EVERETT — Going into the 2024 MLB Draft just over a year ago, Ryan Sloan was unsure exactly how it would play out for him.

The then-18-year-old from Aurora, Ill. ranked 19th among 2024 Draft Prospects on MLB.com , but he understood the varying opinions among different clubs when it came to drafting pitchers out of high school. He figured he could go anywhere between the first round or the late second.

Despite his uncertainty, he at least had a good idea that the Seattle Mariners were a team to keep an eye on.

“The Mariners seemed pretty interested at the draft combine,” Sloan said. “I had a longer slot with them. Talked to (assistant GM and Vice President) Andy McKay. (I’m) pretty close with the area scouts, so obviously there was some interest. But I just didn’t know if things would

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