Hector Rodriguez

The Miami Marlins will likely take a college bat with their first-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt could be an option for them. Overview Position: OF Height: 6’2″ Weight: 205 pounds School: Kentucky Ryan Waldschmidt is a 6’2”, 205-pound outfielder who plays for the Kentucky Wildcats. Waldschmidt wasn’t a blue-chip high school recruit but turned himself into one of the top prospects in the 2024 MLB Draft class. Coming out of high school, Waldschmidt was a quality high school prospect in the talent-rich state of Florida. On Perfect Game, Waldschmidt was the 443rd-ranked prospect and the 84th-ranked shortstop in his class. Waldschmidt went undrafted and signed to play college baseball at Charleston Southern. During his freshman season, Waldschmidt earned a starting role and made an immediate impact for the Buccaneers. Waldschmidt slashed .310/.485/.559 with 45 hits, five doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 18 stolen bases, and a 1.043 OPS. Waldschmidt was named to the Big South All-Freshman Team and entered the Transfer Portal. He committed and enrolled at the University of Kentucky. In his first season at Kentucky, Waldschmidt was a key contributor for the Wildcats. Waldschmidt slashed .290/.427/.445 with 58 hits, fourteen doubles, five home runs, 37 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, 35 walks, and a .872 OPS. In his junior season, Waldschmidt had a breakout season and helped lead Kentucky to their first College World Series appearance. Waldschmidt slashed .359/.482/.657 with 71 hits, 17 doubles, fourteen home runs, 46 RBIs, 24 stolen bases, and a 1.139 OPS. Waldschmidt was named Second Team All-SEC. Ryan Waldschmidt doesn’t have any especially loud tools, but he’s a good ballplayer who can consistently make solid contact. His plate approach has improved, drawing nearly as many walks as strikeouts during his collegiate career. Strengths Consistently makes contact Drives ball to all fields High exit velocities Short swing at the plate Added some power to his game Weaknesses Injury history Average defender at best Below average arm Pro Comparison: Mark Canha Projection: Top 30 pick (29th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of June 22) Bottom Line Ryan Waldschmidt makes loud contact and has some of the best exit velocities in college baseball. He has a good plate approach and rarely chases pitches out of the zone. Waldschmidt is a high-floor prospect whose stock has risen significantly throughout this draft cycle. The Marlins desperately need to add more hitters to their farm system. They have one of the worst systems in baseball and have struggled to develop hitters in the past. Waldschmidt could be an option for the Fish. Check out the rest of our 2024 MLB Draft Profile series. View full article

Christian Moore is one of the hottest hitters in college baseball. He has had an incredible season for Tennessee and just hit for the second cycle in College World Series history. Moore could be an option for the Marlins with their first-round pick. Overview Position: 2B Height: 6’1″ Weight: 210 pounds School: Tennessee Christian Moore is a 6’1”, 210-pound second baseman who plays for the Tennessee Volunteers. Moore has been one of the biggest risers in this draft class and is one of the offensive leaders for the top-ranked Volunteers. Coming out of high school, Moore was a blue-chip prospect out of Brooklyn. On Perfect Game, Moore was the 91st-ranked prospect and the 23rd-ranked shortstop in his class. Moore was also the fifth-ranked prospect in New York. After going undrafted, Moore honored his commitment to the Tennessee Volunteers. During his freshman season, Moore shared playing time but still performed at a high level when given opportunities. Moore slashed .305/.443/.619 with 36 hits, three doubles, two triples, ten home runs, 36 RBIs, and a 1.062 OPS. As a sophomore, Moore was a full-time starter for the Volunteers and continued to rake at the plate. Moore played in 63 games and started in 61. Moore slashed .304/.444/.603 with 65 hits, thirteen doubles, 17 home runs, 50 RBIs, sixteen stolen bases, 50 walks, and a 1.046 OPS. During the 2024 season, Moore has turned into one of the most dangerous hitters in college baseball. He is slashing .384/.457/.814 with 107 hits, 19 doubles, 33 home runs, 72 RBIs, and a 1.271 OPS. He was named First Team All-American on Perfect Game. Moore was also named Second Team All-American on ABCA and NCBWA. On June 14, Moore became the second player in College World Series history to hit for the cycle. Moore is one of the top pure hitters in the 2024 draft class. The Empire State native has an aggressive approach and looks to do damage at the plate. Moore can drive the ball to all fields with