The Mariners may not get the same buzz at No. 24 that came with last year’s third overall pick, but FanSided’s latest mock draft points them toward a name that fits Seattle’s pitching identity almost perfectly: right-hander Liam Peterson.
The mock has the Mariners taking Peterson in the MLB draft, which is set for July 11-12 in Philadelphia. And while that kind of selection won’t carry the instant splash of landing Kade Anderson, there’s a real case that Peterson would be a strong value if he’s still on the board.
MLB Pipeline has Peterson ranked as the fourth-best pitcher and the 14th overall prospect in the 2026 draft class, which is part of what makes the fit so intriguing. FanSided’s Chris Landers described Seattle as a college pitching factory, and that label has been earned. The Mariners have built a reputation for developing college arms, and Landers sees Peterson as the kind of pitcher who could benefit from that environment.
That idea lines up with what MLB.com’s Jim Callis recently said in his own mock draft, though he had Seattle taking Tennessee’s Tegan Kuhns instead. Either way, the broader point is the same: the Mariners have become one of the best teams in baseball at turning college pitching into real production.
Since 2016-25, only the Guardians have generated more fWAR from college pitchers taken in the draft. Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo are all part of that success story in the current rotation.
Peterson brings the kind of profile that can tempt a team like Seattle. Entering his 2026 season at Florida, some scouts thought he might end up as the first college arm selected in the draft.
But the season didn’t go that way. He finished with a 4.59 ERA and a 1.423 WHIP in 16 starts, numbers that show there’s still plenty to clean up.
That’s also where the Mariners’ appeal comes in. Peterson has the raw stuff to dream on, even if the command isn’t there yet.
He can touch 99 mph from a three-quarters arm slot, struck out 111 batters in 84.1 innings this past season, and comes in at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds. That’s a lot for a pitching development group to work with.
In the end, Peterson looks like the sort of arm Seattle likes to bet on: talented, unfinished and potentially available when the Mariners are on the clock.
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