Right now, being a Seattle Mariners fan feels like standing on the edge of something big - not just because the big-league club looks like a legitimate World Series contender, but because the talent pipeline behind it is as promising as it gets. Seattle’s farm system has become one of the most respected in baseball circles, churning out high-upside talent with consistency. But if you’re a Mariners fan scrolling through Baseball America’s newly released Top 100 prospects list for 2026, you might be doing a double take.
Four Mariners made the cut: shortstop Colt Emerson at No. 7, lefty Kade Anderson at No. 25, slugger Lazaro Montes at No. 58, and right-hander Ryan Sloan at No. 60.
That’s a strong showing - four players in the top 60 is nothing to scoff at. But given Seattle had seven names on Baseball America’s last major Top 100 update in 2025, the drop-off is noticeable.
And fans have noticed, too - social media lit up with frustration, confusion, and plenty of questions.
So what happened?
Let’s break it down. Of the seven Mariners prospects previously ranked, only two aged out or moved on: Cole Young graduated to the big leagues, and Harry Ford was traded to the Nationals.
That leaves three names - Michael Arroyo, Felnin Celesten, and Jonny Farmelo - who dropped off the list entirely. And with Anderson being the only new addition, the math checks out: seven becomes four.
Then there’s Jurrangelo Cijntje, one of the most intriguing prospects in all of baseball. The ambidextrous pitcher - yes, you read that right - can touch 98 mph from both the right and left side.
He’s a unicorn, the kind of player who makes you do a double take during a Spring Breakout game. But even with that electric arm, he didn’t crack the Top 100.
And neither did Arroyo, Celesten, or Farmelo - not even in the “just missed” category, where only Arroyo earned a mention.
At first glance, it might feel like a slight. But the logic behind the rankings holds up under scrutiny. As Baseball America’s JJ Cooper pointed out, the difference between a player ranked No. 95 and one sitting at No. 130 is razor-thin - often a matter of projection, positional value, or a few bad weeks at the plate.
Take Arroyo, for example. The bat is real - he can hit - but there’s growing uncertainty about where he fits defensively.
He’s already moved off shortstop to second base, and now there’s talk of a possible shift to left field. That kind of defensive limbo puts pressure on the bat to carry the profile, and unless you’re talking about a generational hitter, that’s a tough ask.
Cijntje? Fascinating as he is, his left-handed stuff still lags behind his right-handed arsenal.
Farmelo has the tools - power, speed, athleticism - but injuries have limited him to just 75 minor league games since being drafted in 2023. Celesten, meanwhile, dealt with vertigo symptoms during his first full pro season in 2025 and posted a modest 104 wRC+.
The upside is still there with all three, but so are the question marks.
And that’s the reality of prospect development. Not every top-ranked name turns into a franchise cornerstone.
Mariners fans don’t need to look far for reminders - Jarred Kelenic, Evan White, and Emerson Hancock were all once ranked ahead of Logan Gilbert. Today, Gilbert’s the one anchoring the big-league rotation.
So no, this isn’t a case of Baseball America disrespecting the Mariners. It’s a reflection of how fluid prospect rankings can be, especially in the back half of the Top 100. The Mariners still boast one of the deepest, most exciting systems in the game, with Emerson looking like a future star and Anderson turning heads with his polish and poise.
If anything, this should serve as fuel. For the players left off the list, the message is simple: prove it.
Make the rankings impossible to ignore. And for Mariners fans, the big picture hasn’t changed - the pipeline is strong, the future is bright, and the next wave of talent is knocking on the door.