Seattle Mariners first baseman Tyler Locklear (27) takes a swing during an at-bat against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park in 2024. Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

Seattle Mariners Option First Base Candidate, Former Top Prospect, Down to Triple-A

Originally posted on Minor League Baseball on SI
By Brady Farkas | Last updated Mar 15, 2025 11:30 AM ET

The Seattle Mariners made an additional roster move on Saturday morning, sending slugging first baseman Tyler Locklear down to Triple-A Tacoma.

The Mariners are currently working their way towards the 26-man roster for Opening Day. They have 46 players still in major league camp. According to the PR team, they have 35 players on the 40-man roster in camp with one player on the 60-day injured list and 10 non-roster invitees.

Spring Training Roster Moves:

Optioned to Triple-A Tacoma:

Tyler Locklear, INF

The @Mariners Spring Training roster is now at 46 players (35 on 40-man + 1 60-day IL + 10 NRI)
— Mariners PR (@MarinersPR) March 15, 2025

Locklear's demotion makes an even greater chance that former Milwaukee Brewers slugger Rowdy Tellez makes the team. The 24-year-old Locklear made his major league debut last season, hitting .156 in just 45 at-bats. He did have two homers and three RBI.

He just .222 with three RBI during spring training this year (4-for-18). In the minors, he's a .280 hitter with 36 home runs. He's a former second-round pick of the Mariners from the 2022 draft, having played his college ball at VCU.

He's currently ranked as the No. 11 prospect in the organization, per MLB Pipeline. He was No. 6 at the end of 2024.

Because Locklear is on the 40-man roster, he's likely to get another opportunity in the big leagues this season, it just won't be at the outset.

The Mariners are coming off a season in which they went 85-77 and missed the playoffs by just one game. They'll open up the regular season on March 27 against the Athletics.

Locklear and his Tacoma Rainiers will open up the season on the following day, March 28.

This article first appeared on Minor League Baseball on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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