Brody Hopkins of Winthrop University attends the MLB Draft Combine at Chase Field in Phoenix on June 21, 2023. Joel Angel Juarez/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Former Seattle Mariners Prospect Turning Heads in New Organization One Year After Trade

Originally posted on Minor League Baseball on SI
By Brady Farkas | Last updated Aug 2, 2025 2:00 PM ET

Last summer, the Seattle Mariners acquired slugging outfielder Randy Arozarena in a trade deadline deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, and Arozarena has been everything they could have wanted.

He helped the M's get within one game of the playoffs in 2024, and has already hit the 20-20 plateau this season as the Mariners battle for the playoffs once again.

Entering play on Saturday, Seattle is 59-52 and in possession of the third and final wild card spot in the American League. They haven't been to the playoffs since 2022.

And while Arozarena has been great, there's a chance that the Mariners will come to regret trading prospects Aidan Smith and Brody Hopkins, who were sent to Tampa Bay in the deal.

Currently playing for Double-A Montgomery, Hopkins just registered a 10-strikeout performance in which he got 19 swings-and-misses.

Just before 2024 Deadline: Acquired in the Randy Arozarena deal
Right after 2025 Deadline: Best pro start, almost a year after joining @RaysBaseball

Brody Hopkins gets 19 swing-and-misses en route to tying his career high with 10 K's for Double-A @BiscuitBaseball: pic.twitter.com/iSAweKWcaf
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 2, 2025

Now 23 years old, Hopkins was a sixth-round pick of the Mariners in 2023 out of Winthrop. Though he's gone just 4-7 this season, he has a solid 3.03 ERA. He's struck out 112 batters in 92.0 innings and he's projected to make his major league debut in 2026.

He's the No. 3 prospect in the organization, behind only Carson Williams (SS) and Theo Gillen (OF).

The Rays are back in action on Saturday at the major league level against the Los Angeles Dodgers, while the Mariners are taking on the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park.