Felnin Celesten’s stock has climbed fast again, and the Mariners’ minor league MVP now looks like a name to circle for the not-so-distant future.
That was not the case a year ago. After signing as an international free agent in 2023, Celesten entered the prospect conversation with plenty of buzz, only to see that momentum stall after a disappointing first season in Single-A. His 108 wRC+ in that debut year wasn’t enough to hold his spot on prospect lists, and the shine came off quickly.
This season changed the tone. Celesten put together a much stronger second full professional year, hitting .314/.409/.534 over 364 plate appearances with High-A Everett.
That production translated to a 137 wRC+, pushed him back onto MLB’s Top 100 prospects list at No. 47, and earned him Northwest League MVP honors. With his trajectory back on track, the question has shifted from whether he belongs in the conversation to when he might reach the majors.
The Mariners’ recent string of promotions offers a clue. Seattle has been giving late-season looks to top prospects like Kade Anderson, Lázaro Montes, and Michael Arroyo. The move won’t rescue the club’s playoff chances, but with the remaining games carrying little weight, the organization has used the stretch to hand future pieces some big league exposure.
Those call-ups also hint at how the Mariners are thinking about promotions. Pitchers can jump straight from Double-A, while position players usually need at least a brief stop in Triple-A first.
Colt Emerson spent 38 games in Triple-A before getting the call, even though he hit only a 104 wRC+. Arroyo was promoted after posting a 110 wRC+ in Triple-A.
Celesten appears headed for Double-A Arkansas to open next year, and that step may take some patience. Since arriving with the Travelers in late July, he has managed only a 44 wRC+ in 134 plate appearances, with a 33.6% strikeout rate. He is still only 21, so there is no need to rush him through Double-A and Triple-A just to get him to Seattle.
The position he plays could also complicate the timeline. The Mariners have already committed to Colt Emerson, and while Emerson’s rookie year has been disappointing, that could still leave Celesten a path to compete for a spot later on.
Even so, the expectation is that Celesten may not get his first major league opportunity until at least 2028, especially with the impending labor stoppage and the likelihood of a reduced schedule. If that holds, he would arrive when Seattle’s young core has more seasoning and can help him settle in. The hope is that by then, the Mariners are in a better place than they are now.
In Other News...
Mariners Face A Painful Reckoning As Season Slips Away
The Mariners got the start they wanted against Colorado, with Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena both going deep early to give Seattle a quick cushion. But once that early burst faded, the offense never found another answer, and the game slowly shifted into one of those September losses that feels bigger than a single night.
A shaky defensive stretch and late relief issues opened the door for the Rockies to rally and leave Seattle with a 5-3 loss, one that tightens the noose in both the American League West and Wild Card races. Depending on how the next slate of games goes, the Mariners could be looking at elimination soon, which is a harsh place to be after a night that started with so much promise. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners Face A Tough Shortstop Call After Colt Emerson Setback
As the Mariners stare at the possibility of being pushed out of playoff contention, the front office is already looking ahead to the winter and one of its trickiest decisions. Shortstop is at the center of that planning, with Colt Emerson still tied into the organization long term but coming off a rookie season that did not go as hoped and then a wrist surgery that only adds to the uncertainty around his readiness for Opening Day.
Seattle is expected to explore veteran help at the position this offseason, mostly for the defensive stability it could bring, but the market does not offer many easy answers. Any move there would also ripple back onto Emersons path, because a shortstop addition would shape how quickly the Mariners can keep leaning on the young infielder as he tries to reset his stock and reclaim his place in the infield picture. [Read more 🡒]
Mariners May Have Found Something Huge In Kade Anderson
Kade Anderson gave the Mariners exactly the kind of boost they have been hunting for, delivering the best start of his career in a 2-1 win over the Rockies. The rookie right-hander worked seven scoreless innings, struck out seven and gave Seattle a clean, efficient outing while the offense did just enough with runs in the fourth and sixth innings to build a small cushion.
Seattle still had to sweat it late after Colorado got on the board with a home run, and the game got even shakier when Andrs Muoz left because of injury. Eduard Bazardo handled the final outs to close it down, but the bigger question now is whether Andersons latest outing was simply a strong night or the start of something much more important for a Mariners staff that could use another reliable arm. [Read more 🡒]