Here's where the Mariners' Top 30 prospects will start the 2026 season

With the Minor League season kicking off, here's where the Mariners’ Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:

1. Colt Emerson (MLB No. 7), SS -- Tacoma (Triple-A)
2. Kade Anderson (MLB No. 19), LHP -- Arkansas (Double-A)
3. Ryan Sloan (MLB No. 31), RHP -- Arkansas (Double-A)
4. Lazaro Montes (MLB No. 41), OF -- Arkansas (Double-A)
5. Michael Arroyo (MLB No. 65), 2B -- Arkansas (Double-A)
6. Jonny Farmelo (MLB No. 75), OF -- Everett (High-A)
7. Felnin Celesten, SS -- Everett (High-A)
8. Luke Stevenson, C -- Everett (High-A)
9. Nick Becker, SS -- Extended spring training
10. Yorger Bautista, OF -- Extended spring training
11. Griffin Hugus, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John surgery)
12. Korbyn Dickerson, OF -- Inland Empire (Single-A)
13. Teddy McGraw, RHP -- Injured (elbow)
14. Juan Rijo, OF -- Extended spring training (Dominican Republic)
15. Mason Peters, LHP -- Inland Empire (Single-A)
16. Michael Morales, RHP -- Arkansas (Double-A)
17. Jared Sundstrom, OF -- Arkansas (Double-A)
18. Brock Rodden, 2B -- Tacoma (Triple-A)
19. Chia-Shi Shen, RHP -- Injured (elbow)
20. Marcelo Perez, RHP -- Injured (forearm strain)
21. Carlos Jimenez, OF -- Everett (High-A)
22. Grant Knipp, RHP -- Injured (Tommy John rehab)
23. Rhylan Thomas, OF -- Tacoma (Triple-A)
24. Robinson Ortiz, LHP -- Tacoma (Triple-A)
25. Po-Chun Lin, RHP -- Extended spring training
26. Charlie Beilenson, RHP -- Arkansas (Double-A)
27. Tyler Cleveland, RHP -- Arkansas (Double-A)
28. Kendry Martínez, SS -- Extended spring training (Dominican Republic)
29. Lucas Kelly, RHP -- Everett (High-A)
30. Aiden Taurek, OF -- Inland Empire (Single-A)

Team to watch
The Arkansas Travelers aren’t just the most stacked team in the system; they’re the most loaded affiliate in Minor League Baseball. Eight Top 30 players are starting there, and boy, is it top-heavy. Four of the Mariners’ top five -- everyone but Emerson -- is on the Travs’ roster, and all four are in the Top 100. The Anderson-Sloan tandem might be the best 1-2 pitching prospect punch on one team, while Lazaro Montes and Michael Arroyo provide the offensive punch.

Players we could see in MLB in 2026
With news of a big contract extension before he played an inning with Seattle, all eyes will be on Emerson when he gets the call. Truthfully, that would have happened anyway, but now there’s the framework with his new deal for it to happen sooner rather than later. Beyond the top prospect, Anderson is the kind of advanced college arm who could wind up helping out on the Mariners’ big league staff before the season is out. Keep an eye out for Ortiz impacting the bullpen at some point, too.

New faces
When Anderson toes the rubber for Arkansas, it will be his pro debut. Fellow draftee Peters is also just getting going, beginning the year with Inland Empire. Ortiz came over from the Dodgers in an offseason trade and made his organizational debut with Tacoma last week. The Mariners are very excited about their 2026 international signing class, with Rijo ($2.2 million) leading the way and set to make his debut later this season in the Dominican Summer League.

On the shelf
Seattle was excited about how Hugus, a 2025 draftee, looked early on, but unfortunately, he’ll miss the 2026 season after blowing out his right elbow early in Spring Training and needing Tommy John surgery. The oft-injured McGraw is working his way back from right elbow issues, but he isn’t far away, while Shen’s right elbow is expected to keep him out until June. A right forearm strain has briefly slowed Perez, and Knipp’s return from TJ is tentatively slated for June.

How to watch
Fans can watch Minor League Baseball games for free on the Bally Sports Live app or at BallySports.com. Fans may also purchase an MLB+ subscription, which includes access to MiLB games live and on demand, in addition to live MLB audio for all 30 teams, MLB Network and MLB Big Inning. Plus -- with or without a subscription -- Minor League games featuring MLB's top prospects are available in the MiLB Free Game of the Day.