power. Moore will likely be a middle infielder at the next level, but has the athletic ability to play center field if needed. Strengths Drives ball to all fields with power Good bat speed Advanced approach at the plate Runs very well Defensive versatility Weaknesses Chases at pitches out of the zone Needs to improve with hands Limited arm strength Pro Comparison: Marcus Semien Projection: Top 20 pick (33rd on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of June 18) Bottom Line Christian Moore would be an excellent addition to the Marlins farm system, bringing plus hit tools that are lacking throughout the organization. Moore could climb through the minor leagues quickly and develop into a quality major leaguer. View full article

The Miami Marlins will likely select a college bat with their first-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. Wake Forest's Seaver King could be an option for the Fish if he's available at pick #16. Overview Position: 3B/OF Height: 6’0″ Weight: 195 pounds School: Wake Forest Seaver King is a 6’0”, 195-pound third baseman and outfielder who plays for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. King was a blue-chip prospect in the Transfer Portal last offseason and played for a talent-rich Wake Forest roster. Coming out of high school, King wasn’t a highly-touted prospect and didn’t receive much D1 interest. King was a Top 1000 prospect and the 679th-ranked shortstop in his class. As expected, King went undrafted and signed with the Wingate Bulldogs. During his freshman season, King earned playing time and won a starting role with the Bulldogs. King slashed .381/.449/.640 with 53 hits, 18 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 44 RBIs, seven stolen bases, and a 1.089 OPS. He was named First Team All-SAC. As a sophomore, King had a breakout season and was one of the top Group of 5 hitters. King slashed .411/.457/.699 with 90 hits, 18 doubles, five triples, eleven home runs, 53 RBIs, thirteen stolen bases, and a 1.155 OPS. King was named First Team All-SAC and entered the Transfer Portal. King would ultimately commit to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. In his first season at Wake Forest, King had a productive season but did have growing pains playing in the ACC. On the season, King slashed .308/.377/.577 with 78 hits, fourteen doubles, three triples, 16 home runs, 25 walks, and a .954 OPS. King is a good contact hitter with plus speed and can play good defense. While his power numbers improved, King’s power isn’t likely to carry over at the next level. His swing is also flat and he has a line-drive approach at the plate. Strengths Consistently makes contact Drives ball to all fields Good bat speed Runs very well Defensive versatility Weaknesses Limited power hitter Chases at pitches out of the zone Doesn’t draw a lot of walks Pro Comparison: Whit Merrifield Projection: Top 25 pick (12th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of June 16) Bottom Line Seaver King could be a quality big league bat. He has hit well at all levels, including in wood bat leagues over the summer. He excels at making contact and he’s a plus defender who can play all over the diamond. However, he doesn’t seem to have a super high ceiling. The Marlins desperately need to add more hitters to their farm system. They have one of the worst systems in baseball and have struggled to develop hitters in the past. Seaver King could be an option for them. Check out the rest of our 2024 MLB Draft Profile series. View full article

The Miami Marlins are expected to take a college hitter with their first-round selection in the 2024 MLB Draft. Kaelen Culpepper is coming off another excellent season and could be the future shortstop for the Fish. Overview Position: SS Height: 6’0″ Weight: 185 pounds School: Kansas State Kaelen Culpepper is a 6’0”, 185-pound middle infielder who plays for the Kansas State Wildcats. Culpepper was one of the top middle infielders in college baseball. He had a big junior season and almost led the Kansas State Wildcats to the College World Series. Coming out of high school, Culpepper was a quality high school prospect. Culpepper didn’t receive a ton of national attention, but did play for an elite program with the East Cobb Astros. On Perfect Game, Culpepper was the 500th-ranked prospect in his class. During his freshman season, Culpepper earned a starting role at third base for the Wildcats. Culpepper batted .283 with 47 hits, nine doubles, five home runs, and 22 RBIs in 51 games. He was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman team. As a sophomore, Culpepper had a breakout season and was one of the top infielders in the conference. Culpepper slashed .325/.423/.579 with 49 hits, eight doubles, ten home runs, 41 