Seattle Mariners Slugging Prospect Enters MLB Top 100 List

After a brief stint in the big leagues earlier this year, Tyler Locklear of the Seattle Mariners is continuing to move up the prospect ranks.

Seattle Mariners first baseman Tyler Locklear (27) reacts after scoring a run during the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on June 9. / Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Mariners slugging first base prospect Tyler Locklear has moved into the MLB Top 100 prospect list.

MLB Pipeline posted the news on social media:

The @Mariners' Tyler Locklear enters the Top 100 Prospects list after Spencer Schwellenbach graduates: https://t.co/KGKgT5OVc6 pic.twitter.com/riooOviR5l

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 14, 2024

Locklear was already in the Top 100 with regards to Baseball America, but his inclusion on MLB.com's rankings certainly continues to re-affirm how strong the M's system is right now.

With Locklear, the M's now have six different players on the MLB.com Top 100, as opposed to eight at Baseball America. The 23-year-old Locklear was a second-round draft pick of the Mariners in 2022 out of VCU and has continued to blister his way through the system.

He hit .285 in Rookie Ball and at Low-A Modesto in 2022, then hit .288 at those levels plus Double-A Arkansas in 2023. This year, at Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma, he's hitting .281 with 12 homers and 43 RBI. He had a brief stint in the big leagues for the Mariners this year, hitting .200 with two home runs.

His development will be key for the Mariners moving forward as they are now in limbo at first base. Ty France is headed into the final year of his rookie deal (2025), meaning the M's could elect to trade him in the offseason, or even non-tender him. Even if they keep France around in 2025, Locklear should be ready to step into the everyday role by 2026.

As the Mariners look to make offensive upgrades in the second half of the season, perhaps they will call on Locklear again to help ignite the slugging unit.

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