Mariners' Felnin Celesten: Making plenty of contact
Rotowire
Celesten is hitting .333 with two home runs, six steals and a 16.3 percent strikeout rate in 22 games for Single-A Modesto.
Celesten and Sebastian Walcott of the Rangers were the top two shortstops in the 2023 international signing class, but injuries early in Celesten's career led to him falling behind. This year marks his first exposure to full-season pitching, and while his 26.0 percent hard-hit rate isn't amazing, he should have no trouble growing into plus power, and his 81.7 percent contact rate is a very strong mark for a 19-year-old with his tools.
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Mariners' Felnin Celesten: Taking part in Spring Breakout game
Rotowire
The Mariners list Celesten (wrist) on the roster for their March 14 Spring Breakout game against Guardians prospects.
Celesten appears to be in good health entering the 2025 campaign after not playing for the Mariners' rookie-level Arizona Complex League from July 24 onward last season while recovering from a lingering hamate injury that he addressed with surgery. The 19-year-old infield prospect should be ready to debut with a full-season affiliate in 2025.
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Mariners' Felnin Celesten: Down again with wrist injury
Rotowire
Celesten aggravated a wrist injury in his first game back with with Mariners' Arizona Complex League affiliate Wednesday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Celesten missed more than a month of action with the wrist issue and then had it flare up again on a dive back into first base on a pickoff attempt. The 18-year-old also missed the entire 2023 campaign with a hamstring injury. He's shown potential this year when healthy, slashing .352/.431/.568 over 32 games.
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Mariners' Felnin Celesten: Exceeding high expectations
Rotowire
Celesten is hitting .452 with two home runs, one steal, and more walks (six) than strikeouts (five) through eight games in the Arizona Complex League.
The top international signee in the 2023 J-15 class, Celesten was unable to play in official games last year due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain, but he's at the age-appropriate level for his pro debut and appears to have been worth the wait. A physical, athletic shortstop with loud tools, Celesten looks the part of a future top-10 prospect, and so far his hit tool has been better than advertised.
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Mariners' Felnin Celesten: Close to game action
Rotowire
Celesten (hamstring) is nearing a return to game action in a "bridge league" between the Arizona Complex League and instructional league, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Celesten has been sidelined since June due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Any at-bats the young shortstop can fit in before the end of the year would certainly be an added bonus, although the stats in the bridge league won't be officially tracked.
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Mariners' Felnin Celesten: Out with hamstring strain
Rotowire
Celestin suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain during an intersquad game Thursday and will be out for 6-to-8 weeks, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Celestin is considered one of the top young prospects in the Seattle system, and he was handed a $4.7 million signing bonus in the winter of 2023. The 17-year-old shortstop offers significant fantasy upside, but he's not expected to make an impact on an MLB roster until the latter part of the decade.