RBIs, nine stolen bases, and a .999 OPS. During the 2024 season, Culpepper had another highly productive junior season. Culpepper slashed .328/.422/.573 with 79 hits, fourteen doubles, six triples, eleven home runs, 58 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, and a .994 OPS. Culpepper is a line-drive hitter with a disciplined approach at the plate and can drive the ball to all fields. He has plus speed and is an excellent defensive player. While he might not play shortstop at the next level, Culpepper could be an excellent defensive third baseman. Strengths Advanced plate approach Drives ball to all fields Plus defensive third baseman Good bat speedRuns very well Weaknesses Flat swing Limited power hitter Pro Comparison: Tim Anderson Projection: First-round pick (33rd on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of June 10) Bottom Line Kaelen Culpepper was one of the best players in the Big 12 Conference last season. He also has a chance to be the first Kansas State player to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft. The Marlins desperately need to add more hitters to their farm system. They have one of the worst farm systems in baseball and have struggled to develop hitters in the past. Miami could be an option for Culpepper. He’s a high-floor prospect who can develop into a better power hitter if he starts to loft the ball. Check out the rest of our 2024 MLB Draft Profile series. View full article

The Miami Marlins have a major need at the catcher position. Sam Houston State's Walker Janek might be the top overall catcher in this draft class. Overview Position: C Height: 6’0″ Weight: 190 pounds School: Sam Houston State Walker Janek is a 6’0”, 190-pound catcher who plays for the Sam Houston State Bearkats. Janek is one of the top-hitting catchers in the 2024 draft class. Coming out of high school, Janek was not a highly-touted prospect. He didn’t get attention from Power 5 programs and MLB scouts. On Perfect Game, Janek was the 211th-ranked catcher in his draft class. During his freshman season, Janek worked his way into a starting role and played very well for the Bearkats. Janek slashed .308/.432/.456 with 56 hits, four doubles, seven home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .888 OPS. He was named to the WAC All-Defensive Team. In his sophomore season, Janek broke out and turned himself into one of the top catchers in college baseball. Janek slashed .301/.377/.549 with 68 hits, 17 doubles, thirteen home runs, 65 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, and a .926 OPS. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the WAC Tournament. Janek also batted .281 with five home runs, seven stolen bases, and a .838 OPS in the Cape Cod Summer Collegiate League. During the 2024 season, Janek continued to improve in all aspects. Janek is slashing .364/.467/.709 with 80 hits, fifteen doubles, 17 home runs, 58 RBIs, thirteen stolen bases, 40 walks, and a 1.185 OPS. Janek runs well for a catcher and is also a smart baserunner. He was also named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year. Strengths All-around good hit tools Good bat speed Excellent defensive catcher Improved approach at the plate Above-average runner as a catcher Performed well in Cape Cod Weaknesses Chases pitches out of the zone Tends to be a little pull-happy Speed likely won’t translate at the next level Pro Comparison: Elias Díaz Projection: Top 30 pick (28th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of June 1) Bottom Line The Miami Marlins have an organizational void at catcher. Production from their major league backstops ranks at the bottom of the league and the Marlins don't have a Top 10 catching prospect in the pipeline. Walker Janek’s defense alone could make him the top catching prospect in the Marlins farm system. If his bat translates to the next level, Janek could be a quality-hitting catcher with plus defensive skills. Check out the rest of our 2024 MLB Draft Profile series. View full article

Simulating who the Marlins could select with their first four picks in the upcoming draft. The 2024 MLB Draft is a month-and-a-half away as it begins on Sunday, July 14. After finishing the 2023 season with an 84-78 record (third in the NL East), the Miami Marlins hold the 16th overall pick and will have the 16th pick in each subsequent round minus the compensation and competitive balance rounds. Miami's amateur scouting department is being led by Frankie Piliere for the first time. For the first mock draft, we’ll only simulate three rounds—the 16th, 56th, 70th, and 92nd overall selections—but the depth of this exercise will continue to expand as the draft date approaches. Here is the Miami Marlins 2024 MLB Mock Draft 1.0. First Round (16th