Hector Rodriguez

Overview Position: OF Height: 6’3″ Weight: 200 pounds School: Summerville HS (SC) Commitment: South Carolina PJ Morlando is a 6’3”, 200-pound, left-handed-hitting outfielder from the South. A ton of college hitters are expected to be taken early in the 2024 MLB Draft. After them, Morlando should be one of the first prep prospects off the board. On MLB Pipeline, Morlando is the fourteenth-ranked prospect and the sixth-ranked outfielder in this year's draft class. On Perfect Game, Morlando is the top-ranked high school prospect in the country. He's 18th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board. At the plate, Morlando has some of the most impressive raw power in this draft class. He consistently makes loud contact and has an advanced plate approach for his age. Over the summer, Morlando won the High School Home Run Derby and won the MVP award in the All-American Game. Morlando’s hitting tools could give him one of the highest ceilings in his class when it’s all said and done. Strengths Elite raw power Barrels balls consistently Plus bat speed Performs well against elite competition Puts the ball in the air Weaknesses Can get pull happy Doesn’t provide much defense Average baserunner Pro Comparison: Josh Lowe Projection: Top 20 pick Bottom Line The Miami Marlins have one of the worst farm systems in all of baseball. This draft class will help replenish a farm system depleted of talent. PJ Morlando could be a player who we see climb quickly through the prospect rankings and farm system with his power. Morlando could be a really exciting prospect for the Fish if they select him with the 16th overall selection.

Overview Position: RHP Height: 6’3″ Weight: 210 pounds School: Wake Forest Chase Burns is a 6’3”, 210-pound right-handed pitcher who plays for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Burns is one of the top prospects in the 2024 MLB Draft class. Coming out of high school, Burns was an elite prospect in the Class of 2021. On Perfect Game, Burns was the seventeenth-ranked recruit and the fifth-ranked right-handed pitcher in his class. Burns was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 20th round that year, but had already announced he would honor his commitment to the University of Tennessee. In 2022, Burns was named the Freshman of the Year on D1 Baseball. He was also a First-Team All-American across all media outlets. Burns made seventeen appearances and fourteen starts. He posted a 9-2 record with a 2.91 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 11.5 K/9, and struck out 103 strikeouts in 80 ⅓ innings pitched. In his sophomore season, Burns was a Preseason All-American but struggled on the mound. While his strikeout rate went up, everything else suffered. Burns posted a 5-3 record with a 4.25 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and had a 7.5 H/9 in 72 innings pitched. After the season, Burns entered the transfer portal and signed with Wake Forest. During his time at Wake Forest, Burns has dominated on the mound. Through nine games (all starts), he has a 7-1 record with a 3.00 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9, 16.6 K/9, and struck out 105 batters in 57 innings pitched. Burns has a three-pitch mix which includes two plus pitches. Burns’ fastball velocity sits 95-98 mph and has touched 102 mph. However, his best pitch is a tight slider that generates a ton of swing-and-miss. His slider has a 61% whiff percentage in 2024. Burns rarely uses his changeup. Strengths Two elite pitches Power fastball Elite slider Strike-thrower Extremely high strikeout rate Weaknesses Rarely throws his changeup Struggled in his sophomore Relief pitcher risk Needs to improve on command Pro Comparison: Zack Wheeler Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line Chase Burns has been outstanding this season, returning to his freshman season form. He might be the top arm available in a weak crop of draft-eligible pitchers. Burns' stock has been trending up and he currently ranks fifth on our 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board, which means Miami’s chances of drafting him aren’t high.

