Seattle Mariners Minor League Roundup – Week Four

Arkansas Travelers

The Travs were unable to dethrone the mighty Drillers this week, dropping four of six to the Dodgers affiliate that’s loaded with talent from top to bottom. Some weeks you just get beat, and despite some solid performances from the household names on this Arkansas roster, it was pretty clear Tulsa is the better team right now. Kade Anderson continues to shine atop this rotation, paying homage to his LSU days and working as the Friday night starter for a strong crop of arms. Despite surrendering his first run of the season, Anderson worked five innings of one run ball and struck out five along the way. Not quite as flashy as his dazzling performance last week, but wildly effective nonetheless. Lazaro Montes is starting to get things moving this season, gathering a hit in each of the six games on the series. Swatting a trio of doubles and walking twice, Laz is yet another Mariner farmhand shaking off some rust and coming into form. A fully productive Montes would do wonders for this Traveler lineup, and recent returns are looking very promising. An unheralded relief prospect, Charlie Beilenson has been nails to start the year. Yet to allow a run and punching out 11 across 6.2 innings, Beilenson’s allowed just four baserunners all season and looks like an interesting relief depth piece for this system. Expect him to make an appearance in Triple-A at some point this season.

Everett AquaSox

The Frogs dropped the series against a very good Eugene team, playing them close all series despite only managing two games in the win column. Everett is lacking a bit in the starting pitching department, but a stout bullpen has picked the staff up, and the offense is starting to get the ball rolling with more regularity. This team is better than their 7-8 record reflects and should be well within reach of a playoff spot by the end of the season. Lucas Kelly got popped earlier this season with a tough outing that killed his ERA, but since then, he’s been absolutely disgusting on the mound and is looking like a weapon in the back of this bullpen. In his last 3.2 IP, he’s fanned 10 and allowed just one hit with zero walks. His low release and high octane velocity makes him a brutal look for opposing hitters, and he appears to have reworked his breaking balls a bit to give him a better out pitch outside of the heater. Kelly worked with the same trainers that Brock Moore did over the offseason, perhaps a promising sign of actual change considering the impact both have had for this team thus far. Speaking of Moore, he continues to be untouchable. 14 K’s across 5.1 IP. Still no walks. To help  contextualize this achievement, Moore walked 28 batters in under 19 innings of work last season and had an ERA north of nine. A truly unbelievable turn around for the former Oregon Duck, who now looks every bit of a lock-down bullpen arm that could move exceptionally quick through the minors.

Inland Empire 66ers

Inland Empire salvaged a split this week against the lowly Visalia Rawhide, with both teams struggling to show consistency in any facet of the game. The 66ers have had some guys pop, but the bright spots have unfortunately been few and far between. Hopefully they’re able to get things turned around sooner than later. Mason Peters continues to dazzle as one of the few reliable rotation pieces for this 66ers squad, consistently befuddling Cal League hitters with his arsenal of spin. Tallying another seven punchouts across four innings of work, Peters allowed just one run, a solo shot, and is striking out the world despite his lackluster heater. There’s plenty of room for him to add some strength to his frame, and if he’s able to increase the velocity a tick or two, he’s going to pose a major threat to opposing hitters. Another 2025 draftee, Jackson Steensma has been lights out to start the year, looking like yet another promising arm from last year’s class. The App State right hander didn’t pitch in 2025 due to injury, but he’s now dominating in the professional ranks and looking like a potential steal as a ninth round selection. He’s yet to surrender a run on the season and has struck out ten in six innings with just one hit allowed and one walk. He was a name Scott Hunter mentioned during his draft day press conference as a guy the team liked, and he has absolutely looked the part in the early goings of 2026.