overall)—Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State With the 16th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select third baseman Cam Smith. Under the new regime, the Marlins take one of the top in-state prospects with their first-round selection. Smith is one of the top infielders in the 2024 draft class. He’s having a monster season for the Seminoles and is one of the leaders in their potent offense. Smith is also one of the best draft-eligible sophomores in this draft class. On the season, Smith is slashing .396/.487/.661 with 91 hits, 20 doubles, thirteen home runs, 48 RBIs, three stolen bases, 33 walks, and a 1.148 OPS. Smith was also outstanding last summer in the Cape Cod Summer Collegiate League. He earned the Most Outstanding Pro Prospect honors. With the 2024 draft class full of collegiate-hitting prospects, Smith has a chance to be one of the best prospects to come out of this draft class. Smith has plus hit tools and a great arm, which could make him even more value playing an important defensive position. Smith is 13th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of May 28. Second Round (56th overall)—Kavares Tears, OF, Tennessee With the 56th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select outfielder Kavares Tears. The Marlins grab another talented sophomore who’s having a monster season for one of the teams in college baseball this season. Tears has been one of the biggest risers this spring. The left-handed hitting outfielder was redshirted in his freshman and only played in 29 games last season due to multiple injuries. Now fully healthy, Tears is tearing the cover off the ball and looks to lead the Tennessee Volunteers in a long postseason run to Omaha. On the season, Tears is slashing .344/.440/.672 with 67 hits, thirteen doubles, 17 home runs, 48 RBIs, 35 walks, and a 1.112 OPS. Tears is a potential five-tool prospect with his plus-hitting tools and excellent defense. At the plate, Tears has a line-drive approach and consistently barrels balls. On defense, he’s a good speed and gets great jumps. While he plays right field at Tennessee, some scout believes he can be a center fielder at the next level. Scouts have also praised his work ethic and athletic abilities. Smith is 68th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of May 28. Competitive Balance Round B (70th overall)—Carson Wiggins, RHP, Roland HS (OK) With the 70th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select right-handed pitcher Carson Wiggins. The Marlins grab their first high school prospect of the 2024 draft class with a raw but talented arm who has starter potential. Wiggins is one of the top high school pitchers in this draft class. A 6’5”, 210-pound right-handed pitcher from Oklahoma. Wiggins is also the younger brother of the Cubs' second-round pick last draft, Jaxon Wiggins. On Perfect Game, Wiggins is the 54th-ranked prospect and the fourteen-ranked right-handed pitcher in his class. He’s also the third-ranked prospect and #1 pitcher from the Sooner State. On the mound, Wiggins possesses a three-pitch mix which includes his fastball, slider, and changeup. Wiggins has a power fastball which sits in the mid-90s with east. He’s also been clocked at 99 mph with late running movement. His slider is a plus pitch which generates a ton of swing-and-miss and sits in the mid-80s. Wiggins needs to get more feel for his changeup, but it has a chance of being a quality pitch with some development. While Wiggins is an excellent athlete and pitches with ease, his control needs some work. He also needs to work on his mechanics and getting a more repeatable delivery. The Marlins have excelled at developing pitching prospects and Wiggins could be a steal for the Fish in Competitive Balance Round B. Smith is 80th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of May 28. Third Round (92nd overall)—Ted Burton, 2B, Texas A&M With the 92nd pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select second baseman Ted Burton. The Marlins grab a senior infielder in an effort to save some bonus pool money considering that Wiggins will likely need an overslot signing bonus to keep him away from Arkansas. The former Michigan graduate transfer has continued to find success in the SEC playing for the Texas A&M Aggies. On the season, Burton is slashing .287/.444/.517 with 50 hits, eleven doubles, one triple, nine home runs, 38 RBIs, ten stolen bases, and a .962 OPS. While Burton won't necessarily be the "best player available" at pick No. 92, he is still a quality prospect. He’s a career .286 collegiate hitter in the Big Ten and SEC. Burton is a two-time All-Big Ten player with some defensive versatility. View full article

