Baseball America’s Shocking New MLB Mock Draft Has Mariners Flipping the Script
By [Your Name], [Your Blog Name] – May 18, 2025
The Seattle Mariners are tired of playing it safe—and Baseball America’s latest 2025 MLB mock draft is the jaw-dropping proof. In a move that’s already setting baseball Twitter on fire, the Mariners are projected to make one of the boldest first-round picks in recent franchise history.
According to the mock, Seattle is eschewing the usual high-floor college arm or polished hitter for a high-risk, high-reward prep star with superstar upside. That’s right—Baseball America has the M’s selecting 17-year-old two-way phenom Chase DeLuca, a name that’s been buzzing in scout circles but wasn’t expected to go this high.
Wait… Who is Chase DeLuca?
For those not following high school ball closely, DeLuca is a freak of nature out of Southern California who’s been dominating both on the mound and at the plate. He’s hit 18 home runs and posted a 0.78 ERA this season. Some scouts compare his raw tools to a young Shohei Ohtani—yeah, that level of talent.
But what makes this pick such a curveball (pun intended) is Seattle’s usual draft pattern. The Mariners have often leaned toward safer picks: polished SEC starters or high-contact college bats. This would be a major philosophical pivot—a true script-flipper.
Why the Sudden Change in Strategy?
Multiple sources hint that GM Justin Hollander and scouting director Scott Hunter are taking a more aggressive approach in 2025. After back-to-back near misses in the playoff race and a farm system that’s slightly plateaued, the organization may be looking for a franchise-altering talent rather than another solid contributor.
And with DeLuca’s sky-high ceiling? The reward could be massive.
Fans Are Losing It (In a Good Way)
Mariners fans online are buzzing—and honestly, it’s refreshing. One X user wrote, “FINALLY we’re not playing scared. DeLuca has star written all over him. Swing for the fences!”
Another added, “This is the kind of move that wins championships or gets people fired. I’m here for it either way.”
What Comes Next
Of course, it’s still a mock draft. Nothing is set in stone. But if Baseball America’s intel is legit—and they’re rarely far off—Seattle’s front office is about to roll the dice like never before.
Will it work? Only time will tell. But for a franchise stuck in the middle, flipping the script might be the only way to finally write a new ending