Lookout Landing

You have met Taijuan Walker and probably know Marcus Littlewood, so let's move on and take a look at Seattle's 3rd through 6th round picks.

#99  - Ryne Stanek, RHP, Blue Valley HS (KS)

Another prep arm who is big and strong and throws hard, but that's probably where the similarities end between Walker and Stanek.  Where Walker is new to being a full time baseball player, Stanek is a veteran of the prep showcase circuits and as such has much more refined and consistent mechanics and secondary pitches.  He throws a fastball that sits in the low 90s, touching as high as 96 with good tailing action to go with a good curveball and so-so changeup and slider.  He is committed to Arkansas and isn't a lock to abandon that commitment, so Seattle will likely have to use some of the money they saved on Walker and Littlewood to sign Stanek.  If he signs Seattle may opt to shorten up his arm action and bring his release point up a bit to allow for some sink to his fastball.  I like this pick quite a lot.  Here's the scouting video.

#132 - James Paxton, LHP, Grand Prairie (Indy)

This pick was a dream come true for some Mariner fans.  Last year there were quite a few of us who wanted the Mariners to pop a high upside college arm with the 27th and/or 33rd pick in the draft, and Paxton was one of the favorites.  He ended up falling past both picks and going to the Blue Jays at #37, where he failed to come to agreement.  Paxton planned on returning to Kentucky for his senior year, but after a violation having to do with the Jays negotiating directly with his agent Scott Boras, he was suspended.  He didn't really fight it and instead went to play indy league baseball.  Paxton has garnered mixed reviews in his time with Grand Prairie, but reports about his velocity being down or curveball losing its bite can hopefully be attributed to some rust.  Paxton does have an injury history, however, including problems with his elbow in high school, as well as back and knee more recently.  Last summer the book on Paxton went something like this: good command of a plus fastball sitting in the low 90s and touching 96 to go along with a plus curve and a work in progress changeup.  If Paxton can stay healthy the Mariners may have gotten a steal in the 4th round.  Here's the scouting video.

#162 - Stephen Pryor, RHP, Tennessee Tech

Tennessee Tech?  This pick wasn't a reach.  Pryor is a burly reliever who has racked up 75 strikeouts in 41 innings as Tech's closer thanks to a fastball that sits around 94 and has been clocked as high as 98.  His slider is an average pitch for him but if he can get a little more out of it once joining the Mariners he could be a fast riser out of the bullpen.  He can be wild at times, but that seems to come with the territory.  With the heat he's bringing, Pryor has a very good chance to be a contributor out of the 'pen even with minimal progress. 

#192 - Christian "Keanu" Carmichael, C, Mililani HS (HI)

The Mariners drafted and signed two prep backstops in last year's draft-- Steve Baron and Carl Tanabe-- and Carmichael appears to fit into the same mold as those two.  He's athletic behind the plate and has a good defensive foundation, displaying good footwork, a quick release and a strong throwing arm.  Carmichael has the physical tools to hit for some power but not until the swing is tinkered with, which is something the Mariners don't seem to mind doing as long as their young receivers can flash the leather. Here's the scouting video.

More coming.

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