Mariners draft tracker: Seattle selects 11 pitchers, 9 position players in 2022
The 2022 MLB Draft is complete, and the Mariners are set to add to their farm system, which already entered the spring ranked No. 2 in baseball by MLB.com.
Seattle had 20 picks during the three-day draft, and selected 11 pitchers and nine position players.
North Allegheny (Pa.) High School shortstop Cole Young, who Seattle selected in the first round at No. 21 overall, was the first of four high school players the club drafted during the first nine rounds. The Mariners drafted college players with their other 16 picks.
The full list of the Mariners’ selections in 2022 is below:
SEATTLE MARINERS 2022 MLB DRAFT PICKS
COLE YOUNG
SS
North Allegheny (Pa.) High School
Round 1, No. 24 overall
For the second consecutive season, the Mariners selected a high school position player with their top pick, beginning a new trend after using their first-round picks in 2018, 2019 and 2020 to add college pitchers. Last summer, they drafted a versatile catcher and right-handed bat in North Cobb (Ga.) High School standout Harry Ford. This summer, they selected another high school position player, this time a middle infielder and left-handed bat in Young, who is considered the No. 20 player in this draft by MLB.com. Following the pick, Mariners director of amateur scouting Scott Hunter said the club believes the 18-year-old is “one of the best and purest hitters, and best swings in this draft.” Listed at 6-foot, 185 pounds, Young was named a MaxPreps All-American following his senior season, during which he hit .433/.564/.800 with 21 runs scored, eight doubles, four triples, two home runs, 15 RBI and eight stolen bases in 78 plate appearances across 21 games, per MaxPreps. Young hit .428/.554/.766 in 271 plate appearances across 73 games in his three-season career at North Allegheny. “To get a hitter of this caliber, we’re really excited,” Hunter said. But, there’s more to Young than his bat. He posted a .951 fielding percentage during his high school career, and is projected to stay at shortstop, but Hunter said Young “probably has the versatility to even go to second or third.” Young is also considered the No. 17 player nationally in the 2022 class by Perfect Game, the No. 3 shortstop and top player in Pennsylvania.
TYLER LOCKLEAR
3B
VCU
Round 2, No. 58 overall
The 21-year-old showcased his power from the right side of the plate at VCU, crushing 37 home runs the past three seasons — including 36 between 2021 and 2022 — and hit nine more in the Cape Cod League last summer. Through 132 career games at VCU, Locklear hit .361/.513/.704 with 161 runs scored, 40 doubles, six triples, the 37 homers, 152 RBI, 14 stolen bases and has walked (101) more than he’s struck out (78). This spring, he helped VCU to a second consecutive Atlantic 10 title, and finished the season with a .402/.542/.799 slash line with 77 runs scored, 25 doubles, two triples, 20 home runs, 78 RBI, six stolen bases and 47 walks to 25 strikeouts in 295 plate appearances. His home run and RBI totals this spring are both single-season VCU records, while his career slugging percentage also tops the record book and his career home runs are tied for the most in program history. Locklear, listed at 6-3, 210, has played both corner infield positions in college, appearing in 98 games at third base and 30 at first.
WALTER FORD
RHP
Pace (Fla.) High School
Competitive Balance Round B, No. 74 overall
The 17-year-old right-hander reclassified to 2022 to enter this year’s draft and has “an electric arm” and is “extremely athletic with real big upside,” Hunter said. Ford, listed at 6-3, 198, finished with a 10-2 record and 1.00 ERA in 13 appearances (12 starts) at Pace his senior season, striking out 126 batters while walking 30 across 70 1/3 innings. He has a three-pitch mix that includes a fastball that has reached 96-97 mph and sits in the low 90s, a slider and changeup, per his MLB.com draft profile. Ford is considered the No. 30 player nationally in the 2022 class by Perfect Game, the No. 7 right-handed pitcher and No. 7 player in Florida.
ASHTON IZZI
RHP
Oswego East (Ill.) High School
Round 4, No. 126 overall
The Mariners drafted a high school pitcher for the second consecutive round in selecting the 18-year-old right-hander, who is considered the No. 79 player nationally in the 2022 class by Perfect Game, the No. 22 right-handed pitcher and No. 3 player in Illinois. “Izzi has an extremely projectable 6-foot-3 frame and already can reach 97 mph with a four-seam fastball that sits in the low 90s and has modest life,” per his MLB.com draft profile, and also has a slider and changeup in his pitch mix.
REID VANSCOTER
LHP
Coastal Carolina
Round 5, No. 156 overall
VanScoter pitched in 43 games (22 starts) for Coastal Carolina the past four seasons, compiling an 11-7 record and 4.09 ERA with 136 strikeouts to 39 walks in 154 career innings. This spring, the 6-0, 190-pound left-hander posted a career-best 9-4 record in 16 starts and a 3.65 ERA, striking out 85 while walking 24 in 88 2/3 frames. The 23-year-old was named the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year this spring.
