Now that Cole Young has already been announced as a Gold Glove finalist, the Seattle Mariners are still waiting to see who cracks the shortlist for the Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Awards. Randy Arozarena looks like the likeliest name to get through, which would at least fix one wrong, even if the moment still comes with a little disappointment.
That naturally shifts the conversation toward what Seattle might have coming down the line. Lazaro Montes and Michael Arroyo could be part of that next wave by 2027, while Felnin Celesten, Jonny Farmelo and Luke Stevenson also have the kind of offensive upside that can eventually play in that conversation.
But if you’re looking for the safest bet among the current group of Mariners hitting prospects, Ace Reese stands out.
That’s a heavy label for a player who wasn’t even a pro until July, when Seattle took him out of Mississippi State with the No. 24 pick in the draft and sold him as one of the best hitters in the country. The early return has been loud.
In his first 21 games with Single-A Inland Empire, Reese put up a higher OPS, 1.197, than he managed across his final 62 games with the Bulldogs. He also walked more than he struck out, and 11 of his 33 hits went for extra bases.
Carlos Collazo of Baseball America called it the most impressive pro debut of any 2026 draft pick.
Ace Reese launches his third pro homer, giving him hits in 15 of his first 19 pro games for Single-A @66ersBaseball!
The @Mariners ' 2026 first-rounder is slashing .444/.553/.698 to start his career. pic.twitter.com/DMeQnDjOGY
- MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 3, 2026
Reese’s start doesn’t map perfectly onto Nick Kurtz’s, but the resemblance is easy to see. Kurtz came into pro ball in 2024 as a polished left-handed hitter, torched Single-A pitching to the tune of a 1.531 OPS, reached the majors the next April, and finished by winning AL Rookie of the Year and a Silver Slugger. That’s the dream path for Reese, even if he didn’t get far enough to reach Double-A before the end of 2026.
Still, the offensive shape is similar. Reese looks like a power-first lefty with some swing-and-miss in the profile, but also enough patience to keep pitchers honest.
Between college and the pros, he hit 27 homers in 83 games this year. His swing from the left side has a violent uppercut to it, and Carlos Gonzalez comes to mind.
Collazo described him as a "barrel machine" who does well in getting the ball in the air to his pull side.
That combination matters. Barrel the ball, lift it to the pull side, and you’re talking about the easiest route to real power production. The PullAIR% leaderboard tends to be packed with the game’s top sluggers, including Cal Raleigh in 2025 and Pete Crow-Armstrong this year.
The remaining question is whether Reese’s plate approach keeps moving in the right direction. The MLB Pipeline book says he is "making progress with his swing decisions." His 19 strikeouts and 12 walks at Single-A don’t settle that debate, but they at least leave room for the idea that better discipline is coming.
Defense may end up being the bigger roster question. Reese was drafted as a third baseman, but he might wind up at first base, left field or even designated hitter. Wherever he lands, the offensive upside is obvious: if the bat keeps developing, he looks like the type of hitter who can become an annual 30-homer threat in the big leagues.
In Other News...
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Hyde stands out because of the profile he built in Baltimore and during his time as a senior advisor with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he developed a reputation for handling young players and working comfortably with analytics. Those traits matter in Seattle, where the next manager will need to fit a roster that still has room to grow and a decision-making structure that places a premium on information. The Mariners can afford to be thorough here, but they cannot afford to get it wrong. [Read more 🡒]
Cole Young Just Gave Mariners Fans A New Reason To Believe
Cole Youngs rookie season already gave the Mariners plenty to feel good about, and now the second baseman has added another layer to that conversation. Young was named a finalist for the American League Gold Glove Award, a nod that reflects how quickly he established himself as a reliable presence in the field while appearing in 161 games this season.
Young is among three finalists at second base, alongside Chase Meidroth and Michael Massey, and the honor puts him in position for another notable milestone before the offseason fully settles in. The winners will be announced on Nov. 1, leaving Mariners fans with one more reason to keep Youngs name front and center as the clubs future starts to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]