Mariners Call Up Top Pitching Prospect Emerson Hancock
Photo courtesy of Dean Rutz | The Seattle Times
The Seattle Mariners plan on adding another rookie to the starting rotation.
In a report first announced by MLB Insider and FanSided journalist Robert Murray, Seattle will be calling up their top pitching prospect, Emerson Hancock to the big leagues.
After being confirmed by 710 AM Seattle Sports radio host Shannon Drayer, Seattle Times reporter Ryan Divish revealed that an official roster move and call-up would not occur until August 9th.
Hancock, the highest Seattle draft pick since 2014, has always been at the top of the rankings and the top pitcher in Seattle’s farm system since his selection in 2020, and has had a rocky path to making the big league roster.
Hancock was drafted sixth overall by Seattle in the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of Georgia.
Since that point, the former Georgia ace has had a rollercoaster career in the minors.
Photo courtesy of Tony Walsh | Georgia Sports Communications
The righty started his minor league career in High-A, and quickly earned a call-up to Double-A after posting a 2-0 record, 2.32 ERA, 30 strikeouts, 1.03 WHIP in only 31 innings of work.
In Double-A, Hancock was great again, only giving five earned runs in his three starts for the Arkansas Travelers, Seattle’s Double-A affiliate. He would only make three starts the rest of the season.
Hancock’s biggest concern coming out of the draft was his tumultuous injury history. His 2021 season ended in early August after suffering from shoulder fatigue, logging only three starts for the Double-A club.
The following year, Hancock ran into similar troubles. He struck out nearly 100 batters in 98.1 innings of work across 21 starts for the Travelers, but missed the majority of the season due to a lat strain he suffered in February.
In 2023, Hancock has been great. Despite having a bloated ERA of 4.32, his strikeout numbers have rapidly increased. In his 98 innings of work, Hancock has punched out 107 batters and now boasts a K/9 of 9.8, the highest of his minor league career.
The righty boasts a powerful pitch mix, consisting of a high 90s fastball, and his punch-out pitches, his slider and changeup. In addition to this, his tall frame and elite control of the zone give him the tools necessary to be a dominant arm in the Seattle rotation.
With Seattle’s great development of young pitchers George Kirby and Bryce Miller, Hancock appears to be in good hands.
Seattle currently has a five-man rotation consisting of Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller, and the recently injured Bryan Woo.
It is unknown what transaction the Mariners will make in order to make room for the top prospect, considering that the team recently DFA’d relief pitcher Matt Festa.
The call-up comes at a great time for the organization, as Seattle currently sits only three games out of a Wild Card spot in the American League.
The Mariners will look to Hancock as a middle rotation arm, and hope for him to provide a spark and create an all-around dominant rotation as the team looks to make a playoff push for the final Wild Card spot.
