Zach DeLoach

A second-round pick by the Mariners in 2020 out of Texas A&M, DeLoach had a solid 2023 season with Triple-A Tacoma while hitting 23 homers with an .868 OPS, and the Mariners added him to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. The 25-year-old was able to hit .286 over his 623 plate appearances in the Pacific Coast League, but he'll likely struggle to hit for average at the highest level due to the swing-and-miss in his profile, and he whiffed 173 times in 528 at-bats last summer. He does help compensate with his pop and a strong approach at the plate as seen in the aforementioned homers along with 83 walks, and he's fast enough to steal 10-plus bases if he receives regular playing time. DeLoach likely opens the 2024 season back in Tacoma, but he'd be worth monitoring if/when the Mariners gave him a chance to play before the campaign closes. Read Past Outlooks