AquaSox Interviews- Jonny Farmelo & Luke Stevenson
Photo of Jonny Farmelo (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)
Both young studs had good games on Wednesday night against the Spokane Indians, at the plate and with the glove. Stevenson(#8 on org list on BA) threw a dart to third to throw out Tevin Tucker on a steal attempt, while Jonny (#6) made a fantastic throw for an outfield assist. Farmelo has had a slower start to the year at the plate, but got on base three times. Luke is hitting .325, showing the baseball world his bat can complement his 60 grade glove.
Stevenson was a star at UNC Chapel Hill, posting a .960 OPS and earning a reputation as a skilled game caller with advanced defensive instincts. Seattle drafted him 35th overall last year, his defense provides him with a strong floor at a premium position. He’s already shown pop, and could be a star if his contact ability continues to improve. Even if the contact doesn’t come around, he compares well to Gold Glove catcher Patrick Bailey, but with more pop. If the power grades up to a 60 or 65, he could have a similar trajectory to current Mariners superstar, Cal Raleigh. He’s only 21 years old, and looks to me like he could play in AA right now.
Luke Stevenson NCAA & Pro Stats (Baseball Reference)
Here were a few questions I was able to ask Luke-
Do you have a ritual when you guys win?
Listen to music, put down the phones, and hang out with the boys.
Is there a phase of the game that you’re particularly focused on?
Focused on calling a good game, supporting the staff. At the plate, barreling up the baseball.
What's the biggest change in the competition level here in high A?
It’s pretty similar, there’s more bullpen depth up here and guys are more competitive.
Is there an MLB player you like to aspire to or compare yourself to?
I have players I like to watch, but no one I directly compare myself to. I like to focus on my own game.
Jonny was the first ever PPI pick (BA), when Jerry drafted him following Julio’s ROY campaign. He tore his ACL in June 2024, but posted an .847 OPS in the Arizona Fall League last autumn. Similar to his teammate, Farmelo has a 55 grade glove at a premium position. He’s also a burner with 70 grade speed, and he’s also only 21 years old. The center fielder has a strong sense of the strike zone, and he has a nice powerful left handed swing. The key as he progresses is whether or not he can improve on in the zone whiffs. Much of this is due to struggles with high velocity, which Jonny mentions himself in our convo per the interview notes below. Farmelo has flashes of stars like Grady Sizemore and Pete Crow-Armstrong, probably the highest ceiling in the entire system if he can put it all together.
Farmelo Scouting Report (Baseball America)
Do you have a ritual when you guys win?
I wouldn’t say a ritual, just play some music in the locker room. It’s a little different coming off of a loss.
It seems like you’ve had a successful recovery from your ACL injury, did the AFL help with that?
The AFL helped a lot, playing baseball everyday and having a good offseason.
Is there a phase of the game that you’re particularly focused on?
Yeah I’m trying to work on contact with fastballs, hitting fastballs. Coming back from injury, there was swing and miss, I was focused on slug and wasn’t able to make as much contact. Focusing on the little things, baserunning, the right reads on defense.
Is there an MLB player you like to aspire to or compare yourself to?
Not really, I’d say I like watching Yordan hit. If I could be a more athletic Yordan, that would be pretty cool.
