Q: How did the Everett AquaSox do in their 2026 home opener series?
A: The AquaSox dropped four of six games to the Tri-City Dust Devils in their first home series of 2026, including a brutal 17-2 blowout on Opening Night. But this is a deep, prospect-loaded roster returning 22 players from a championship team — the season has plenty of road ahead.

AquaSox Home Opener Was Rough. Here’s Why the 2026 Season Is Still Worth Getting Excited About.

Let’s be honest: that first home series at Funko Field was not fun to watch.

The Tri-City Dust Devils came into Everett and won four out of six games, including a 17-2 wipeout on Opening Night that had fans checking the score in disbelief before the fifth inning. Starter Taylor Dollard gave up six earned runs in two-and-two-thirds innings. A reliever got touched for five runs in less than an inning. The AquaSox were down 10-0 before they recorded their first hit.

It was bad. Manager Ryan Scott put the most optimistic spin he could on it — “games just aren’t going to go your way, and I really just want to see how the boys are going to compete” — and honestly, that’s the right lens for early April in the High-A Northwest League. Rough starts happen. What matters is what comes next.

And what comes next, starting this weekend, is a lot of reasons to get back to Funko Field.

This Is a Championship Team Coming Back

The 2026 AquaSox returned 22 players from the squad that won the 2025 Northwest League Championship. Twenty-two. That kind of continuity is rare in minor league baseball, where rosters churn constantly as players climb organizational ladders or get released. This group knows Everett, knows Funko Field, knows how to win together. The 17-2 loss doesn’t erase a championship; it’s four games in a 132-game season.

Context matters in the minors: player development is the mission, not the win-loss record. The Mariners sent these players to Everett to grow, to face High-A competition, to work through things. A rough first series against a legitimately good Tri-City squad is part of the process. The Dust Devils swept everyone this week.

Five Top-30 Mariners Prospects Are on This Roster

Here’s the real reason to keep coming to games: the Mariners pipeline is running through Funko Field right now, and it’s loaded.

Jonny Farmelo (Mariners’ No. 6 prospect) is back for a second taste of High-A after hitting .230 with 13 extra-base hits in 29 games last year. The tools are real — this is the kind of outfield prospect that shows up in Baseball America previews for a reason. Watch him turn on a fastball and you’ll understand why the Mariners are patient with his development.

Felnin Celesten (No. 7) is another outfield piece getting High-A reps after showing flashes at the lower levels. Both he and Farmelo have the athleticism that makes even a routine defensive play worth watching.

Luke Stevenson (No. 8) may be the most intriguing player on the roster. Selected 35th overall in the 2025 Draft out of UNC, Stevenson is a catcher — the hardest position to develop in baseball — who hit .280 with 23 walks in his professional debut at Single-A Modesto. Patient, high-IQ backstops who can hit are worth watching at every level. He drove in Everett’s first run of the home opener with a sacrifice fly. That’s the kind of small thing that tells you about a player’s makeup.

Carlos Jimenez (No. 21) and right-hander Lucas Kelly (No. 29) round out the top-30 contingent. The pitching development story at Everett this year will be worth tracking all season.

Some Bright Spots From the Rough Start

Even in the blowout series, a few players showed up. Josh Caron went 2-for-4 in Opening Night and ripped a triple. Axel Sanchez also went 2-for-4. These are the kinds of individual performance moments that make minor league baseball fun even when the scoreboard isn’t cooperating — watching a kid fight for his at-bat when the game is already out of hand says something about what kind of player he’s going to be.

The Rest of the Schedule Is Full of Reasons to Come Out

The AquaSox play 66 home games this season, running all the way into September. The Northwest League schedule is packed with rival affiliates — Tri-City, Spokane, Vancouver, Hillsboro, Everett knows all of them. The Mariners’ top prospects will be churning through this roster all summer, and some of the players you watch on a Tuesday night in April will be in Safeco Field by September or next spring.

Funko Field is also just a great place to watch baseball. It’s a short walk from downtown Everett, it’s affordable, and on a clear evening in June with the mountains out, there’s nowhere better to spend a Tuesday night in Snohomish County. Don’t let a rough first week of April keep you away.

The Honest Take

Yes, going 1-3 at home to open the year hurts a little, especially after a championship. And losing 17-2 on Opening Night in front of the home fans is embarrassing by any standard. The AquaSox need to sort out their pitching depth — six earned runs in under three innings from your starter is not acceptable even in April.

But this is April baseball in the minors. A roster full of returning champions, five top-30 Mariners prospects, and a manager who’s talking about watching his players compete through adversity — that’s the foundation. The AquaSox are worth your attention all summer long. Come out when the weather breaks, bring the kids, and watch a future Mariner figure it out in real time. That’s the whole deal.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the AquaSox play their next home games?

The AquaSox continue their home schedule at Funko Field throughout April. Check milb.com/everett for the full 2026 schedule and upcoming promotions.

Where is Funko Field located?

Funko Field (Everett Memorial Stadium) is located at 3802 Broadway in Everett, WA. It’s a short walk from downtown Everett.

Which Seattle Mariners prospects are on the 2026 AquaSox roster?

Five Mariners Top-30 prospects are on the 2026 roster: Jonny Farmelo (#6), Felnin Celesten (#7), Luke Stevenson (#8), Carlos Jimenez (#21), and Lucas Kelly (#29).

Are the AquaSox still defending champions?

Yes — the AquaSox won the 2025 Northwest League Championship. They returned 22 players from that championship squad to the 2026 roster.

Who manages the AquaSox in 2026?

Ryan Scott is the AquaSox manager for 2026. He also managed the 2025 championship team.

How many home games do the AquaSox play at Funko Field?

The AquaSox play 66 home games at Funko Field across the 2026 High-A Northwest League season, running from April through September.