Cade Marlowe’s journey to becoming a Seattle Mariners hero
SEATTLE (BVM) – Seattle Mariners left fielder Cade Marlowe etched his name into team lore with his ninth-inning grand slam to beat the rival Los Angeles Angels. It was the first grand slam of Marlowe’s short Mariners’ career but it was a long time coming for the 26-year-old rookie.
Rye bread. Mustard. You know what time it is. pic.twitter.com/EWudj08trP
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 4, 2023
Marlowe was an under-recruited baseball player out of Tiftarea Academy in Georgia. While he held one D-I offer from William & Mary, Marlowe decided to stay close to home and play for D-II West Georgia.
However, it was just before his junior year when Marlowe’s career really took off. That summer in 2018, Marlowe played for the Savannah Bananas summer collegiate wood-bat team in the Coastal Plains League. Not only did Marlowe play for the entertaining unit, but he also excelled, slashing .309/.379/.461 with three home runs and 34 RBIs.
Before hitting go-ahead grand slams in the ninth inning of MLB games, Mariners rookie Cade Marlowe was a Savannah Banana pic.twitter.com/DYALv0AdeS
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 4, 2023
With the Wolves, Marlowe rose through the ranks, eventually earning multiple All-Gulf South Conference honors and National Collegiate Baseball Writers All-America honorable mention as a senior. He finished his West Georgia career hitting .356 with seven home runs and 104 RBIs in 132 games.
The outfielder impressed enough to be selected by the Mariners in Round 20, pick No. 606 in the 2019 MLB Draft. Marlowe was the first West Georgia player taken in the draft since 2016 and the highest-selected Wolves player since 1985.
#Mariners take LF Cade Marlowe of West Georgia in the 20th round at No. 606. Left-handed bat.
— Lauren Smith (@smithlm12) June 5, 2019
As part of the Mariners organization, Marlowe started off with a bang, homering in his first professional at-bat for the Everett AquaSox. Since then, Marlowe steadily climbed up the ladder to eventually earn the No. 16 prospect ranking in the organization. He finished his MiLB career slashing .279/.365/.863 with 63 home runs and 286 RBIs in 370 minor league games.
It's been a while since we did a #WallpaperWednesday, so here's one of Mr. High-A West MVP himself#GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/8bwjPQ5MLM
— Everett AquaSox (@EverettAquaSox) October 20, 2021
After posting a .255/.332/.461 slash line with one home run and 47 RBIs in 63 games with Triple-A Tacoma this season, Marlowe was called up to the bigs, making his Major League debut on July 20. Since then, Marlowe has arguably been Seattle’s top player slashing .333/.429/.667 with two home runs and six RBIs in 12 games.
Welcome to the Show!@CadeMarlowe has been recalled from Triple-A @RainiersLand and will be making his MLB debut.
📰 https://t.co/sALKtfFPbu pic.twitter.com/sPyoqL0Pew
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 20, 2023
Given his success, Marlowe will be expected to play a major role for the Mariners as they push for a Wild Card spot late in the season. Following a long and difficult rise from unheralded recruit and draft pick to MLB starter, Marlowe should be more than up to the challenge.
Cade Marlowe was a 20th round pick in 2019 who received a $5,000 signing bonus as a senior out of Division-II West Georgia, where he hit just 12 HR in 184 games
now he's hitting go-ahead 9th inning grand slams off 100 MPH heaters in the big leaguespic.twitter.com/10f0iB5BVp
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) August 4, 2023