Overview Position: LHP Height: 6’3″ Weight: 225 pounds School: Arkansas Hagen Smith is a 6’3”, 225-pound left-handed pitcher who plays for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Smith is one of the top prospects in the 2024 MLB Draft class and might be the No. 1 draft-eligible left-hander. Coming out of high school, Smith was one of the highest-ranked prospects in the Class of 2021. On Perfect Game, Smith was the 71st-ranked recruit and the twelfth-ranked left-handed pitcher in his class. Smith went undrafted and honored his commitment to Arkansas. In his freshman season, Smith became one of the starting pitchers in Arkansas’ weekend rotation. Smith made 20 appearances and started in 15 games. He posted a 7-2 record with a 4.66 ERA, two saves, and struck out 90 batters in 77 ⅓ innings pitched. Smith was named a Freshman All-American and selected to the Freshman All-SEC team. As a sophomore, Smith had a breakout season for the Razorbacks. Smith pitched in 18 games (eleven starts). He posted an 8-2 record with a 3.64 ERA, two saves, and 109 strikeouts in 72 ⅓ innings pitched. He was either named a First Team All-American. Here in 2024, Smith might be having the best season of any pitcher in college baseball. Smith has started in eight games, posting a 6-0 record with a 1.76 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched. Smith also has an 18.2 K/9, which leads the nation. On the mound, Smith possesses a three-pitch mix that includes two elite pitches. His fastball sits 93-95 mph and tops out at 98 mph. Smith also has one of the best sliders in this draft class that’s devastating versus left-handed hitters. He also has some feel for his splitter. Strengths Two elite pitches Power fastball Creates a ton of swing-and-miss Slider misses barrels Best K/9 in the NCAA Weaknesses Needs to improve his control Struggles to locate his splitter Needs to show more consistency Pro Comparison: Jesús Luzardo Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line Left-hander Hagen Smith has been outstanding on the mound this season. The ability he's shown in college should allow him to immediately become one of MLB's best pitching prospects. Smith could end up being a top-ten selection in the 2024 MLB Draft, according to mock drafts from major industry outlets. The Marlins have the 16th pick, which means their chances of selecting him aren’t high, but he is still worth monitoring throughout this draft cycle just in case he falls further than projected.

Overview Position: LHP Height: 6’2″ Weight: 205 pounds School: Saguaro HS (AZ) Commitment: LSU Cam Caminiti is a 6’2”, 205-pound left-handed pitcher from the west coast. The 2024 draft class is filled with high-level college prospects, but Caminiti is one of the prep prospects in this class. On MLB Pipeline, Caminiti is the nineteenth-ranked prospect and the fourth-ranked left-handed pitcher in the draft class. On Perfect Game, Caminiti is the fifth-ranked prospect and the #1 left-handed pitcher in the country. He’s also the #1 prospect in Arizona. On the mound, Caminiti features a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. Caminiti’s fastball is his best pitch which sits in the low 90s and tops out at 97 mph. Caminiti shows promise with all of his offspeed pitches, but doesn’t use his changeup as much as his breaking balls. In six appearances for Saguaro High School this season, Caminiti has a 0.49 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 28 ⅔ innings pitched with only two earned runs allowed. Strengths Four-pitch mix Power fastball Will be 17 years old when drafted Strike-thrower Repeatable delivery Weaknesses Inconsistent finish on pitches Doesn’t use changeup Tends to leave pitches over the heart of the plate Pro Comparison: Ranger Suárez Projection: Top 25 pick Bottom Line The Miami Marlins have done well when it comes to selecting pitching prospects through the past couple of draft classes. Cam Caminiti fits the mold of what the Marlins like when it comes to drafting pitchers, though it's unclear how those preferences may have changed entering 2024 under a new front office that includes first-time director of amateur scouting Frankie Piliere. Either way, Caminiti is one of the best pitching prospects in this draft class and could be available with the sixteenth overall pick. Want to read more profiles of 2024 draft prospects? Find the rest of this series here.

