Seattle Mariners prospect Ryan Bliss, acquired in the Paul Sewald trade this past summer, has won an exciting award in the Arizona Fall League:
Per Mariners' Player Development:
Desert heat
Congrats to @ribliss2 on taking home this year’s @MLBazFallLeague Defensive Player of the Year Award!
Bliss has several M's fans excited heading into 2024, with some hoping he's the answer to the team's post-Robinson Cano second base struggles.
He's currently the No. 14 prospect in the organization, per MLB.com:
Listed at just 5-foot-6, 165 pounds, Bliss has shown a little more pop over the last few years than his size alone would indicate, but his raw power remains limited from the right side. He employs a leg kick to get to that pop and put the ball in the air perhaps too much in the Northwest League, leading to catchable flyballs and a .268 BABIP that dragged down his offensive profile. Early in 2023, he shows a slightly more closed-off stance and a more active front leg that can help him stay short to the ball, something that enabled him to post a 1.008 OPS in Amarillo and earn a promotion to Reno.
Bliss was bumping against top Arizona prospect Jordan Lawlar at shortstop and was getting more looks at second base, where many believed he would be a better long-term fit. His above-average speed makes him a constant steal threat in the modern age, so Bliss doesn’t even have to hit a ton to become a potential utility infielder at the top level.
He hit .304 this past season with 23 homers, 86 RBI and 55 stolen bases.
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