5 candidates to represent the Marlins at 2024 Futures Game

[Ely Sussman]

These prospects deserve serious consideration thanks to their combination of 2024 production and long-term potential.

MLB All-Star discourse is usually peaking at this juncture of the season. Not so much around here or any other Miami Marlins community, though. At the major league level, closer Tanner Scott is the only Marlin who's had an excellent individual first half. There's no drama: Scott will be Miami's lone representative at the Midsummer Classic in Arlington, Texas.

Thankfully, there have been a lot more bright spots down on the farm. On July 13, three days before the All-Star Game, top prospects will take over Globe Life Field for the Futures Game. A handful of Marlins are genuinely deserving of participating this year. There will inevitably be snubs as the powers that be narrow it down to two or three reps.

The Futures Game is not solely about rewarding minor league production. With all due respect to the strong statistical first halves that Griffin Conine, Jake Brooks, Josh Zamora and Ryan Ignoffo have had, their perceived upside as prospects is not high enough to get them into this conversation. Selections are usually young relative to their current level of competition. Another complicating factor is that MLB organizations themselves have a say in the process. Some have ulterior motives beyond simply sending their top-rated prospects.

With that being said, I'm fairly confident that the Marlins delegation for the 2024 Futures Game will be a combination of the following names.

 

Honorable Mentions 

• RHP Noble Meyer—Miami's top pick from last year's draft class is ranked second on our Fish On First Top 30 list. Through 11 starts this season, Meyer has an encouraging 3.13 ERA, but a middling 4.54 FIP, in large part due to his elevated walk rate. A minor injury caused him to miss two scheduled starts for High-A Beloit earlier this month, weakening his case relative to the players below.
• OF Andrés Valor—The 18-year-old Venezuelan has excelled as the everyday center fielder for the Florida Complex League Marlins, slashing .282/.356/.435 (113 wRC+) with 21 stolen bases in 37 games. It's rare for rookie ball prospects to be Futures Game participants, but Valor is rapidly establishing himself as one of this organization's best position player talents.

 

LHP Thomas White

FOF's No. 1 prospect is the safest bet for a Futures Game nod. Through 52 innings pitched (12 starts), White has posted a 2.94 ERA and 2.58 FIP without allowing a single home run. He's been remarkably consistent for a 19-year-old.

His fastball velocity has climbed since the draft, routinely sitting in the mid-90s and topping out at 99 mph. He's also throwing his breaking ball harder, turning it into a traditional slider. White has held left-handed batters to a .150 BAA with a 35.2 K%.

 

C Joe Mack

Mack is Miami's most improved minor leaguer from 2023 to 2024. On this date last year, the talented catcher was homerless in 64 games at High-A! Entering Saturday, he's got 14 long balls while being the youngest guy on Double-A Pensacola's roster. Beyond just the power, he has been the best overall hitter on the Blue Wahoos, slashing .250/.321/.486 since his promotion.

Moreover, Mack is solid enough defensively to stick behind the plate for the foreseeable future.

 

INF/OF Javier Sanoja

This figures to be Sanoja's last chance for a Futures Game selection considering he's already made it to Triple-A and done so well there. A September call-up is entirely possible.

Even including his Pensacola struggles, Sanoja has accrued far more walks (27) than strikeouts (17). In 24 June games, he has struck out only once?! That is truly mind-boggling coming from a 21-year-old competing at the highest MiLB level.

The Marlins continue to get Sanoja regular reps at second base, center field and shortstop. Perhaps that versatility works in his favor during the NL Futures roster construction process.

 

RHP Jacob Miller

Like the previous three candidates, Miller is being challenged against more experienced opponents this season and thriving. He's had one "bad" outing all season at High-A, allowing three runs or fewer in 11 of 12 starts (2.72 ERA in 59.2 IP). His command has gone up a grade in 2024.

A move to Double-A likely awaits the right-hander on the other side of the All-Star break.

 

OF Victor Mesa Jr. 

Mesa began his age-22 campaign on a hot streak and he's in the midst of another one as the first half winds down. Overall, he has a 102 wRC+ with 13 homers and four steals in 65 Triple-A contests. He's been used mainly in center field.

FOF's top-ranked hitting prospect, VMJ may lack an elite individual tool, but he's a well-rounded potential everyday player at the next level. His continued success in left-on-left matchups this season (.323/.418/.585, 4 HR in 79 PA) bodes well for his future.

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