Could "Tommy Tanks" help add some much-needed power to the Miami Marlins lineup for years to come? Overview Position: 3B Height: 6’1″ Weight: 228 pounds School: LSU Tommy White is a 6’1”, 228-pound corner infielder who plays for the LSU Tigers. White emerged as a true freshman on the college baseball scene and wowed everyone with his elite raw power. He has been one of the most dangerous hitters in college baseball ever since. Coming out of high school, White was a blue-chip prospect. He was a Perfect Game All-American and the 18th-ranked prospect in his class. White was also the top-ranked third baseman and #2 prospect in the state of Florida. He went undrafted and signed with North Carolina State. During his freshman season, White earned a starting role and immediately became one of the best power bats in college baseball. White slashed .362/.425/.757 with 85 hits, twelve doubles, 27 home runs, 74 RBIs, 23 walks, and a 1.182 OPS. He was named the ACC Freshman of the Year and was a Freshman All-American. After that monster 2022 season, White entered the Transfer Portal and committed to the LSU Tigers. In his first season at LSU, White helped lead the Tigers to a national championship. He slashed .374/.432/.725 with 102 hits, 24 doubles, 24 home runs, 105 RBIs, 64 runs scored, and a 1.158 OPS. He was named First Team All-SEC and an All-American. During the 2024 season, White has continued to be an outstanding run producer. On the season, White is slashing .339/.409/.682 with 84 hits, eleven doubles, one triple, 24 home runs, 69 RBIs, 25 walks, and a 1.090 OPS. Tommy White is an elite power hitter with plus hit tools and can drive the ball to all fields. While his offensive upside is enticing, he doesn’t provide much value with his glove and speed. Strengths Elite raw power Consistently barrels balls 20+ home runs in all three years of college baseball Power should translate to the next level High contact rate Weaknesses Chases a lot of pitches out of the zone Below-average speed Limited defensively Pro Comparison: Jake Burger Projection: Top 20 pick (23rd on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of May 25) Bottom Line Tommy White is among the best hitters in the NCAA. White has shown he can be a consistent 20-30 home run hitter at the next level for whoever drafts him. There is a lot of pressure on his bat, though, because his game is lacking in other areas. The Marlins have one of the worst farm systems in baseball and have struggled to develop hitters in the past. Miami could be a good landing spot for White. However, the last offensive-heavy prospect they selected in the first round out of LSU (Jacob Berry in 2022) has not panned out in the minor leagues. Check out the rest of our 2024 MLB Draft Profile series. View full article

While the 2024 MLB Draft is college-heavy, Theo Gillen is one of the top high school prospects in the country and could be a great fit for the Fish. Gillen has plus hitting tools and could be a highly productive big leaguer in the future. Overview Position: INF Height: 6’2″ Weight: 195 pounds School: Westlake HS (TX) Commitment: Texas Theo Gillen is a 6’2”, 195-pound middle infielder out of Austin, Texas. The 2024 draft class is filled with high-level college prospects, but Gillen is one of the high school prospects in this draft class. On MLB Pipeline, Gillen is the 26th-ranked prospect in this draft class and the third-ranked shortstop. On Perfect Game, Gillen is the fourteenth-ranked prospect and the third-ranked shortstop in the country. He’s also the #2 prospect in the Lone Star State. At the plate, Gillen is one of the best pure hitters in this draft class. MLB Pipeline gives him a 60-grade hit tool and also a 55-grade power tool. Gillen runs very well as he’s been clocked running a 6.82 60-yard dash on Perfect Game. Gillen's defense needs some work. His injury history is one of the biggest red flags. During his high school career, Gillen suffered a torn labrum as a sophomore and had a knee injury last season. Strengths 60-grade hit tool Great plate discipline Drives the ball to all fields Great bat speed Plus speed Will add more power as he fills in his frame Weaknesses Weak arm since labrum surgery Likely plays second base at the next level Lengthy injury history Pro Comparison: Brett Boone Projection: Top 30 pick (36th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of May 17) Bottom Line Theo Gillen is among the few prep prospects deserving of serious consideration for the Miami Marlins with the 16th overall draft pick. Gillen has the hit tools to be a productive big league hitter who can average 20 home runs in a season. If he stays healthy, he might end up being one of the top players in this draft class. Check out the rest of our 2024 MLB Draft Profile series. View full article

