Why Andrés Valor should be rising up the prospect ranks

[Kevin Barral]

A 2023 international free agent signing, Andrés Valor has the potential to be the best position player prospect in the Marlins organization.

The Miami Marlins were just crowned division champions...in the Florida Complex League. A lot of the credit for the FCL Marlins' incredible 36-11 record goes to their deep pitching staff, but there have been standouts on the position player side as well. The top-ranked prospect on the team's roster is 18-year-old Andrés Valor. Currently 15th on Fish On First's Top 30 list, he's only going to continue rising.

Through 45 games played, the Marlins outfielder is slashing .311/.401/.463/.864 with two home runs, 23 RBIs and a 135 wRC+. Most shockingly, Valor has 33 stolen bases in that small sample, more than any other Marlins prospect this season.

Per a source, Valor has "taken his body to another level" this season. That has contributed to a 29% hard-hit rate (exit velocity of at least 95 mph) with 2% of his hits reaching 105 mph off the bat. To go along with that, Valor is making more contact than he did in the Dominican Summer League last season, posting a 88% zone contact rate, specifically improving against changeups. Valor enters Saturday with a 25.0% strikeout rate despite all of his plate appearances coming against older competition.

Valor was a good base-stealer in 2023, swiping 21 bases on 28 attempts in the DSL. Prior to this season, scouts projected him to be an average to above-average runner long term (50-55 grade). However, his production on the bases in 2024 suggests he has taken a step forward. Over his last 23 games, Valor has 27 SB. No other minor leaguer at any level in any organization can compare to that. Per one evaluator, his run tool is now graded at a 65.

Defensively, Valor has the speed and athleticism to stick in center field, where he has spent most of this season playing. Baseball America is highest on his defensive potential among national outlets, giving him a 60 grade there on their recently updated Marlins Top 30 list.

"The instincts and range have improved tremendously from last year," said an evaluator within the organization on Valor. "With the combination of his burst, acceleration, speed and now plus route efficiency with the ability to read the ball off the bat, we believe he can stick there."

At the moment, it's unclear whether or not Valor will be promoted to Low-A Jupiter once the FCL season concludes at the end of July, but conversations have been had in that regard. Even against rookie-level opponents, he has done enough to put himself on the prospect map, emerging as the most exciting bat that the Marlins have signed internationally in recent years.

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