PEORIA, Ariz. — The Seattle Mariners pitching staff has been the undisputed strength of the organization for several years. Part of that is due to the Mariners belief that one team can never have enough pitching.

While the M's have had a solid rotation going into the last four years or so, Seattle has found a way to shore up its bullpen as a season has progressed via a combination of free agent signings, trades and promotions from within the organization.

One pitcher that's entering his third year with the Mariners organization could prove to be a surprise contributor on the major league roster this year.

Right-handed pitcher Teddy McGraw was picked by Seattle in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Wake Forest and has yet to debut.

McGraw was considered a first-round talent by most analysts. But, by the time he was drafted, he already had two Tommy John surgeries and there was concern about his long-term outlook.

Injuries have persisted for McGraw in the minor leagues. He made his pro debut in 2024 with the Single-A Modesto Nuts and was shut down after four starts due to a flexor strain.

In 2025, McGraw posted a 3.18 ERA and struck out 33 batters in 28.1 innings pitched across 14 outings (12 starts) with the Arizona Complex League Mariners and High-A Everett AquaSox. However, he was out roughly a month from July 7-Aug. 2 with another injury.

"I think it's just trusting where I'm at, trusting what I'm feeling," McGraw said Thursday about continuing to persevere through his injuries. "Even if I don't feel my best, just learning how to be OK with that and trust that I heal through anything. Just continuing to believe in my process and believing who I am. ... (Knowing) that I'll reach the health that I've been after for a couple years now."

Even with those injuries, Seattle still saw fit to extend McGraw a non-roster invite to spring training.

That invite served as an illustration of how the organization views McGraw's stuff and the value he could provide the major league roster. He boasts multiple breaking balls with elite spin rate in his arsenal and a plus-graded two-seam fastball (sinker) that can touch 97 miles per hour.

M's pitching coach Pete Woodworth hasn't had much of an opportunity to work with McGraw, but had a simple but emphatic statement on the 24-year-old's stuff.

"Unforunately I haven't seen much from Teddy. Hasn't really been throwing in camp," Woodworth said in an interview Thursday. "The breaking ball is real though. That is a Matt Brash-(esque) breaking ball. There's a lot to like there with Teddy."

McGraw's stuff has played out well on prospect rankings, as well. He's currently listed as the 13th-best prospect in the Mariners' organization, according to MLB Pipeline.

Seattle opted to move McGraw to a reliever in efforts to have the former Demon Deacon in a controlled environment. Even still, injuries have popped up again.

As mentioned by Woodworth, McGraw hasn't thrown in camp or appeared in Cactus League competition due to biceps tendinitis. He was assigned to the Mariners prospects list and named on the 40-man prospect pool for the team's Spring Breakout game March 5.

The stuff plays. There's one big hurdle for McGraw to clear. Simple, yet complicated: stay healthy.

If McGraw does that, he could wind up a legitimate weapon for Seattle out of the bullpen in the future.

"I think it's just learning where my stuff works the best," McGraw said. "Just be convicted in throwing it to those spots. Not trying to do too much. Just be myself and not (try) to be anybody else."

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