James Tibbs is one of the best hitters in all of college baseball and is having a monster season for the FSU Seminoles. Could he be Miami's first draft pick under this new regime? Overview Position: OF Height: 6’0″ Weight: 201 pounds School: Florida State James Tibbs III is a 6’0”, 201-pound outfielder who plays for the Florida State Seminoles. Tibbs is one of the top pure hitters in the 2024 draft class. The Peach State native has raked in all three seasons at Florida State and is currently having his best season yet. Coming out of high school, Tibbs was a blue-chip prospect and one of the top signees in Florida State’s 2021 recruiting class. On Perfect Game, Tibbs was the 108th-ranked prospect and the 19th-ranked outfielder in his class. He was also the ninth-ranked prospect and #2 outfielder in Georgia. In his freshman season, Tibbs earned a starting outfield role for the Seminoles. Tibbs played in 56 games and started in 45. He slashed .300/.411/.553 with 51 hits, thirteen doubles, ten home runs, 32 RBIs, and a .964 OPS. Tibbs was named a Second Team Freshman All-American. In his sophomore season, Tibbs started in all 54 games and was arguably the best hitter on FSU’s roster. Tibbs slashed .339/.471/.682 with 66 hits, fourteen doubles, 17 home runs, 43 RBIs, 48 walks, and a 1.153 OPS. He was also a Cape Cod All-Star and won the league's home run derby. During the 2024 season, Tibbs has been incredible at the plate for one of the best teams in college baseball. He is slashing .387/.494/.848 with 74 hits, 17 doubles, 23 home runs, 76 RBIs, 37 walks, and a 1.342 OPS. Tibbs is an excellent hitter with plus power and has improved his plate approach. The lefty has only struck out 21 times in 50 games and has walked sixteen more times than he has struck out. Unfortunately, Tibbs doesn’t provide much value with his defense and speed. Strengths 60-grade hit tool Plus power numbers Raked in the Cape Cod League Confident and smart hitter at the plate Shows improvement every season Weaknesses Limited defensively Below-average speed Has struggled against offspeed pitches in the past Pro Comparison: Andrew Vaughn Projection: Top 20 pick (25th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of May 15) Bottom Line For the latest Miami Marlins rebuild to be more successful than the previous one, the Marlins need to improve their evaluation of draft prospects, especially hitting prospects. James Tibbs III is a high-floor option who could quickly get through their minor league system. However, the draft is an inexact science. The same characteristics applied to their 2022 first-rounder, Jacob Berry, and he has struggled in the minors. Check out the rest of our 2024 MLB Draft Profile series. View full article

A pure hitter who has high exit velocities and has started to lift the ball more often, Carson Benge could be an intriguing fit for the Miami Marlins. Overview Position: OF Height: 6’1″ Weight: 184 pounds School: Oklahoma State Carson Benge is a 6’1”, 184-pound outfielder who plays for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Benge is a well-rounded hitting prospect who could also pitch at the next level. On MLB Pipeline, Benge is the 20th-ranked prospect for the 2024 MLB Draft. Coming out of high school, Benge was highly regarded, especially in his region. On Perfect Game, Benge was the 325th-ranked prospect and the 67th-ranked shortstop in the Class of 2021. He was also the fourth-ranked prospect and #1 shortstop in the state of Oklahoma. In his freshman season, Benge missed all of the 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery. He was forced to redshirt since he suffered his elbow injury in February. Benge would rehab and prepare to start in the 2023 season. As a redshirt freshman, Benge was one of the best utility players in college baseball. Benge played in 58 games and started in 52 games. Benge slashed .345/.468/.538 with 68 hits, 17 doubles, seven home runs, 43 RBIs, eight stolen bases, and a 1.006 OPS. He was also named to the All-Big 12 First Team and Freshman All-American Team. At the plate, Benge is a pure contact hitter who has added power to his game this season (13 HR in 48 G). He has a good combination of bat-to-ball skills and consistently barrels balls. Benge a good defensive player who could also throw in the low 90s and tops out at 94 mph on the mound. Strengths Excellent bat-to-ball skills Consistently makes loud contact Drives the ball well to the opposite field Added some power this season Controls the strike zone well Plus arm strength Weaknesses Was considered a slap hitter last season Might be moved to RF Overreliant on his fastball as a pitcher Needs to develop secondary pitches if he’ll pitch in the minors Pro Comparison: Michael Brantley Projection: Top 20 pick (28th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of May 10) Bottom Line The Marlins are in the initial stages of their rebuild. Their recent Luis Arraez trade confirms that they are more focused on the future of the club than the present. However, they have tried this before just six years ago. For the latest rebuild to be more successful than the previous one, the Marlins need to improve their evaluation of draft prospects, especially hitting prospects. Carson Benge is one of the best pure hitters in this draft class—he doesn’t strike out a lot and has added more power to his game. View full article

