The 2026 season is over, but baseball does not stop. For a Major League organization, the final game of the year simply marks the beginning of another stage in the process.
As Seattle begins to build what will become its 2027 team, several players will continue working in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia and Arizona. Some are looking to maintain their competitive rhythm; others will have the opportunity to face new challenges and continue developing specific areas of their game.
And for those of us who have followed the development process through the Everett AquaSox, there is something particularly interesting: several of the players we watched in Everett during 2026 are now taking the next step.
From Everett to the Next Challenge
One of the main names is Felnin Celestén. The Dominican infielder began the season with the AquaSox before being promoted to Arkansas. He will now continue his development with the Toros del Este in the Dominican Professional Baseball League.
Also continuing his development is Josh Caron, who had an important season behind the plate with Everett before moving up to Arkansas. The catcher finished his time with the AquaSox with 19 home runs and 62 RBIs in 66 games. He will now have the opportunity to continue his development with the Gigantes del Cibao.
Carlos Jiménez is also changing scenery, but not his objective. After a season in which he became one of Everett’s top players, the Dominican outfielder will play for the Leones del Escogido in LIDOM. His combination of power, speed and defense will remain one of the profiles worth following this winter.
Another important AquaSox player who will continue working is Luis Suisbel, who will return to Venezuela with the Navegantes del Magallanes. Suisbel already knows the league and will have another opportunity to continue developing both his offense and his defensive versatility.
Alongside him will be Edgardo Rivera, who will be part of the Navegantes coaching staff under manager Yadier Molina. Rivera’s presence adds another connection between the Mariners organization and Venezuelan baseball, this time from the coaching side. From a Player Development perspective, it will also be interesting to follow his work within a coaching staff led by a former Major League player like Molina.
Development Continues in Arizona
The Arizona Fall League will be another important stage for several players we watched with Everett during 2026.
Brandon Eike, Matthew Ellis, Reid Easterly, José Geraldo, Calvin Schapira and Adam Smith will play for the Peoria Javelinas. Also joining them are Ty Cummings, who previously spent time in Everett, and Tai Peete, another player with recent AquaSox experience.
For Eike, the assignment carries particular significance after a season in which he became one of Everett’s main power sources, finishing with 24 home runs and 79 RBIs.
Now he will have another opportunity to compete against prospects from different organizations and show that his production can translate to the next level.
And this is where something we have talked about throughout the season comes into play: the uniform changes, but the process continues.
Other Mariners Will Also Be Active
Outside the most recent generation of Everett players, other members of the organization will continue playing this winter.
Spencer Packard will play for the Cardenales de Lara in Venezuela after previously playing for the Cangrejeros de Santurce in Puerto Rico. The left-handed hitter arrives with Triple-A experience and a profile built around contact, discipline, getting on base and extra-base production.
Also in Venezuela will be Ricardo Cova with the Leones del Caracas, César Quintas with the Tiburones de La Guaira, and Ángel Zerpa with the Tigres de Aragua.
In the Dominican Republic, Reid VanScoter will pitch for the Leones del Escogido. Meanwhile, Lázaro Montes, who passed through Everett before reaching the Major Leagues with Seattle in 2026, is a name to watch with the Gigantes del Cibao, although his participation should remain pending official confirmation.
In Mexico, Víctor Labrada will return to the Algodoneros de Guasave, while Michael Arroyo, who made his Major League debut with Seattle during 2026, is linked to the Caimanes de Barranquilla in Colombia. His participation is another situation worth following closely.
A Fun Fact: Former Mariners in October
The story does not end with the players who are still part of Seattle’s organization.
The MLB postseason also includes several former members of the Mariners organization. Ty France and Samad Taylor are with the San Diego Padres, while Ben Williamson is with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Their stories are different, but they all remind us of something: a player’s development does not end when he leaves an organization.
Some make it to Seattle. Others find their opportunity somewhere else. Others continue growing far from the organization that helped them take their first professional steps.
And while Seattle begins building what will become its 2027 team, the development process is already underway.
For us, it is too.
2026 is over. But development never stops.
PICTURED ABOVE: Josh Caron
PHOTO BY: Evan Morud
ABOUT THE EVERETT AQUASOX: The Everett AquaSox are the High-A Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Established in 1984, Everett has been an affiliate of Seattle since establishing the AquaSox moniker in 1995. For the latest updates on the 2027 season — including community initiatives and appearances by Webbly — follow the Frogs on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, BlueSky, and YouTube, or visit our website AquaSox.com. Season ticket packages, group outings, and picnic experiences are available now by calling (425)-258-3673 or by visiting the AquaSox Front Office at 3802 Broadway.
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