Ryan Sloan's Arm Is Real, and the Mariners' Future Could Look Pretty Good

Early season baseball in Seattle comes with a lot of moving pieces. The bullpen is already humming, the hitters are finding their groove, and down in the minor leagues, some serious young talent is starting to turn heads. Case in point: Ryan Sloan, the Mariners' No. 2 pitching prospect, is doing exactly what you want to see from a 20-year-old kid throwing professional baseball.

Sloan's Stuff Flashing in Double-A

The 6-foot-5 right-hander took the mound for Double-A Arkansas on Saturday night against the Wichita Wind Surge and looked solid in his second start at that level. Sloan allowed two runs (one earned) over four innings, giving up four hits with two walks and four strikeouts. He threw 48 pitches total, 31 for strikes. That kind of efficiency matters, especially when you're still figuring out how to pitch against better competition. The strikeouts are there. The control is sharpening. This is the kind of progression that gets prospect nerds excited, and rightfully so.

The Bullpen Is Already Carrying Its Weight

While we're watching prospects develop, the major league relief corps is already doing heavy lifting. The Mariners' bullpen ranks third in MLB with a 2.47 ERA through the season's first 14 games. Even more impressive, the relievers have a combined 1.03 WHIP that ranks second in the league. That's elite stuff. Andrés Muñoz continues to be a big part of that success. Since the start of the 2023 season, Muñoz has posted a 2.25 ERA over 175.2 innings, ranking second among all qualified active MLB relievers. Only San Diego's Jason Adam has been better, sitting at 2.23.

The Other Guys on the Roster

Not everything is clicking yet. Josh Naylor, the 28-year-old first baseman in his first full season in Seattle, is struggling early. Through his first 13 games, he's hitting .115 with no extra-base hits and ranks last among all qualified MLB hitters with a .308 OPS. His 87.0 mph average exit velocity is a notable drop from 89.2 last year. It's early, but that's a tough look to start the season.

Meanwhile, Jorge Polanco, one of the Mariners' most valuable hitters last season, is adjusting to life with the Mets after signing a two-year, $40 million deal over the winter. He hit his first home run in a Mets uniform on Saturday afternoon against Oakland, a solo shot he pulled just fair to right field at Citi Field. Through his first 10 games, the 32-year-old switch-hitter has posted a .200/.289/.275 slash line with a .564 OPS.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.