The new Miami Marlins regime has officially begun a rebuild. Could Florida State's Cam Smith be their first draft pick this summer? Overview Position: 3B Height: 6’3″ Weight: 224 pounds School: Florida State Cam Smith is a 6’3”, 224-pound third baseman who plays for the Florida State Seminoles. Smith is one of the top draft-eligible sophomores in the 2024 draft class. He’s also one of the biggest risers in this draft class. Coming out of high school, Cam Smith was a blue-chip prospect. On Perfect Game, Smith was the 53rd-ranked prospect and the eighth-ranked shortstop in the Class of 2022. He was also the eighth-ranked prospect and #1 shortstop in the Sunshine State. After going undrafted, Smith honored his commitment and enrolled at Florida State. Smith earned the starting role in his freshman season and played in all 51 games last season. He slashed .258/.326/.517 with 54 hits, eight doubles, five triples, twelve home runs, 36 RBIs, 21 walks, and .843 OPS. He was also named to the ACC All-Freshman Team. As a sophomore, Smith is having a breakout season for the Seminoles. Smith is slashing .398/.481/.635 with 72 hits, fourteen doubles, one triple, nine home runs, 36 RBIs, 23 walks, and a 1.116 OPS. Smith is an excellent hitter with a plus hit tool and above-average power. He did very well at the plate in Cape Cod last summer as he was named to the Cape Cod All-Star Game and posted a .981 OPS. He’s also a good defensive third baseman with a great arm. Strengths Plus hit tools Raked in the Cape Cod League Excellent arm strength Has improved his swing-and-miss Weaknesses Tends to chase pitches out of the zone Needs to show more power with his size Below-average runner Pro Comparison: Josh Jung Projection: Top 25 pick (14th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of May 7) Bottom Line The Marlins are in the initial stages of their rebuild. Their recent Luis Arraez trade confirms that they are more focused on the future of the club than the present. However, they have tried this before just six years ago. For the latest rebuild to be more successful than the previous one, the Marlins need to improve their evaluation of draft prospects, especially hitting prospects. Cam Smith, a plus hitter in a competitive conference who plays good defense, could be an option for the Fish with the 16th overall pick. View full article

Another high school pitching prospect who could be on the Marlins' radar, William Schmidt has one of the best breaking pitches in this draft along with a mid-to-upper 90s fastball. Overview Position: RHP Height: 6’4″ Weight: 180 pounds School: Catholic HS (LA) Commitment: LSU William Schmidt is a 6’4”, 180-pound right-handed pitcher out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The 2024 draft class is filled with high-level college prospects, but Schmidt is one of the top prep prospects in this class. Schmidt is 18th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board. On Perfect Game, Schmidt is the sixth-ranked prospect and the #1 right-handed pitcher in the country. He’s also the #1 prospect in Louisiana. The 18-year-old Schmidt has recorded 93 strikeouts in 56 ⅔ innings pitched this season. On the mound, Schmidt has a three-pitch mix consisting of a fastball, curveball, and changeup. His curveball is an elite pitch and one of the best breaking pitches in this draft class. It has a 3,000+ RPM spin rate, which tops all high school prospects and most college pitchers. Schmidt has a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and has been clocked at 99 mph this spring. He also has a good feel for his changeup. Strengths Elite curveball Power fastball High spin rate on all of his pitches Strike-thrower Still has room to fill in his frame Weaknesses Needs to further develop a third pitch Tends to leave pitches over the heart of the plate Pro Comparison: Charlie Morton Projection: Top 25 pick Bottom Line The Miami Marlins have done well drafting and developing pitching prospects. William Schmidt fits the mold that the Marlins have liked in recent years. One obstacle that Miami might face is that Schmidt has a strong verbal commitment to LSU. He will need to be offered an overslot bonus to convince him to turn pro. View full article