Marlins' Peter Bendix, Frankie Piliere address PJ Morlando draft selection

[Ely Sussman]

Complete audio from Marlins executives Peter Bendix and Frankie Piliere explaining the decision to take PJ Morlando with their 2024 first-round draft pick.

The Miami Marlins caught just about everybody by surprise when selecting PJ Morlando with the 16th overall pick of the 2024 MLB Draft.

Shortly after making the pick, president of baseball operations Peter Bendix and director of amateur scouting Frankie Piliere held a virtual press conference detailing why they believe the 19-year-old outfielder was deserving of being first-rounder. Fish on First SuperSubs can access an audio recording of the presser below.

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[Slacker Mills]

The Marlins are fortunate enough to have a following with extremely low expectations for the draft and trade/free agent acquisitions.

16. Miami Marlins — PJ Morlando, OF, Summerville (SC)

• Grade: D+

This is a serious stunner. Morlando was viewed as a possible Day 1 pick with a later selection by a team with bonus pool money to spend. Selecting him at No. 16 is a bit high. He's an older prep prospect at 19, and though he has an advanced hit tool for a high-school prospect, there isn't a ton of power at present in the 6-3 outfielder's swing. Morlando is also not a burner and is a below-average defensive player. Unless he makes strides defensively, he needs to show more power in the pros.

17. Milwaukee Brewers — Braylon Payne, OF, Elkins (TX)

[Slacker Mills]

D+ seems overly generous nonetheless.

[Slacker Mills]

Morlando make the top 50 of new Marlin prospect rankings?

[Will]

They didn’t talk enough about him being the best player on their board. Really need to know if he was the best player on their board. 

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

Despite all sources, talking heads, and the like, I believe Marlins fans must give Bendix and his team a chance to implement his strategy. It makes no sense to put this fellow in charge, someone who obviously has a strategy for the long-term competitiveness of the team, and then allow him no slack when he implements the plan - the details of which we are not privy, to note the obvious. We are also unable to assess the financial implications year over year with any certainty. Unlike the government, with competing worldviews, there is one in the Miami organization now that will prove itself fruitful or erroneous over the next few years. 

[Ely Sussman]

On 7/15/2024 at 9:57 AM, Slacker Mills said:

Morlando make the top 50 of new Marlin prospect rankings?

Our own updated list comes out on Friday 👀