Mariners finalize Draft class signings

Limoncelli, Tomczak, Landis agree to terms

July 10th, 2019

SEATTLE -- With the signing of three high school pitchers on Wednesday, the Mariners put the finishing touches on their 2019 Draft class, as their top 31 selections are now under contract.

The club announced the signing of sixth-rounder Michael Limoncelli, 15th-round selection Anthony Tomczak and 17th-round pick Dutch Landis, all right-handed pitchers. Seattle has now inked 32 of its 41 selections.

Teams have until 2 p.m. PT on Friday to sign drafted players with remaining college eligibility, though the Mariners aren’t expecting to make any further additions.

Limoncelli is a 19-year-old from Horseheads High in New York who just underwent Tommy John surgery to repair his right elbow, with that injury cutting short his senior season after he went 2-0 with 20 strikeouts in two starts.

Limoncelli went 5-2 with a 0.73 ERA in 2018 in leading Horsehead to the New York state semifinals for the first time since 1999 and was throwing 93-94 mph with his fastball last summer before his elbow issue cropped up.

The injury dropped the youngster down in the Draft, but the Mariners still wound up giving him a $500,000 signing bonus, per sources, which is above the $249,000 slot value for his spot.

High school selections typically sign for above slot value, given they can opt to go to college instead, and Limoncelli was committed to Coastal Carolina.

Tomczak, 18, went 5-2 with a 0.48 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 10 starts for North Broward Prep in Boca Raton, Fla., allowing just 26 hits in 43 1/3 innings. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder agreed to a $275,000 bonus, per sources. He had been committed to Stetson University.

Landis, 18, sat out his senior year at Liberty High School in Las Vegas after transferring from Bishop Gorman in Henderson, Nev., where he went 8-2 with a 2.58 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 38 innings as a junior. The University of Arizona signee agreed to a $284,000 bonus.

Many of the Mariners’ picks are already competing either at Short-A Everett or in the Arizona Rookie League. First-round pick George Kirby and second-rounder Brandon Williamson are both expected to make their debuts this weekend for Everett.