Baseball America unveiled its inaugural top 100 prospects list for the 2026 season, revealing a noticeable shift for the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners secured spots for four players on the latest rankings: shortstop Colt Emerson, outfielder Lazaro Montes, left-handed pitcher Kade Anderson, and right-handed pitcher Ryan Sloan. This represents a significant decline from the previous year when the Mariners had eight players listed in Baseball America’s final top 100 update.
A contributing factor to this dip is the offseason trade of catcher Harry Ford, who was ranked 99th in the current update. Ford was moved to the Washington Nationals in exchange for left-handed reliever Jose A. Ferrer. Additionally, three Mariners prospects—outfielder Michael Arroyo, outfielder Jonny Farmelo, and switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje—have dropped out of the rankings. Notably, Arroyo made it onto Baseball America’s list of 20 prospects who narrowly missed the top 100. Editor-in-chief JJ Cooper attributed Arroyo’s decline from last year’s 60th rank to uncertainty surrounding his transition from second base to left field, a shift that aims to bolster his chances of reaching the major leagues.
Here’s a closer look at the four Mariners players included in Baseball America’s latest top 100:
Colt Emerson is ranked seventh after an impressive season where he hit .285 with an OPS of .841, recording 16 home runs and 78 RBIs across three minor league levels. As a first-round pick in 2023, the 20-year-old is a strong contender to make the big league roster in spring training.
Kade Anderson, holding the 25th spot, posted an impressive college record of 12-1 with a 3.18 ERA and 180 strikeouts during his tenure at LSU, where he helped the team secure a national title. Although he didn’t pitch in the minors post-draft, his readiness for the majors is highly anticipated.
Ranking 58th, Lazaro Montes showcased significant power, blasting 32 home runs while maintaining a .858 OPS in the minors. Despite a drop in batting average during his time in Double-A, Montes is expected to debut in the majors this season.
Finally, Ryan Sloan is ranked 60th. The 19-year-old righty delivered a solid first season, with a 3.73 ERA and 90 strikeouts across 82 innings after being a second-round pick in 2024. While he hasn’t advanced beyond High-A yet, there is potential for him to make an appearance in the big leagues later this year.
The Mariners continue to show promise, and despite a reduction in their top rankings, the potential for these young talents to make an impact in the major leagues remains high. With watchful eyes on this new crop of prospects, Mariners fans have reasons to stay optimistic about the franchise’s future.