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Seattle Mariners: Top 10 Rookie-Eligible Prospects for 2018

By Benjamin Chase

SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 15: The Seattle Mariners moose mascot holds a sign after starting pitcher Felix Hernandez threw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field on August 15, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 15: The Seattle Mariners moose mascot holds a sign after starting pitcher Felix Hernandez threw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field on August 15, 2012 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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8. Nick Rumbelow, RHP

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 9/6/1991 (26)
2017 teams/levels played for: AA Trenton Thunder, AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
2017 Stats: 25 G, 40 1/3 IP, 1.12 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 7.2% BB, 29.4% K

Info: With health, Rumbelow would already be an established dominant reliever at the major league level, having showed well in a 17 game MLB audition in 2015 in just his second full professional season.

Rumbelow works with a mid-90s fastball from his slight 6′, 190-200 pound frame, and he pairs it with a hard curve that hitters rarely can do anything with in their favor. He has an ability to generate tremendous swing and miss rate on the curve.

If he can stay healthy, Rumbelow could find himself in a big league job coming out of spring training. He’s a reliever profile without the likelihood of being a backend guy, but he could have a solid career as a middle guy, and that could start in 2018.

7. Juan Querecuto, SS

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 9/21/2000 (17)
2017 teams/levels played for: None
2017 Stats: None

Info: Querecuto’s brother made his major league debut in 2016 and his father played in the minor leagues as well, so he received very high marks for his natural baseball feel before being signed by the Mariners out of Venezuela this summer.

While he has a tall frame for a shortstop at 6’3″, he has a more narrow shoulder and hip base that should prevent him from adding too much muscle and outgrowing the shortstop position. With his above-average arm and elite release and “feel” at the position, Querecuto’s lack of blazing speed should not prevent him from sticking at shortstop.

With his above-average arm and elite release and “feel” at the position, Querecuto’s lack of blazing speed should not prevent him from sticking at shortstop

Offensively, that speed is more of an issue, though once again, he uses elite baseball IQ to still provide quality base running and get more stolen bases than his raw speed numbers would indicate. He is not a guy who will likely grow into big over-the-fence power, but he has a quality bat path and uses gaps well, so he should rack up plenty of doubles and triples.

Querecuto may not be a future fantasy baseball star, but he is the kind of guy who will have a ton of value on the field for his team.

Next: #5 and #6

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