Overview Position: C Height: 5’11″ Weight: 200 pounds School: California Caleb Lomavita is a 5’11”, 200-pound catcher who plays for the California Golden Bears. Lomavita is one of the top prospects in the 2024 MLB Draft class and someone who could be on the Marlins’ radar with the 16th overall pick in the first round. Coming out of high school, Lomavita wasn’t a super highly touted national prospect, but he was rated the best prep prospect in Hawaii. Lomavita was a Top 500 prospect and the 81st-ranked catching prospect in his class. He also played at St. Louis High School, which was the same high school for former Marlins pitcher Jordan Yamamoto. During his first season at California, Lomavita earned the starting role and made an immediate impact for the Golden Bears. Lomavita was named a Freshman All-American and was also selected to the All-Pac 12 First Team. Lomavita slashed .272/.345/.414 with 63 hits, ten doubles, seven home runs, fifteen stolen bases, and 22 walks. In his sophomore season, Lomavita’s offensive production went up a notch with more power. He slashed .316/.367/.612 with 65 hits, thirteen doubles, sixteen home runs, 43 RBIs, and a .979 OPS. He was also selected to the Cape Cod Summer Collegiate League. So far during the 2024 season, Lomavita has been crushing the ball for the Golden Bears. Entering Sunday, he's slashing .345/.398/.679 with 28 hits, a team-high nine home runs, 28 RBIs, five stolen bases, and a 1.077 OPS. Besides his hit tool, Lomavita is also a sound defensive catcher with plus arm strength. The 21-year-old junior still has some room for improvement when it comes to his defense, but his offense and above-average speed makes him arguably the best catching prospect in the 2024 draft class. Strengths Plus hit tools Consistently barrels balls Can drive the ball to all fields Runs well for a catcher Plate approach has improved since freshman season Plus arm strength Weaknesses Doesn’t draw a lot of walks Still developing his plate discipline Framing needs some work Could move to third base in the future Pro Comparison: Keibert Ruiz Projection: Top 25 pick Bottom Line Caleb Lomavita is a talented backstop who can hit and hit for power. Lomavita’s defense will continue to improve with time, but his arm strength is already among the best in his draft class. The Marlins farm system continues to lack high-level catching talent. Lomavita could be available to them with the 16th pick. It’ll be interesting to see how Lomavita looks the rest of the season against mostly Pac-12 competition.

Heading into the All-Star break, the Miami Marlins had one of the best records in baseball and also had the best start to a season in their franchise’s history. They were fourteen games above .500 and the top Wild Card team in the National League. But after a heartbreaking 3-2 loss on Saturday to the Washington Nationals, the Marlins are 65-65 and rapidly falling out of contention. The Marlins were a strike away from evening the series and found a way to lose. Rookie phenom right-handed pitcher Eury Pérez got the start and was spectacular once again. Perez pitched six innings allowing two hits, one unearned run, one walk, and seven strikeouts. https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-08/26/fbf77ee2-718d474b-97c71a3b-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4After Pérez’s outing, Miami handed the ball to left-handed relief pitcher Andrew Nardi. The southpaw walked one batter but looked great keeping the Nationals off the scoreboard. Tanner Scott came in for the eighth and was excellent once again with a 1-2-3 inning. The Marlins offense continues to struggle putting runs on the scoreboard. First baseman Josh Bell didn't get things going for the Fish until the bottom of the sixth. His opposite-field home run to left field tied the score at 1-1. Bell has eight home runs in 22 games since being traded to the Marlins. All-Star Jorge Soler would give the Marlins the lead with a solo home run to left field, his 34th of the season. However, the Marlins fell apart in the top of the ninth with a 2-1 lead. Lane Thomas led off against David Robertson with a triple to center field. Jazz Chisholm Jr. laid out trying to make another great, but the ball went off the tip of his glove and rolled all the way to the wall. The Nationals had runners on the corners with no outs before Luis Arraez made an incredible play at second to throw Thomas out at home. After Carter Kieboom popped out to first, the Marlins were an out away from securing the win. Jake Alu would come through with a game-tying RBI single up the middle scoring Jacob Young, who made his MLB debut today. To make matters worse, Michael Chavis scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball from Jacob Stallings. