2025 MLB Mock Draft: A Look At Three Players Seattle Mariners Could Target With Early Picks
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Following two productive seasons at Virginia, Harry Ford could be an early target for the Mariners in the 2025 MLB Draft to add another strong bat to their farm system. Credit: Harry Ford/Instagram [/caption]
We’re less than a week away from the start of the 2025 MLB Draft, and now is as good of time as any to look at some potential selections for the Seattle Mariners with their three picks in the first 60 selections.
A reminder/warning that there’s a lot of things that will change, as the MLB Draft is very different from the NFL and NBA versions. It’s one of the few events where the players have actual leverage, and because of the allocated bonus structure, the financial ramifications play a much larger role than in any other sport.
With that out of the way, let’s look at what Seattle could be targeting with its three top selections and why they make sense for the organization.
Round 1, Pick 3: Ike Irish, OF/C, Auburn
Most of the talk connected to the Mariners and this third-overall pick has been pitching. They’ve been linked to LSU left-hander Kade Anderson - who I believe will be the first pick of the draft by the Nationals - Florida State southpaw Jamie Arnold, Tennessee lefty Liam Doyle, and in particular, Corona HIgh School (Calif.) right-hander Seth Hernandez. Hernandez is the name with the most smoke to it, and you know what they say about smoke/fire. I just am having a hard time believing they’ll take a prep arm that high.
Now, Irish has spent most of his time behind the plate, and some of you might have a conniption if they take a catcher with their current backstop situation. First, calm down. Second, remember that while the allocated fund situation means that the “BPA” (best player available) philosophy isn’t always put into play, you don’t reach for positional value; not for players who often need several years of seasoning before they play.
But most importantly, Irish wouldn’t have to catch to have value to the Seattle Mariners. He spent most of 2025 in the outfield after fracturing his right scapula in March, and reports were that he looked fine there. He’s a left-handed hitter who has one of the best swings in the draft with the potential to hit for both average and power, and he slashed .364/.469/.710 with 19 homers in SEC, the best conference for college baseball and it’s not even close. There may be bats with more offensive upside, but none who match his floor/ceiling combination in my opinion. I think if the draft happens tomorrow, this is the pick, and it should be.
35. Aaron Watson, RHP, Trinity Christian HS (Fla.)
The Mariners got their bat with pick three, and because they have the most potential allocated funds of any team at just over $17 million, they can buy out a commitment to a player like Watson from the University of Virginia. He’s one of the most intriguing arms in the class because he’s 6-5 and already shows a fastball that gets into the mid 90s with more to come. But he also has an above-average slider along with a solid change and scouts rave about his feel for pitching. Getting a high ceiling pitcher and a high-floor bat - who offers ceiling on top of it - would be a great start for Seattle, and it’s easy to envision.
57. Henry Ford, OF/1B, Virginia
I could also see the Mariners going with a college arm here like a Zack Root out of Arkansas or a Anthony Eyanson out of LSU, but I think someone like Ford is appealing at this point in the draft, not just because the Mariners would have another Ford in the system. This Ford is a 6-5 right-handed hitter who hit .362 for Virginia with 11 homers and an OPS of .962, and while he did commit to play for Tennessee via the transfer portal, he’s a draft-eligible sophomore with excellent feel for the barrel and developing power from his frame. The Mariners may need to spend a little extra to buyout that commitment to the Volunteers, but again, no one has more available money to do so than Seattle does.
A lot can change and we’ll do another one of these over the weekend leading up to the real draft, but these are the types of players who Seattle likely will be targeting. A really good system is about to get even better, either way.
