The Mariners announced the promotion of four prospects: righty Justin Dunn, outfielder Kyle Lewis, infielder Donnie Walton, and righty Art Warren. To create 40-man roster space, the club designated utilityman Ryan Court for assignment.
This multi-part move comes as no surprise, as the Seattle organization was reportedly preparing to call up Dunn (link) and Lewis (link) just yesterday. Both have ranked among the organization’s very best prospects.
Walton and Warren are lesser-known entities, but still hold promise of their own. Both ranked toward the back of the club’s latest top-thirty prospect list at MLB.com, though of course the import of such a designation varies depending upon the depth of a system.
Walton, 25, spent the season turning in good numbers at the Double-A level. Over 558 plate appearances, he slashed a sturdy .300/.390/.427 with 11 home runs. He’d have been eligible to be selected in this year’s Rule 5 draft but for the move to add him to the 40-man.
As for Warren, he already went through a winter of Rule 5 eligibility without being taken. This time, he’ll be protected by the M’s. At 26 years of age, Warren worked to a 1.71 ERA with 11.7 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 31 2/3 innings as Walton’s teammate.
The 31-year-old Court finally got his first shot at the majors this year in Seattle, but wasn’t able to stake out a claim to a long-term job. It was still a rewarding season, as he logged his first MLB hit and first home run in a brief showing after entering the campaign in the indy ball ranks. Court is a .262/.355/.423 hitter in over a thousand plate appearances at the highest level of the minors.
Party time! Go Mariners!
3/4 of these guys look like they could be nice players, though Warren has really never been challenged in the Minors, and Lewis has serious injury concerns. Walton is just any old 25 year-old in AA.
Lewis is three years past his injury with no other issues. I wouldn’t consider that injury concerning. Now Warren is another story in that respect.
Walton is a glue guy that probably profiles as a utility guy
Warren has been challenged. He put up solid numbers in the hitter-friendly California League and actually posted better road numbers this year than at home (and Dickey-Stephens Park is pitcher-friendly).
Lewis had one significant injury. It took him a couple of years to get past it, but that doesn’t make him injury-prone. Warren is actually the one with bigger injury concerns. He’s only thrown 47-ish innings combined over the last two seasons.
Walton is a little old for AA, but he led all SS’s at the plate. I wouldn’t call that just “any old 25-year-old in AA”. He was dominant for his position. He’s probably more of a role player, but that has value, too.
I know you weren’t criticizing these guys, I just wanted to make a few points.