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/fc6ae369-fc80-490f-a88e-e224084cb6c9.mp4Aside from that, third baseman Jake Burger had another productive game going 2-for-3 with two knocks. Burger is hitting .425 while playing at LoanDepot Park. Jon Berti was caught stealing for the fifth time, matching his total from 2022 (despite far fewer attempts). The Marlins went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. What’s next? The Miami Marlins will look to avoid getting swept by the Washington Nationals in the series finale Sunday afternoon. The Nats haven't swept them at LoanDepot Park since the 2019 season. The Marlins will likely use an "opener" instead of a conventional starting pitcher, but they haven't announced who that will be yet. The Nationals will hand the ball to right-handed pitcher Trevor Williams, who's coming off a scoreless outing against the Philadelphia Phillies. The first pitch is at 1:40 pm EST on Bally Sports Florida. Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images

The 2023 MLB Draft is finally here, beginning on Sunday and continuing through Tuesday. The Miami Marlins will have one of the earliest picks in each round due to their poor performance during the 2022 season (finished with a 69-93 record, fourth in the NL East). The Fish hold the tenth overall pick and will have the tenth pick in each subsequent round minus the compensation and competitive balance rounds. For the third and final Fish On First mock draft, we will simulate the first five rounds—the 10th, 35th, 47th, 78th, 110th, and 146th overall selections Here is the Miami Marlins 2023 MLB Mock Draft 3.0. First Round (10th overall)- Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Ole Miss With the tenth pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select shortstop Jacob Gonzalez. The Marlins grab one of the top shortstop prospects in the draft class. Jacob Gonzalez is a 6’2”, 200-pound shortstop that played for the Ole Miss Rebels. On MLB Pipeline, Gonzalez is the 18th-ranked prospect and the sixth-ranked shortstop in this draft class. Gonzalez had a great collegiate career in which he was consistently good and helped lead the Rebels to a national championship in 2022. I expect Miami to draft a college bat and Gonzalez seems to be a safe pick here. Competitive Balance Round A (35th overall)—Jake Gelof, 3B, Virginia With the 35th pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select third baseman Jake Gelof. The Marlins grab one of the best power hitters in all of college baseball. Jake Gelof is a 6’1”, 195-pound third baseman from the Virginia Cavaliers. On MLB Pipeline, Gelof is the 35th-ranked prospect and the fifth-ranked third baseman in this draft class. He is also the all-time home run leader at Virginia. Gelof is an aggressive hitter that’s looking to hit and hit for power. He has got plus power potential especially to his pull side. For an aggressive hitter, Gelof doesn’t strike out a ton and drew over 40 walks in his last two seasons. Second Round (47th overall)—Cameron Johnson, LHP, IMG Academy (FL) With the 47th pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select left-handed pitcher Cameron Johnson. The Marlins use their second-rounder on their first pitcher and high school prospect in this draft class. Cameron Johnson is a 6’5”, 240-pound left-handed pitcher from the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. On MLB Pipeline, Johnson is the 42nd-ranked prospect and the third-ranked left-handed pitcher in the draft. Johnson possesses a four-pitch mix that’s highlighted by his power fastball and a nasty slider. Johnson’s fastball sits 94-96 mph and has touched 98 mph. His slider and curveball were good out pitches, but Johnson has struggled with control and getting a good feel for his changeup. Third Round (78th overall)—Joey Volchko, RHP, Redwood HS (CA) With the 78th pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select right-handed pitcher Joey Volchko. The Marlins grab their first right-handed pitching prospect and select a high school arm from the west coast. Joey Volchko is a 6’4”, 210-pound right-handed pitcher from Redwood High School in California. On MLB Pipeline, Volchko is the 80th-ranked prospect and the seventh-ranked prep right-handed pitcher in the draft. Volchko also possesses a four-pitch mix. Volchko has a plus fastball that sits 92-94 mph and tops out at 96 mph. His slider and curveball are his best secondary pitches. Some scouts have even drawn some comparisons to Noah Snydergaard. Fourth Round (110th overall)—Michael Carico, C, Davidson With the 110th pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select catcher Michael Carico. Miami uses their fourth-round pick to draft a catcher, which is currently a thin position in the organization. Michael Carico is a 6’0”, 190-pound catcher who played for the Davidson Wildcats. On MLB Pipeline, Carico is the 110th-ranked prospect and the fourth-ranked catcher in this draft class. The Davidson backstop didn’t play much this past season