Exciting Seattle Mariners' Prospect Wins Arizona Fall League Award

Seattle Mariners prospect Ryan Bliss, acquired in the Paul Sewald trade, has won an award in the Arizona Fall League.

Seattle Mariners prospect Ryan Bliss, acquired in the Paul Sewald trade this past summer, has won an exciting award in the Arizona Fall League:

Per Mariners' Player Development:

Desert heat 

 Congrats to @ribliss2 on taking home this year’s @MLBazFallLeague Defensive Player of the Year Award!

Desert heat 🔥

Congrats to @ribliss2 on taking home this year’s @MLBazFallLeague Defensive Player of the Year Award! pic.twitter.com/OshMZGbM7m

— Mariners Player Development (@MsPlayerDev) November 12, 2023

Bliss has several M's fans excited heading into 2024, with some hoping he's the answer to the team's post-Robinson Cano second base struggles.

He's currently the No. 14 prospect in the organization, per MLB.com:

Listed at just 5-foot-6, 165 pounds, Bliss has shown a little more pop over the last few years than his size alone would indicate, but his raw power remains limited from the right side. He employs a leg kick to get to that pop and put the ball in the air perhaps too much in the Northwest League, leading to catchable flyballs and a .268 BABIP that dragged down his offensive profile. Early in 2023, he shows a slightly more closed-off stance and a more active front leg that can help him stay short to the ball, something that enabled him to post a 1.008 OPS in Amarillo and earn a promotion to Reno.

Bliss was bumping against top Arizona prospect Jordan Lawlar at shortstop and was getting more looks at second base, where many believed he would be a better long-term fit. His above-average speed makes him a constant steal threat in the modern age, so Bliss doesn’t even have to hit a ton to become a potential utility infielder at the top level.

He hit .304 this past season with 23 homers, 86 RBI and 55 stolen bases.

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