The Everett AquaSox did plenty of winning in 2026, even if the postseason never came into view.
They finished with the second-best overall record in the Northwest League at 67-65, but the strong season still ended without a playoff berth. The Frogs were steady from start to finish - 33-33 in the first half with a +22 run differential, then 34-32 in the second half with a +37 mark - but never quite climbed high enough to lock down a half-season crown.
What Everett lacked in a playoff spot, it made up for with production. The offense was the engine all year, piling up league-best numbers in homers, runs, OPS and stolen bases.
In the cramped setting of Everett’s home park, that kind of output stood out even more. The pitching staff had to fight through those same conditions, yet still held together well enough to keep the team in games almost every night.
The AquaSox finished with a 4.96 ERA, which ranked fourth in the league, and a .834 team OPS, best in the Northwest League.
The headliner was Felnin Celesten, who took home Northwest League MVP honors after one of the strongest bounceback seasons in the system. He hit .314/.409/.534 with 18 stolen bases, and his mix of switch-hitting, range at shortstop and all-around threat level made him one of Everett’s most dangerous players all season.
That performance earned him a promotion to Double-A, though he struggled a bit there and ended the year on the injured list. Even so, his 2026 campaign firmly established him as one of the system’s top prospects.
Luke Stevenson also gave the AquaSox a big season after arriving from a successful stint with the Nuts following his 2025 draft year. He came out hot, hit through a rough middle stretch, and finished strong enough that his final numbers still look very good.
His profile came with the expected mix of power, walks, strikeouts and defense that scouts have come to expect from him. The swing-and-miss remains a talking point, and it could leave him off some Top 100 lists this offseason, but his overall floor still looks high.
His defense behind the plate may be enough to carry him to the majors eventually, and he’s set to rank somewhere in the top ten in the organization as he heads to Double-A next season.
Jonny Farmelo’s first full pro season was another major bright spot. He used his speed and aggressiveness to make a real impact, stealing 41 bases - second in the entire system, behind Nick Becker by five - while also doing enough damage at the plate to earn a Double-A promotion by the end of the year.
The whiff rate was high, but the power showed up enough for him to produce. The ideal next step would be keeping that impact bat while trimming the strikeouts, though that’s easier said than done.
If the bat never fully reaches that level, Farmelo still has a path built on elite defense in center, game power and game-changing speed. His strong finish suggests he’s moving in the right direction.
There were also two standout performers who fit better in the “sleepers” bucket only because of how they’re viewed nationally.
Brandon Eike put together a monster year, even if he’s not listed as a Top 30 prospect by most outlets. He hit 29 home runs and posted an .892 OPS, becoming a steady middle-of-the-order force for Everett.
The swing-and-miss is real, and his tools outside of power are limited, but the raw production was too loud to ignore. If he keeps hitting for this kind of authority as he climbs, he’ll force the issue.
Carlos Jimenez may have been even better. After spending several years in the lower minors, he finally delivered a season that pushed his stock back up.
The 23-year-old finished with a .926 OPS, 20 stolen bases, a 21% strikeout rate and a 14.6% walk rate. His left-handed swing did plenty of damage, and his ability to get on base made him a threat in more ways than one.
He’ll get his shot at Double-A next season, and if the success continues, he should move up prospect lists in a hurry.
On the mound, Colton Shaw was the clear staff leader. His sinker-sweeper mix played especially well in Everett’s homer-friendly park, and he used it to top the pitching staff in nearly every major category.
The lower launch on his delivery gives his sinker sharp action, and it pairs well with his secondaries. The Mariners have shown a preference for high-command sinkerballers in recent drafts, and Shaw fits that mold perfectly.
Whether it’s an organizational trend or just a useful blip, he’s made a strong case for the approach. After his 2026, he’s one of the names in the system with a very clear arrow pointing up.
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