Seattle Mariners Prospect Tyler Locklear Has 4-Hit Game For Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers

The first baseman continued his dominant year in Triple-A with against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys.
Seattle Mariners first baseman Tyler Locklear runs after hitting a single against the Los Angeles Angels on July 23, 2024, at T-Mobile Park.
Seattle Mariners first baseman Tyler Locklear runs after hitting a single against the Los Angeles Angels on July 23, 2024, at T-Mobile Park. | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

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Much of the attention paid to the Seattle Mariners farm system has been designated for their top 100 prospects. But an under-the-radar minor leaguer quietly has been one of the organization's best hitters, playing in Triple-A for the Tacoma Rainiers.

Tyler Locklear (No. 11 team prospect per MLB Pipeline) put together a dominant performance in a 2-0 loss to the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston Astros affiliate) on Saturday.

The 24-year-old first baseman went 4-for-4 with two doubles against Sugar Land. It was his second four-hit game of the season.

Saturday was the third consecutive multi-hit game for Locklear. He's batting .344 (31-for-90) with 11 doubles, two homers and 16 RBIs in his first 23 games this season.

Locklear was selected by Seattle in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Virginia Commonwealth and received his first taste of major league action last season. He hit .156 (7-for-45) with a double, two home runs and three RBIs in 16 games.

This season is Locklear's second with the Rainiers. He hit .260 with 15 doubles, three triples, eight homers and 41 RBIs in 70 games with Tacoma in 2024. He began last season with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers.

Locklear was viewed as the heir apparent at first base for the Mariners after the team traded former All-Star Ty France to the Cincinnati Reds on July 29, 2024. Locklear had been called up on July 23 and optioned back to the Rainiers a week later.

Seattle has platooned Donovan Solano and Rowdy Tellez at first base with Luke Raley playing the outfield due to a shoulder injury to outfielder Victor Robles. Solano's struggles and Locklear's solid season in Triple-A might result in Locklear getting another crack in the big leagues.

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Teren Kowatsch
TEREN KOWATSCH

Teren Kowatsch is a staff writer for ''Minor League Baseball on SI'' and other "On SI'' baseball sites. He has been a writer for “On SI’’ for two years and is a graduate of the University of Idaho. You can follow him on Twitter @Teren_Kowatsch