First, some good news: in the Cal League and the Texas League this year, the Mariners’ affiliates led in K-BB ratio, WHIP, and came in second in both leagues in strikeouts (losing out to the Dodgers and Astros, respectively, but walking way fewer batters than either of those two clubs). The most important quality for a reliever, and the one that will transfer up the minor league chain, is the ability to strike people out; again, you can see Houston and LA are willing to live with less-than-perfect control as long as their relievers strike people out.
Mariners Exit Interviews 2019: The pitching wounded
