National Weather Service.
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