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Seattle Mariners Top Prospect, Kyle Lewis Promoted to Double-A

By Chase Meili

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: Kyle Lewis #2 of the Seattle Mariners and the U.S. Team bats against the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: Kyle Lewis #2 of the Seattle Mariners and the U.S. Team bats against the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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Seattle Mariners
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 15: Kyle Lewis #2 of the Seattle Mariners and the U.S. Team bats against the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

The Seattle Mariners promoted their top prospect, who is finally healthy for an extended time, to the upper minors

The Seattle Mariners top prospect according to Baseball America, Kyle Lewis, was promoted on Saturday to Double-A Arkansas.  Lewis was the Mariners first-round pick out of Mercer University back in 2016.  Lewis was the M’s lone representative at this years MLB Futures Game.  He had hit .260 with 5 home runs and 32 RBI’s in just over 200 plate appearances with the High-A Modesto Nuts before the promotion.

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Lewis will be taking the spot of fellow center fielder Braden Bishop who suffered a fractured forearm and will miss the remainder of the season.  Bishop was recently named to the Texas League North Division All-Star team.  Bishop was ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the Mariners system according to Baseball America at the start of the season.  But as one season ends for a player, another gets his shot to take his spot.

As for Kyle Lewis, his journey to Double-A gets him one step closer to making it to the bigs.  Lewis’ timeline to the pros was pushed back after tearing his ACL in 2015 during a home-plate collision.  The injury would require additional surgery that forced him to miss the start of the season.  Lewis’ potential has still yet to be seen as he has never played for than 50 games in a season.

Standing at 6’4” and weighing 210 pounds, Lewis’ frame was one of the reasons the M’s used their first round pick for him.  Not to mention, Kyle is an incredible athlete for his size and has shown flashes of athleticism during his time in the minors.  With a strong combination of speed and power, he has the potential to develop into a true five-tool player when he reaches the big leagues.

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Lewis is expected to become the everyday center fielder in Double-A for the Travelers, meaning he should get substantial playing time for the remainder of the season. He could factor into the Seattle Mariners plans for late 2019 at that rate.

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