The Seattle Mariners have made a great addition to their team with the selection of Tai Peete in the 2021 MLB Draft. Peete, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Southern California, was taken with the 30th overall pick. He is the first USC player to be drafted by the Mariners since 2009.
Peete is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound righty who has been a starter for the Trojans since his freshman year. He has a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and can reach up to 98 mph. He also throws a curveball and changeup, both of which have been described as plus pitches. His command of all three pitches has been impressive, as he has walked just 18 batters in over 100 innings pitched this season.
Peete has had an impressive collegiate career, posting a 3.47 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over his three years at USC. He has also struck out more than a batter per inning in each of his three seasons, including a career-high 11.2 K/9 this season. He was named to the All-Pac 12 First Team in 2021 and was also named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team in 2020.
The Mariners are hoping that Peete can continue to develop and become a key part of their rotation in the future. He has the potential to be an effective starter in the big leagues and could be a great addition to the team. With his impressive repertoire of pitches and strong command, Peete could be a valuable asset for the Mariners for years to come.