as he suffered a broken wrist and only played in 21 games. However, he slashed .350/.514/.688 with 28 hits, six doubles, seven home runs, 17 walks, and a 1.202 OPS. He’s also only a 20-year-old prospect. Fifth Round (146th overall)—Ethan O’Donnell, OF, Virginia With the 146th pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select outfielder Ethan O’Donnell. Miami finally drafts an outfielder prospect and grabs another top hitter. Ethan O’Donnell is a 6’1”, 190-pound outfielder and another Virginia Cavalier. O’Donnell is the 153rd-ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline and the 78th-ranked prospect on ESPN. The former Northwestern transfer slashed .354/.448/.587 with 90 hits, eighteen doubles, thirteen home runs, 57 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, and a 1.034 OPS. O’Donnell also projects to play center field at the next level. Photo courtesy of jake.jjg/Instagram

With the 2023 MLB Draft just days away, I’ve decided on the top five prospects that I think the Marlins should consider with their first-round pick. After all of the draft profiles I’ve done, I believe each of these players could be realistically available at the tenth overall spot and very productive in the pros. It seems like the Miami Marlins will use their first-rounder on a position player. This is a position player-heavy draft class, giving the Marlins an excellent opportunity to come away satisfied. Here are the top draft-eligible prospects for the Marlins to target. 1. 2B Matt Shaw, Maryland /mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-matt-shaw/I expect the Miami Marlins to draft a college hitter with their first-round selection in the 2023 MLB Draft. Maryland middle infielder Matt Shaw is one of the best college bats in this draft class and would be a huge addition to Miami’s farm system. This 5’11”, 185-pound middle infielder was a highly productive hitter in his three seasons at Maryland. Shaw has shown a ton of power without sacrificing contact. Shaw is the 16th-ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline and the 18th-ranked prospect on FanGraphs. During his collegiate career, Shaw had a .320/.413/.623 career slash line with 222 hits, 53 home runs, and a 1.036 OPS. Shaw is pretty limited defensively as he doesn’t possess a strong arm. However, I believe he has a legit bat that will carry him through the minor leagues. Shaw has also shown he can hit with wood bats as he was last summer’s Cape Cod League MVP. 2. C Kyle Teel, Virginia /mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-kyle-teel/Another college bat who should be high on the Marlins’ draft board is Virginia catcher Kyle Teel. The left-handed-hitting backstop had a huge season for the Cavaliers and helped lead UVA to the College World Series. A 6’1”, 190-pound catcher, Teel was a three-year starter for the Cavaliers and had a major breakout season in 2023. Teel is the seventh-ranked draft prospect on MLB Pipeline and the eleventh-ranked draft prospect on FanGraphs. In his junior season, Teel slashed .407/.475/.655 with 105 hits, 25 doubles, thirteen doubles, 69 RBIs, and a 1.130 OPS. He was also named the 2023 ACC Player of the Year. Teel would fill a big need in the Marlins farm system, but there's some doubt about whether he will be available when it’s Miami’s turn to pick. He’s the #1 catcher in the draft and would be an excellent addition to the farm system if he falls to Miami at 10. 3. SS Jacob Wilson, Grand Canyon /mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-jacob-wilson/Another middle infielder prospect who makes my board is Grand Canyon junior shortstop Jacob Wilson. The Golden State native is the son of a former big league All-Star shortstop, Jack Wilson. The 6’3”, 190-pound shortstop played three seasons for Grand Canyon. He earned a starting role in his freshman season and has been a huge contributor since. Wilson is the 10th-ranked draft prospect on MLB Pipeline and FanGraphs. During his collegiate career, Wilson had a .361/.419/.558 career slash line. He also had 224 hits, 46 doubles, 22 home runs, 155 RBIs, 61 walks, and a .977 OPS. Jacob Wilson is a very intelligent ballplayer who possesses plus hitting tools. He’s a good defensive player, but didn’t showcase much power this season. It’ll be interesting to see where the Marlins have him on their draft board. 4. SS Jacob Gonzalez, Ole Miss /mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-jacob-gonzalez/Another blue-chip shortstop prospect who could be selected by the Miami Marlins on Sunday is Jacob Gonzalez. The Ole Miss middle infielder has been productive throughout his collegiate career. Jacob Gonzalez is a 6’2”, 200-pound left-handed hitting shortstop for the Ole Miss Rebels. Gonzalez was a three-year starter at Ole Miss and received many honors playing for the Rebels. Gonzalez is the 18th-ranked draft prospect on MLB Pipeline and the 35th-ranked draft prospect on FanGraphs. In his junior season, Gonzalez slashed .319/.435/.564 with 66 hits, 18 doubles, ten home runs, 51 RBIs, and a .999 OPS. The Ole Miss infielder has fallen a bit in some mock drafts but he’s a prospect that seems to be on Miami’s radar. The Marlins Senior Director of Amateur Scouting, DJ Svihlik, addressed the media on Thursday and mentioned Gonzalez when talking about the draft. 