TEAM: Seattle Mariners
PICK: 14 (Slot: $3,883,800)
POOL: $7,555,200
SCOUTING DIRECTOR: Scott Hunter

PREVIOUS TOP PICKS
2017: Evan White, 1B, Kentucky (17th overall)
2016: Kyle Lewis, OF, Mercer (11th overall)
2015: Nick Neidert, RHP, Peachtree Ridge HS, GA (60th overall)
2014: Alex Jackson, OF, Rancho Bernardo HS, CA (6th overall)
2013: D.J. Peterson, 3B, New Mexico (12th overall)

HISTORY: Seattle has leaned heavily toward college players, the last couple years, picking up 1B Evan White (Kentucky) in 2017 and jumping on OF Kyle Lewis (Mercer) when he fell to 11th overall in 2016. The last time they took a high schooler in the first round was 2014—they didn’t pick until the second round in 2015—when they took OF Alex Jackson (Rancho Bernardo HS, CA) with the sixth pick.

FORECAST: The Mariners aren’t afraid to take a high school guy in early rounds—they took RHP Sam Carlson (Burnsville HS, MN) in the second round last year—but the college crop is probably a better fit for them with the 14th pick this year. OF Travis Swaggerty (South Alabama) would likely be the best available, though there’s a chance LHPs Ryan Rolison (Mississippi) or Shane McClanahan (South Florida) could slide. They could dip back into the Kentucky pool for RHP Sean Hjelle or venture further south for RHP Jackson Kowar (Florida). Other college hitters include OFs Jameson Hannah (Dallas Baptist) and Trevor Larnach (Oregon State) and SSs Nico Hoerner (Stanford) and Jeremy Eierman (Missouri State).

Ryan Rolison, LHP, Mississippi
PBR Draft Board: 7
FB: 50/55            SL: 60/70            CH: 40/50
Rolison is an athletic lefty with good down plane from a 3/4 slot. He repeats his delivery and has good arm speed with extension out front. The fastball showed above average life at 90-93 mph, touching 94 early in the game. His breaking ball is his ticket to the major leagues. It’s released from the same window as his fastball, and looks just like it, until it disappears under the bat. (David Seifert)

Find Rolison's full report in the Draft HQ.

Shane McClanahan, LHP, South Florida
PBR Draft Board: 8
FB: 60/70            SL: 40/50            CH: 40/50
McClanahan’s arm is one of the quickest in the country and the fastball has flashes of being a double-plus pitch in the future. He throws slightly crossfire and the arm works from a 3/4 slot. He was electric in the first inning, working 93-94 mph with some late action and ramping it up to 97-98 with little effort and late riding life. He lost command of the fastball in the second and was up in the zone and got hit. Both of his offspeed pitches were below average, but he showed a better feel for the changeup early. His slider is a sweeping, slurvy pitch and there is decent shape to it when thrown hard. The changeup worked well off the fastball when both were down. (Doug Freeman)

Find McClanahan's full report in the Draft HQ.

Travis Swaggerty, OF, South Alabama
PBR Draft Board: 12
HIT: 40/55            POWER: 30/45            SPEED: 60/60            DEFENSE: 50/60            ARM: 60/60
Swaggerty has a Brett Gardner frame and is an athletic center fielder with tools, baseball skills and instincts. Despite hitting off balance—a result of a narrow base and long stride—he keeps his hands back and connected to his hips. He has explosive, strong hands and uses his hips well. He swings easy and whistles the bat through the zone. He is smooth defensively, consistently running strong routes to go with his easy, plus speed. (David Seifert)

Find Swaggerty's full report in the Draft HQ.

Sean Hjelle, RHP, Kentucky
PBR Draft Board: 19
FB: 55/60            CB: 55/60            SL: 45/55            CH: 55/60
Hjelle has an extra tall, long-bodied and long-limbed frame at 6-foot-11, 225 pounds. He’s surprisingly athletic and repeats his delivery, leveraging the ball from a high-3/4 slot with a loose arm swing and good arm speed. Hjelle’s two-seam fastball sits 91-93, peaking at 94 early, and shows tail and sink in addition to steep downplane. His knuckle-curveball flashes plus at 80-83 and he throws it to both sides of the plate. He also showed an 85-87 slider and 83-86 power changeup. (David Seifert)

Find Hjelle's full report in the Draft HQ.

Jackson Kowar, RHP, Florida
PBR Draft Board: 21
FB: 60/60            SL: 50/55            CH: 60/70
Kowar is wiry at 6-foot-6, 185 pounds. He has a very simple, low-effort delivery and throws from a 3/4 slot. The arm works free and easy with whip, as the ball comes out his hand very well. The fastball worked 92-94 mph, touching 97 with late, riding life. Despite a plus fastball, he seemingly pitched backwards early, working off of a plus changeup at 83-86. He threw the pitch in any count to any hitter. He showed impressive ability to control the pitch to right-handed hitters on the inner half. He also showed a feel for an above-average slider with late sweeping action at 75-78. (Doug Freeman)

Find Kowar's full report in the Draft HQ.

Jameson Hannah, OF, Dallas Baptist
PBR Draft Board: 22

HIT: 50/60            POWER: 45/50            SPEED: 60/60            DEFENSE: 50/55            ARM: 30/40
Hannah has a lean, athletic and fast-twitch frame at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds. He has quick, strong hands and a balanced swing. His demeanor at the plate is confident and he has elite hand-eye coordination. He takes pitches with easy rhythm, seemingly picking the ball up early out of the hand. He has above-average range in the outfield and runs easily with long strides. (Toby Bicknell)

Find Hannah's full report in the Draft HQ.

Nico Hoerner, SS, Stanford
PBR Draft Board: 23
HIT: 40/55            POWER: 30/40            SPEED: 55/60            DEFENSE: 45/50            ARM: 55/55

Hoerner is an athletic, medium-frame infielder with good bounce and energy. Offensively, he showed a mostly balanced approach with a loose swing. He’s more of a doubles or gap power type with the chance to hit 10-12 home runs a year in pro ball. He has contact and pitch recognition skills that should allow him to also hit for average, as well as take his share of walks. His above-average to plus speed plays in the game. He showed above-average arm strength with a quick release and solid carry to his target. Although not a silky smooth defender, Hoerner has good hands and is aggressive and confident in the dirt. (David Seifert)

Find Hoerner's full report in the Draft HQ.

Trevor Larnach, OF, Oregon State
PBR Draft Board: 24
HIT: 40/50            POWER: 40/60            SPEED: 40/40            DEFENSE: 40/45            ARM: 40/45
Larnach’s frame immediately stands out in the box and though he has some strength, it still looks like has room to add more. He has always had the ability to drive balls in the opposite gap, but looks to have added more pull-side power. He has a quiet approach with quick hands and strong wrists with the ability to make adjustments. (Shooter Hunt)

Find Larnach's full report in the Draft HQ.

Jeremy Eierman, SS, Missouri State
PBR Draft Board: 25
HIT: 30/40            POWER: 40/55            SPEED: 60/60            DEFENSE: 45/55            ARM: 50/60
Eierman is a strong-bodied, super athletic infielder. He started the season slow at the plate, but now looks to be locked in. He showed an improved approach with much better balance than last summer. He’s a pull hitter with plus raw power. He shows an above average to plus arm and will likely remain at shortstop, though he could profile as an offensive second baseman as well. He’s a plus runner with good acceleration and his speed impacts the game. (David Seifert)

Find Eierman's full report in the Draft HQ.

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