LL’s Top Mariners Prospects 2020: 45-41

It’s prospect season, and we are counting down our top 50 prospects in the organization. If you missed the first installment of our 2020 countdown, you can find 50-46 here. If you want to read more about our methodology and the players who just missed, you can find that here.

45. LHP Anthony Misiewicz

One of the longer-tenured members of the Mariners farm even with a brief stint with Tampa Bay, Misiewicz has been a workhorse over his time in the organization, regularly logging 120+-inning seasons. After starting 2019 in Double-A and steamrollering the Texas League, Misiewicz got beaten up a little by the rabbit ball in PCL parks, posting a home ERA of 4.39 vs. 6.59 on the road. Opinions on Miseiwicz are somewhat divided here, with grades on the curveball ranging from 50 to 60. I think it’s a legit weapon that, along with his handedness and durability, raises Misiewicz’s profile to a possible long relief or spot starter option down the stretch of what promises to be an underwhelming 2020. Joe points out that Misiewicz doesn’t get quite the swing-and-miss one would hope for given the spin rate on the pitch and questions whether it is truly a plus pitch, which would significantly cap Misiewicz’s ceiling, especially with the new three-batter minimum in effect. -KP

44. RHP Mike Limoncelli

Limoncelli had serious helium before tearing his UCL during his senior season at Horseheads High. Some unconfirmed reports suggested the Yankees had interest in Limoncelli as high as the first round. Why? The hammer. Limoncelli possessed one of the most wicked prep benders in the 2019 draft. That, coupled with a low 90s fastball that touched 95, had scouts flocking to New York. He’d throw just two innings his senior year. Seattle took Limoncelli in the 6th round and will certainly play it slow. He likely won’t be ready to make his organizational debut until midseason 2021, and that’s okay. At 6-foot-2, he’s got the size to remain in a rotation. The aforementioned heater and curve already flash as above average offerings; now it will fall on Limoncelli’s shoulders to develop a third pitch, likely the changeup. He’s an intriguing arm with potential middle-of-the-rotation upside. -JD

43. LHP Brayan “BJ” Perez

That Brayan Perez finds himself in this spot is a testament to the improved health of the Mariners system. A year and a half ago, Perez was creeping into the top-30. His backslide is purely due to the influx of other talent, as he’s done nothing but improve and perform since signing for $300k in 2017. Still slender, Perez has added strength that moved him from 85-88 when he signed at 16 to 88-92 last year, topping at 93 but seemingly needing little effort to do so. Watching Perez’s motion (a brief glimpse can be found publicly on his Instagram) is an interesting test case for organizational pitching philosophy. The lean lefty’s front arm and back arm do not mirror one another, countering what many pitching coaches have long taught on “opposite and equal”, but because Perez has excellent body control and repeats his mechanics well, his command has been strong, and the funk of his motion helps generate deception. He reportedly gets above-average spin on his fastball, which helps it play up further, but the leading offering(s) are his breaking balls. My current understanding is that the pitch is a curveball, but Perez will vary it for different planes of breaks and speed, keeping hitters off-balance and helping him better handle righties. To pump the breaks a bit, Perez only got 30.2 innings in eight appearances with Everett, and there’s only so much you can credit pitchability lefties with in the low minors, which is why he’s not higher. The 19 year old should see West Virginia at some point this year. If he’s able to add even more velo and stamina, he’s one to watch for shooting up this list by the end of the year. ~JT

42. 2B Jose Caballero

Caballero was the return from the Mike Leake fire sale trade, fresh off a wrist injury that sidelined him for a good portion for 2019. While lacking the arm to play shortstop regularly, Caballero is a more than serviceable second baseman and can cover other positions in the infield; the Mariners were trying him in left some in the AFL this season but his bat and arm are ill fits for anything other than emergency starts there. At the plate, Caballero controls the zone well and hits for average if not regular power, with his speed helping him stretch singles into doubles and take advantage of opponent miscues on the bases as well as executing straight steals. Caballero is ticketed for Double-A Arkansas this season, where the righty will have to contend with the spacious confines of Dickey-Stephens park. -KP

41. SS Juan Querecuto

Signed at the same time as Julio Rodriguez for a hefty bonus ($1.2M), there was a time Querecuto was, if not a Top-10 prospect in Seattle’s system, at the very least Top 10-adjacent. A combination of a nasty knee injury and an improved Seattle system has pushed Querecuto down sharply and quickly, but a strong and healthy 2020 could put him back on the top prospect map. Querecuto is 19 and has less than 400 career plate appearances, which could cause some to see untapped potential, and cause others concern about his developmental track. A strikeout rate approaching 40% in his limited return to action in 2019 doesn’t help allay those concerns, even with a double-digit walk rate. There’s still time for the Dominican baseball legacy to get on track and push his career forward, but it starts with a solid 2020 campaign. -KP