JOSH HOOD
SS
N.C. State
Round 6, No. 186 overall
In three college seasons between Pennsylvania and N.C. State, Hood, who is listed at 6-2, 202, hit .293/.367/.518 with 89 runs scored, 30 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs, 100 RBI, five stolen bases and 51 walks to 87 strikeouts across 520 plate appearances. Hood was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year following his freshman season at Pennsylvania and played a shortened season there in 2020 before the 2021 season was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic. He was drafted in the 20th round by the Red Sox last summer, but transferred to N.C. State and started all 57 games for the program this spring, hitting .268/.350/.498 with 14 doubles, 13 home runs, 52 RBI, four stolen bases and 31 walks to 57 strikeouts across 274 plate appearances. The 21-year-old started each of the 106 games he appeared in between Pennsylvania and N.C. State, playing shortstop (89 games) and third base (17).
HOGAN WINDISH
2B
UNC Greensboro
Round 7, No. 216 overall
Windish was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year this spring and hit .370/.485/.681 with 54 runs scored, 19 doubles, 16 home runs, 60 RBI, eight stolen bases and 40 walks to 42 strikeouts in 268 plate appearances. The 6-1, 222-pound infielder played both second base (53 games) and first (six) for UNCG this spring. In the past four seasons with the program, Windish posted a .308/.423/.591 slash line with 134 runs scored, 41 doubles, four triples, 34 home runs, 145 RBI, 24 stolen bases and 83 walks to 153 strikeouts in 169 games.
TATEM LEVINS
C
Pittsburgh
Round 8, No. 246 overall
The Mariners drafted a left-handed bat with their first-round pick, and selected another in Levins, who hit .319/.413/.553 with 136 runs scored, 45 doubles, four triples, 33 home runs, 166 RBI, four stolen bases and 88 walks to 83 strikeouts across 778 plate appearances in four college seasons at La Salle and Pittsburgh. The Atlantic 10 Conference Co-Rookie of the Year his freshman season, Levins played three seasons at La Salle before joining Pittsburgh in 2022, and hit .321/.435/.613 with 43 runs scored, eight doubles, three triples, 16 home runs, 53 RBI and 33 walks to 31 strikeouts in 56 games this spring. Levins, listed at 6-0, 206, has caught 137 games in his college career.
TYLER GOUGH
RHP
JSerra Catholic (Calif.) High School
Round 9, No. 276 overall
The third high school pitcher the Mariners have selected in the first nine rounds, the 18-year-old right-hander is considered the No. 148 player nationally in the 2022 class by Perfect Game, the No. 46 right-handed pitcher and No. 18 player in California. Gough, who is listed at 6-2, 205, has a fastball which can reach 95 mph, a slider, curveball and changeup in his pitch mix and “is an aggressive right-hander with arm strength who has the chance to have at least three average or better offerings in the future,” per his MLB.com draft profile.
BILL KNIGHT
OF
Mercer
Round 10, No. 306 overall
The first outfielder Seattle has selected in this draft, Knight, who is 6-1, 195, was an All-Southern Conference first-teamer this spring, and hit .337/.415/.642 with 73 runs scored, 19 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs, 64 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 27 walks to 40 strikeouts in 58 games. The 22-year-old posted a .307/.386/.538 slash line in 189 games the past four seasons at Mercer with 166 runs scored, 49 doubles, five triples, 33 home runs, 155 RBI, 16 stolen bases and 62 walks to 121 strikeouts while primarily playing center field.
MARCELO PEREZ
RHP
TCU
Round 11, No. 336 overall
The first right-handed college pitcher the Mariners have selected in this draft, Perez posted an 11-5 record and 3.64 ERA in 53 games the past four seasons at TCU, pitching primarily in relief. The 22-year-old struck out 122 batters while walking 48 across 121 innings. Perez, who is listed at 5-10, 180, was previously drafted in the 20th round by the Angels in 2021, but returned to TCU for a fourth season this spring, finishing with a 6-3 record and 3.23 ERA in 17 games (nine starts), and struck out 52 while walking 27 in 61 1/3 innings.
TROY TAYLOR
RHP
UC IRVINE
Round 12, No. 366 overall
A former 20th round pick by the Mariners in 2021, the 20-year-old right-hander pitched for UC Irvine this spring, compiling a 2-3 record and 3.82 ERA in 26 games in relief. Taylor, listed at 6-0, 195, struck out 42 while walking 18 across 33 innings. Before UC Irvine, Taylor pitched at Cypress College and Long Beach State.
DARREN BOWEN
RHP
UNC Pembroke
Round 13, No. 396 overall
Bowen pitched primarily in relief the past three seasons at UNC Pembroke, compiling a 7-6 record and 5.43 ERA in 42 games (18 starts). The 22-year-old struck out 175 batters while walking 58 in 122 2/3 innings. This spring, Bowen, listed at 6-3, 180, was 1-4 with a 5.43 ERA in 21 appearances (five starts), striking out 84 and walking 24 across 54 2/3 frames.