5. 3B Brayden Taylor, TCU /mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-brayden-taylor/The final draft prospect I have on my Marlins big board is Brayden Taylor. The left-handed-hitting third baseman had a great collegiate career that was topped off by a breakout season in 2023. Taylor is a 6’1”, 180-pound third baseman who played for the TCU Horned Frogs. Taylor started his entire collegiate career and helped TCU make a College World Series appearance last season. Taylor is the fifteenth-ranked draft prospect on MLB Pipeline and the 31st-ranked draft prospect on FanGraphs. In his final season at TCU, Taylor slashed .308/.430/.631 with 80 hits, fifteen doubles, 23 home runs, 70 RBIs, and a 1.061 OPS. I believe the Miami Marlins will use their first-round pick to draft a college bat. Brayden Taylor had a monster season and could be Miami’s pick if some of their top options are available. Taylor was also mentioned by DJ Svihlik on Thursday. Photo courtesy of terpsbaseball/Instagram

Should the Marlins select Taylor if he’s available with their first-round draft pick?Position: 3B Height: 6'1″ Weight: 180 pounds School: TCU Brayden Taylor is a 6’1”, 180-pound third baseman who played for the TCU Horned Frogs. Taylor has been a stud for the Horned Frogs since he enrolled on campus in 2021. He has developed into a first-round talent and led TCU to the College World Series this past season. Coming out of high school, Taylor was a top prospect out of Utah, but went undrafted in 2020's five-round draft. In his freshman season at TCU, Taylor earned a starting role and made an immediate impact on the Horned Frogs. Taylor slashed .324/.445/.572 with 72 hits, eleven doubles, twelve home runs, 53 RBIs, and a 1.017 OPS. Taylor was named a Freshman All-American and was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. In his sophomore season, Taylor continued to rake for the Horned Frogs. Taylor slashed .314/.454/.576 with 66 hits, fourteen doubles, thirteen home runs, 50 RBIs, ten stolen bases, and a 1.030 OPS. Taylor was named Second Team All-Big 12 and played for the USA Collegiate National Team. In his junior season, Taylor’s power started to break out and he helped TCU make it all the way to the College World Series. Taylor slashed .308/.430/.631 with 80 hits, fifteen doubles, 23 home runs, 70 RBIs, 54 walks, and a 1.061 OPS. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqZGFXIjTZE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Taylor was even a Cape Cod All-Star in 2021 before playing for Team USA last summer. Taylor is also a solid defensive player, which makes him a well-rounded prospect. Strengths Consistently put together good seasons at TCUPlus hitting and power toolsHits for contact and powerGood defensive third baseman Controls strike zone wellWeaknesses Doesn’t have great range defensively Sacrificed a little contact for power last seasonPro Comparison: Ryan McMahon Projection: Top 20 pick Bottom Line Brayden Taylor has proved to be a very good hitter during his collegiate career who can slug with a good glove and average speed. That has boosted his draft stock significantly. The Marlins might be reaching to take Taylor in the first round. The better play would be hoping that he falls to them with the 35th pick and pivot to other comparable bats in this class if Taylor doesn't last that long. Photo courtesy of btay232/Instagram /game-coverage/at-the-ballpark/dj-svihlik-2023-mlb-draft-preview/

Should the Marlins select Mitchell if he’s available with their first-round draft pick?Position: C Height: 6’1″ Weight: 202 pounds School: Sinton HS (TX) Commitment: LSU Blake Mitchell is a 6’1”, 202-pound catcher out of the Lone Star State. Mitchell is the top high school catching prospect in this draft class. On MLB Pipeline, Mitchell is the 14th-ranked prospect and the second-ranked catching prospect in the draft. Mitchell is also the seventh-ranked high school prospect in the 2023 MLB Draft class. On Perfect Game, Mitchell is the eighth-ranked prospect and the #1 ranked catcher in the country. He’s also the first-ranked prospect in the state of Texas. Mitchell is a good hitting catcher with pop to all fields. He possesses one of the best arms in this draft class. He profiles to stick behind the plate, but could also play right field or third base with his elite arm strength. Strengths Elite arm strength Good hitting tools Does a good job of working countsPower to all fieldsGood defensive mechanics Weaknesses