At some point soon the Seattle Mariners will send out a press release announcing their minor league players of the year. It’s standard across the sport.

What I do is different. I’m not after the most outstanding minor league players in the organization or the most valuable, or the ones with the best stats. Some semblance of the afforementioned combo is exactly what clubs execute.

I seek out the prospects of the year in the organization. The prospects that made the most progress, answered the most questions, improved their stock the most.

This is not a “the prospect moved up the rankings the most” award, either.

Here are my picks for Mariners prospects of the year — one hitter, one pitcher.