TYLER CLEVELAND
RHP
Central Arkansas
Round 14, No. 426 overall
Cleveland pitched primarily in relief his first two seasons at Central Arkansas before starting each of his 14 appearances this spring. The 22-year-old right-hander finished 7-2 with a 2.93 ERA in his 14 starts this season, striking out 101 batters while walking 16 on his way to being named the ASUN Conference Pitcher of the Year. Cleveland, listed at 6-3, 185, has a 13-7 record and 3.04 ERA across 43 career games (15 starts) at Central Arkansas and 3.04 ERA with 192 strikeouts to 35 walks in 169 innings pitched.
BLAKE RAMBUSCH
3B
Auburn
Round 15, No. 456 overall
Rambusch joined Auburn this spring following two seasons playing for Grayson College, and appeared in 65 games for the Tigers. The 22-year-old infielder hit .327/.415/.429 with 55 runs scored, 13 doubles, a triple, four home runs, 37 RBI, 16 stolen bases and 28 walks to 36 strikeouts across 316 plate appearances. Rambusch, listed at 5-9, 175, primarily played third base (61 games) this season, but also appeared at second and in right field.
JACOB MCNAIRY
RHP
Alabama
Round 16, No. 486 overall
McNairy, listed at 6-2, 205, pitched out of the bullpen for much of his first three seasons at Alabama, but made 12 starts in 16 appearances this spring, finishing 6-2 with a 4.63 ERA across 72 innings. The 22-year-old right-hander struck out 65 batters while walking 18. McNairy posted a 7-3 record and 4.81 ERA across 44 games (15 starts) the past four seasons with the Crimson Tide, striking out 103 and walking 32 in 131 innings.
STEFAN RAETH
RHP
Washington
Round 17, No. 516 overall
Raeth has pitched primarily out of the bullpen the past two seasons for the Huskies, compiling a 7-6 record and 3.82 ERA in 56 games (three starts) and striking out 112 batters while walking 37 in 101 1/3 innings. This spring, the 21-year-old right-hander, who is listed at 6-1, 180, finished 5-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 30 appearances (two starts) and struck out 89 while walking 19 in 66 1/3 frames. Before joining the Huskies, Raeth pitched at Los Medanos CC and Napa Valley College. He is the fifth pitcher from a university in Washington to be selected in this draft, per MLB.com, joining four Gonzaga right-handers in Garbiel Hughes (Rockies, No. 10 overall), Trystan Vrieling (Yankees, No. 100), William Kempner (Giants, No. 106) and Brody Jessee (Reds, No. 303).
BRANDON SCHAEFFER
LHP
North Carolina
Round 18, No. 546 overall
Schaeffer, listed at 6-2, 195, is the second left-handed pitcher the Mariners have selected in this draft, and appeared in 21 games (18 starts) for the Tar Heels this spring. The 22-year-old right-hander compiled a 7-3 record and 3.75 ERA with 71 strikeouts to 24 walks across 96 innings. Prior to UNC, Schaeffer posted a 14-3 record and 1.68 ERA across 23 games (18 starts) in three seasons at WVU Potomac State College.
CURTIS WASHINGTON JR.
OF
Purdue
Round 19, No. 576 overall
The second outfielder selected by the Mariners in this draft, Washington started all 50 games in center field for Purdue this spring, and hit .314/.378/.373 with 52 runs scored, five doubles, a triple, two home runs, 30 RBI and 18 walks to 30 strikeouts across 250 plate appearances. The 22-year-old outfielder led the Big Ten with 31 stolen bases. Before joining Purdue this season, Washington also played at Wabash Valley College and Arkansas. Across three Division I seasons at Arkansas and Purdue, Washington, who is listed at 6-2, 180, hit .317/.395/.409 with 68 runs scored, eight doubles, two triples, four home runs, 35 RBI, 35 stolen bases and 27 walks to 43 strikeouts in 86 games.
NICK ZONA
2B
James Madison
Round 20, No. 606 overall
The past four seasons at James Madison, Zona, listed at 6-2, 200, appeared in 118 games, hitting .288/.346/.326 with 66 runs scored, 10 doubles, a triple, home run, 49 RBI, 25 stolen bases and 30 walks to 74 strikeouts across 453 plate appearances. This spring, the 23-year-old infielder hit .282/.360/.295 with 27 runs scored, two doubles, 12 RBI, nine stolen bases and 18 walks to 29 strikeouts across 183 plate appearances in 49 games. He has played primarily shortstop (73 games in four seasons from 2019-22) and second base (46 games in 2022) during his college career. Before joining James Madison, Zona was drafted in the 38th round by the Mets in 2018 from Hanover (Va.) High School.
This story was originally published July 17, 2022 at 6:25 PM with the headline "Mariners draft tracker: Seattle selects 11 pitchers, 9 position players in 2022."