Below-average runnerHas some swing-and-miss at the platePro Comparison: Cal Raleigh Projection: Top 20 pick Bottom Line Blake Mitchell has a high offensive floor and could be an excellent defensive catcher as he develops in the minors. The Miami Marlins have a need at the catcher position and Mitchell is one of the best catchers in this draft class. Mitchell is expected to still be on the board when the Marlins are picking. The Lone Star State native might not be Miami’s #1 option with the tenth pick, but there's a potential fit here depending on how the club decides to manage its bonus pool money. Photo courtesy of blakemitxhell/Instagram /mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-colin-houck//mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-noble-meyer//mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-tommy-troy/

Should the Marlins select Houck if he’s available with their first-round draft pick?Position: SS Height: 6’2″ Weight: 190 pounds School: Parkview HS (OR) Commitment: Mississippi State Colin Houck is a 6’2”, 190-pound shortstop out of the talent-rich Georgia area. Houck is a highly-touted middle infield prospect that ranks very highly on some draft boards. On MLB Pipeline, Houck is the twelfth-ranked prospect and the third-ranked shortstop prospect in the draft. Houck is also the fifth-ranked high school prospect in the 2023 MLB Draft class. On Perfect Game, Houck is the thirteenth-ranked prospect and the fourth-ranked shortstop in the country. He’s also the #1 ranked prospect in Peach State. Houck was a two-sport star athlete in high school as he was also a three-star quarterback, but is only signed to play baseball at Mississippi State. It’s unlikely Houck makes it to Starkville as he’s a projected early-to-mid first round pick. Strengths Plus arm strength Good hitting toolsGood leadership skillsSolid defensive playerRaw power potentialWeaknesses Pull-happy hitterHas some swing-and-miss and chases outside the zoneLikely will move to third at the next levelPro Comparison: José Miranda Projection: Top 20 pick Bottom Line The Miami Marlins might not be able to draft a major need so they would have to take the best player available in the draft. Colin Houck could be the best available when the Marlins make their first round selection at pick #10. The Marlins would add to their infield depth in the farm system, but Houck has some work before being considered a top prospect in the Marlins farm system. If he can cut down on the swing-and-miss and drive the ball to all fields, Houck could be an outstanding selection for the Fish. Photo courtesy of colin_houck/Instagram https://fishonfirst.com/mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-noble-meyer/https://fishonfirst.com/mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-tommy-troy/https://fishonfirst.com/mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-chase-dollander/

Should the Marlins select Meyer if he’s available with their first-round draft pick?Position: RHP Height: 6’5″ Weight: 185 pounds School: Jesuit HS (OR) Commitment: Oregon Noble Meyer is a 6’5”, 185-pound right-handed pitcher out of the west coast. Meyer is a highly-touted pitching prospect who ranks very highly on some draft boards. On MLB Pipeline, Meyer is the eighth-ranked prospect and the #1 high school pitching prospect in the draft. Meyer is also the fourth-ranked high school prospect in the 2023 MLB Draft class. On Perfect Game, Meyer is the fifth-ranked prospect and the #1 ranked right-handed pitcher in the country. He’s also the first-ranked prospect in the state of Oregon. Meyer possesses a three-pitch mix including a fastball, slider, and changeup. Meyer’s fastball is his best pitch with mid-90s velocity that tops out at 98 mph. His slider is his best secondary pitch and also has a good feel for his changeup. Strengths Power fastballQuality off-speed pitchesProjectable body typeFront-line starter ceilingGood feel for the strike zone Weaknesses Needs to fill in his large frameCould improve on command to improve his stockPro Comparison: Zack Wheeler Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line The Miami Marlins have had a ton of success drafting pitchers and developing them into quality big league arms. The Oregon native fits the mold for what the Marlins look for in a pitching prospect. The Marlins have a variety of options with the tenth overall pick and Meyer is a prospect who could be available when it is their turn to pick. Only 18 years old, Meyer has great upside and should continue to improve as he matures physically in the minors. Photo courtesy of n0ble.meyer/Instagram https://fishonfirst.com/mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-tommy-troy/https://fishonfirst.com/mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-chase-dollander/https://fishonfirst.com/mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-matt-shaw/