Prospect Insider - M's catching prospects

M's catching prospects

By Jason A. Churchill

By 07-25-2011

If you haven't heard already, or seen the boxscore from Sunday's game, the Seattle Mariners have signed 16th-round pick Jack Marder, a catcher from the University of Oregon. Word is they gave Marder $200,000 -- a freaking steal, if you ask me. He signed a little over a week ago, spent a little time down in Peoria to get ready to play and started Sunday for High Desert, going 2-for-3 with a double.

I've been wanting an excuse to write about Mike Dowd, who has been gunning down baserunners for Everett -- a very impressive 65 or 70 grade arm with tremendous accuracy, foot quickness and technique -- though he lacks offensive upside.

John Hicks, the Mariners' 4th-round pick, is playing at Class-A Clinton.

Marder, a converted infielder, is somewhat inexperienced behind the plate but was a draft-eligible sophomore so he had leverage, making the signing a very good one. He played infield in high school and both first base and the outfield at Oregon in 2010, before getting time at catcher this past spring.

He's not consistent, but that will have to come with reps, something he will get plenty of the rest of this summer, though I would not be surprised if they make sure he gets at-bats without wearing him out behind the dish in the desert.

Fifth rounder Tyler Marlette is next on the list, but he has a chance to go to school -- Central Florida -- and improve his draft stock up into the top few rounds, so it may take twice what Marder received to get him signed.

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Comments
The following 3 comment(s) for this article are shown below:

1. By: dawgncarolina on 07-25-2011 17:00:38
I was shocked we got a sophomore eligible catcher like Marder for only $200,000. Totally agree that it's a steal.

I'm very excited about him. Hicks has been unimpressive so far, but Marlette is really intriguing. If we can sign him that's a pretty strong haul.

What about Guarnaccia (sp?)? Is he likely to sign? Any good?

2. By: aerichner on 07-25-2011 23:30:26
What's the plan with Marder, see he played catcher on Sunday and 2B on Monday...

3. By: Lonnie on 07-26-2011 02:18:15
I noticed that about Marder too, and I think I have an idea of why. For one, the M's drafted him as an infielder and not as a catcher, which may mean nothing but I think that it is significant. Also, since last year was his first real exposure to the position the M's probably look at him as an infielder who has the potential to transition to catcher. The bottom line is that they aren't 100% sold on him being a catcher.

Jason, if they view him as an infielder who could transition to catcher, does his pick at 16 make sense? What skills does he have w/r/t an infielder?

Lonnie

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