Mariners advised to 'go back to the well' with first-round pick

May 12, 2018; Detroit, MI, USA; Hat and glove of Seattle Mariners center fielder Dee Gordon (9) sits in dugout during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

After making a deep postseason run last year, the Seattle Mariners are trying to run it back, and they've put themselves in a good spot. Going into Friday's games, they sit in second place in the American League West, just a half-game behind the Texas Rangers. 

However, they have quite a tough series ahead of them before the team gets some time off with the All-Star break. They take on the AL East leaders, the Tampa Bay Rays. 

So while the team has its attention on taking out the top of the AL East, the front office is preparing for the upcoming MLB Draft, in which the Mariners were awarded the No. 24 pick. 

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Mariners advised to 'go back to the well' with first-round pick

One thing that makes the Mariners stand out is how elite their starting rotation is. They didn't just magically get this elite rotation, as many of these pitchers were drafted by the club years ago. 

Seattle had a three-year stint where they drafted Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, and Emerson Hancock with their first-round picks, and all three are big contributors to the rotation now. 

So, it wouldn't hurt for the team to "go back to the well" and grab another college arm, per Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer. 

"The Mariners have six functional starting pitchers, and five of them—Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo and Emerson Hancock—were pitchers they drafted out of college. And Kade Anderson is coming, too. That's some talent Jerry Dipoto has, and he might as well stick to it with the No. 24 pick. There should be some good college arms left there, and the Mariners don't pick again until No. 65."

One name that sticks out here is Liberty University RHP Ben Blair. He operates in a similar lower-release point, much like Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller, and is someone who should be there when Seattle hits the clock. 

More MLB news:

• Orioles urged to draft this arm if available with the No. 7 pick
• Cubs face mounting pressure to hit on the 23rd overall pick in the draft
• Tigers urged to address pitching shortage with their first pick
• Why White Sox must ignore positional surplus with the top pick