PEORIA, Ariz. -- After much success in its first two years, Spring Breakout is back in 2026, creating a showcase-type opportunity for the best and brightest faces of the future by pitting them against other prominent prospects from other organizations.
And for the Mariners, who possess one of the sport’s deepest farm systems, the marquee Spring Training event offers the chance for fans to watch some of their best prospects either for the first time -- or on a much more prominent stage.
What is Spring Breakout?
In 2026, MLB Spring Breakout will again be a four-day event showcasing baseball’s future -- the current stars of Minor League Baseball – in 16 exhibition games played between teams composed of each MLB organization’s top prospects. The third edition will be held from March 19-22 at Grapefruit and Cactus League stadiums during Spring Training.
In 2027, Spring Breakout will be expanded into a single-elimination tournament format, with champions being crowned in both the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues.
When is the Mariners’ game(s)?
Friday, March 20 at 2:10 p.m. PT against the Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix.
In its debut year, most organizations squared off against the team with which it shares its spring facility, with Seattle facing San Diego. But in the two years since, there’s been much more of a mix, which is why the Mariners will hit the road. In 2025, they played the Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark.
Regardless, Milwaukee’s facility isn’t too far from Seattle’s, and with a weekend spotlight, there figures to be a big crowd.
COMPLETE MARINERS PROSPECT COVERAGE
How can I tune in?
Which position players are expected to play?
Colt Emerson will take a brief hiatus from his bid to make the Mariners’ Opening Day roster, as the 20-year-old infielder will be arguably the headlining prospect among Seattle’s position-player group. Emerson has impressed throughout camp, not just for playing to his upside -- the flashy plays at shortstop and third base, and elite bat-to-ball skills at the plate -- but also for seizing the opportunity of extended reps.
Through Tuesday's game, he was tied with Cal Raleigh for the most Cactus League plate appearances, with 20. And Raleigh was taking more at-bats than usual to gear up for the World Baseball Classic. While Emerson won’t make or break the team at Breakout, it’s another chance for him to continue his strong impression -- and potentially separate himself from the rest of his prospect peers.
But he’ll be among many in the organization’s hitter-heavy farm system to play. Outfielder Lazaro Montes loves this type of spotlight, infielder Michael Arroyo could dabble in the outfield, as the club has hinted and speedster Jonny Farmelo will look to continue distancing himself from the significant injuries he’s faced early in his pro career.
The under-the-radar name to watch though? That’s catcher Luke Stevenson, who the Mariners selected with the No. 35 overall pick in last year’s MLB Draft. He hasn’t gotten a ton of Cactus reps due to Raleigh’s WBC prep, but front-office staff have raved about how polished he’s looked in his first camp.
Which pitching prospects are expected to play?
Like Emerson, the development of Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan have been arguably the biggest storylines in camp. And both are on Seattle’s Breakout roster.
The Mariners haven’t mapped out how they’ll allot innings to that tandem, and it will probably hinge on how they slot out their Cactus appearances in the coming weeks. At last year’s Breakout, switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje -- who’s since been traded to the Cardinals -- was the headliner for the entire weekend when throwing with both arms.
Roster details
To accommodate the player movement involved with the World Baseball Classic and to create greater flexibility for clubs and farm directors, Spring Breakout rosters are being constructed in two phases in 2026. Clubs initially submit a preliminary 40-man player pool on Thursday, March 5, which will then be pared down to the official 23-27 man rosters on March 18.
The preliminary 40-man player pools consist of the team’s Top 30 prospects, as determined by MLB Pipeline, minus any injured players, players on a Dominican Summer League roster or players on the 40-man roster who have elected not to participate. The pools also include 10 or more additional unranked prospects submitted by the club to replace the above ranked prospects who are not participating.
Preliminary 40-man player pool (Mariners Top 30 Prospects list)
PITCHERS (19)
Kade Anderson, LHP, No. 2/MLB No. 21
Charlie Beilenson, RHP, No. 26
Tyler Cleveland, RHP, No. 27
Ryan Hawks, RHP, NR
Casey Hintz, RHP, NR
Griffin Hugus, RHP, No. 11
Lucas Kelly, RHP, No. 29
Grant Knipp, RHP, No. 22
Po-Chun Lin, RHP, No. 25
Danny Macchiarola, RHP, NR
Teddy McGraw, RHP, No. 13
Brock Moore, RHP, NR
Michael Morales, RHP, No. 16
Robinson Ortiz, LHP, No. 24
Marcelo Perez, RHP, No. 20
Mason Peters, LHP, No. 15
Colton Shaw, RHP, NR
Chia-Shi Shen, RHP, No. 19
Ryan Sloan, RHP, No. 3/MLB No. 33
CATCHERS (3)
Josh Caron, C, NR
Connor Charping, C, NR
Luke Stevenson, C, No. 8
INFIELDERS (9)
Michael Arroyo, 2B, No. 5/MLB No. 67
Nick Becker, SS, No. 9
Felnin Celesten, SS, No. 7
Colt Emerson, SS, No. 1/MLB No. 9
Charlie Pagliarini, 3B, NR
Brock Rodden, 2B/3B, No. 18
Leandro Romero, SS, NR
Austin St. Laurent, 3B, NR
Luis Suisbel, 1B, NR
OUTFIELDERS (9)
Yorger Bautista, OF, No. 10
Korbyn Dickerson, OF, No. 12
Jonny Farmelo, OF, No. 6/No. 78
Carlos Jimenez, OF, No. 21
Victor Labrada, OF, NR
Lazaro Montes, OF, No. 4/MLB No. 43
Jared Sundstrom, OF, No. 17
Aiden Taurek, OF, No. 30
Rhylan Thomas, OF, No. 23