The Mariners completed the second day of the 2024 MLB draft, making eight selections — all college players — in rounds three through 10.
Of those picks, they selected 5 1/2 pitchers, including one who could be on the fast track to the big leagues.
Wait, a half of a pitcher?’
Indeed, in the sixth round with the 183rd overall pick, Seattle selected two-way player Grant Knipp of Campbell University. While it’s not uncommon to see players who pitch also play another position, it’s usually not catcher.
“It’s kind of a flavor of the year, take the two-way guy — the interesting player that could do a little bit of everything,” said Scott Hunter, the Mariners director of amateur scouting.
The Mariners selected switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje with their first-round pick on Thursday.
A pair of two-way players were taken in the first round Thursday with the Royals selecting Jac Caglianone out of Florida with the No. 6 pick and the Mets taking Carson Benge out of Oklahoma State with the No. 20 pick.
Knipp, 22, was limited by a hamstring injury that kept him out for the first few months of his junior season. When he returned, he spent most of the time at designated hitter. He caught 11 games and pitched in four.
Knipp posted a .402/.547/1.029 slash line in 29 games with eight doubles, a triple, 18 homers, 46 RBI, 27 walks and 28 strikeouts.
In four relief appearances, he picked up two saves with a 1.59 ERA. In 5 2/3 innings, he allowed one run on six hits with six strikeouts and one walk.
“I think last fall, he stepped on the mound and was throwing 99 to 100 mph so they decided to make him a closer as well,” Hunter said. “He came to the combine and we met with him and he was a great personality, a great human. And obviously a very talented kid. We’re going to try to do both with him.”
Just how they will handle it has yet to be determined.
“I think he understands his future could be on the mound,” Hunter said. “But we’ll also see it as a hitter as well. We’re already talking and guessing how many home runs could he hit at Everett next year, if we send him right to Everett. It’s going to be an interesting one to set up a player development plan for.”
While Knipp profiles as a closer in the future, the Mariners’ third-round pick, right-hander Hunter Cranton, was the closer for Kansas this past season, posting a 4-3 record with seven saves and a 2.16 ERA. In 25 innings, he struck out 38. His fastball touches 100 mph and averages around 98 mph. His fastball ranked among the NCAA leaders with a 32% chase rate, a 38% swing-and-miss rate and 30% swing-and-miss rate on pitches in the zone.
Seattle also selected right-handers that profile as relievers in the fifth round (154th overall) with Charlie Beilenson out of Duke University, the seventh round (213th overall) with Brock Moore out of the University of Oregon and eighth round (243rd overall) with Will Riley from the Virginia Military Institute.
Riley made 14 starts for the Keydets in 2024, notching 84 strikeouts across 78 1/3 innings pitched with just 23 walks. The 6-foot right-hander pitched three seasons for VMI and was born and raised in the Virginia Beach, Va., area. In VMI history, Riley ranks first in career strikeouts per nine innings (10.95) and sixth all-time in total strikeouts (213).
“It was really one of those situations that we didn’t want to force anything,” Hunter said. “But I didn’t mention that to our group that it kind of reminded me of 2019, that if the position player wasn’t there that we loved, and it was a tie, let’s go to the next wave of arms. And it’s been a good plan and philosophy for us, is not to force anything. But this could be another wave of talented college arms that kind of catch up with our young hitters.”
The Mariners’ eight picks on Day 2 of the MLB draft:
* 3rd round (91st overall) — RHP Hunter Cranton, University of Kansas
* 4th round (121st overall) — C Josh Caron, University of Nebraska
* 5th round (154th overall) — RHP Charlie Beilenson, Duke University
* 6th round (183rd overall) — C/RHP Grant Knipp, Campbell University
* 7th round (213th overall) — RHP Brock Moore, University of Oregon
* 8th round (243rd overall) — RHP Will Riley, Virginia Military Institute
* 9th round (273rd overall) — RHP Aiden Butler, Polk State College
* 10th round (303rd overall) — OF Anthony Donofrio, University of North Carolina
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
