Hector Rodriguez

Simulating who the Marlins could select with their first six picks in the upcoming draft. The 2024 MLB Draft is only a week away, beginning 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. In case you missed them, here are version 1.0 and version 2.0 of our mock draft. This time, we’ll simulate five rounds—the 16th, 56th, 70th, 92nd, 122nd and 155th overall selections—and will continue to expand the exercise as the draft date approaches. Here is the Miami Marlins 2024 MLB Mock Draft 3.0. First Round (16th overall)—Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State Slot value: $4,704,700 With the sixteenth pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select third baseman Cam Smith. The Marlins draft one of the top draft-eligible sophomores in this class. Smith is coming off a monster 2024 season. At the plate, he has plus hitting tools and has just started to tap into his raw power. Smith’s plate approach has vastly improved since his freshman season and he also raked in the Cape Cod League. Defensively, Smith is a good glove with a plus arm. He projects as a good defensive third baseman at the next level. On the season, Smith slashed .387/.488/.654 with 104 hits, 22 doubles, 16 home runs, 57 RBIs, four stolen bases, 44 walks, and a 1.142 OPS. Smith was named Third Team All-American on D1 Baseball. Smith was also named Second Team All-ACC last season. Second Round (56th overall)—Dasan Hill, LHP, Grapevine HS (TX) Slot value: $1,603,400 With the 56th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select left-handed pitcher Dasan Hill. The Marlins grab one of the best southpaw high school pitching prospects in this draft class. He's signed to play college baseball at Dallas Baptist University. On Perfect Game, Dasan Hill is the 47th-ranked prospect and the eighth-ranked left-handed pitcher in the country. He’s the sixth-ranked prospect and #1 left-handed pitcher in the Lone Star State. On MLB Pipeline, Hill is the 52nd-ranked prospect and the sixth-ranked left-handed pitcher in this draft class. On the mound, Hill possesses a four-pitch mix, which includes a fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup. Hill’s fastball velocity has jumped a couple of miles per hour in his senior year. He sits in the low 90s and tops out at 96 mph. Hill has plus feel with his breaking pitches, especially his slider with a high spin rate. His changeup shows some promise and projects well with his long, skinny frame. Competitive Balance Round B (70th overall)—Kyle DeBarge, SS, Louisiana Slot value: $1,139,100 With the 70th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select shortstop Kyle DeBarge. The Louisiana shortstop is an excellent fielder with Gold Glove potential. During the 2024 season, DeBarge had an incredible breakout season and led the Ragin’ Cajun offense. DeBarge slashed 356/.418/.699 with 91 hits, 19 doubles, three triples, 21 home runs, 72 RBIs, ten stolen bases, 24 walks, and a 1.117 OPS. He was named the Sun Belt Player of the Team and First Team All-American on D1 Baseball, Baseball America, and NCWBA. At the plate, DeBarge is a good contact hitter who rarely chases out of the zone. His power numbers jumped a bunch compared to his first two seasons at Louisiana. DeBarge also has good speed and plays excellent defense. Third Round (92nd overall)—Corey Collins, 1B, Georgia Slot value: $800,800 With the 92nd pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select first baseman Corey Collins. The Marlins reach in the third round for a senior infielder who should sign below slot value. Overshadowed by teammate and Golden Spikes Award winner Charlie Condon, Collins had an excellent 2024 season for the Georgia Bulldogs as well. Collins slashed .354/.574/.772 with 56 hits, six doubles, 20 home runs, 58 RBIs, 56 walks, and a 1.346 OPS. Collins was also named Second Team All-American on Baseball America. Collins is a pull-happy hitter, but made gains with his plate approach last season. His on-base percentage was somewhat inflated due to being hit by 28 pitches in 52 games. He crushes the fastball and also improved on reading spin and hitting breaking pitches. Collins could play left or right field at the next level. Fourth Round (122nd overall)— Harrison Didawick, OF, Virginia Slot value: $589,000 With the 122nd pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select outfielder Harrison Didawick. The Marlins grab another draft-eligible sophomore with the selection of Didawick. During the 2024 season, Didawick had a breakout campaign for Virginia and helped lead the Cavaliers to the College World Series. Didawick slashed .297/.414/.642 with 70 hits, thirteen doubles, 23 home runs, 68 RBIs, fourteen stolen bases, and a 1.056 OPS. At the plate, Didawick has plenty of raw power and has shown his ability to drive the ball to all fields. Most of Didawick’s power is to his pull side and he struggles against breaking pitches. He is a good defensive outfielder with good speed for a 6'4" player. Some scouts believe he can develop into a center fielder at the next level (he primarily played LF in college). Fifth Round (155th overall)— Cade Townsend, RHP, Santa Margarita Catholic (CA) Slot value: $427,000 With the 155th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select right-handed pitcher Cade Townsend. The Marlins grab another high school pitching prospect and get one from the West Coast. Cade Townsend is a 6’1”, 185-pound right-hander out of Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. On Perfect Game, Townsend is the 110th-ranked prospect and the 28th-ranked righty in the country. He’s also the thirteenth-ranked prospect and fourth-ranked right-handed pitcher out of California. Townsend is signed to play college baseball for the Ole Miss Rebels. On the mound, Townsend's arsenal includes a fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup. His fastball sits in the low 90s and tops out at 94 mph. The curveball is Townsend’s best pitch, which has a high spin rate and generates lots of swing-and-miss. Townsend does need to develop some feel with his slider and changeup. His control also needs refinement, but his work ethic will help him develop into a more complete pitcher at the next level. View full article

What if the Miami Marlins reached for a high school prospect with the 16th overall pick to save some money for the other rounds of the draft? Overview Position: SS Height: 6’2″ Weight: 180 pounds School: Oxford HS (AL) Commitment: Alabama Carter Johnson is a 6’2”, 180-pound shortstop out of Oxford High School in Oxford, Alabama. The 2024 draft class has many top-tier collegiate power hitters and that seems to be the preferred demographic for the Marlins with their first-round pick. However, if some of their top targets are off the board, Miami could pivot and sign a high school player to an underslot deal instead. That brings us to Johnson. On MLB Pipeline, Johnson is the 40th-ranked prospect and the ninth-ranked shortstop in the 2024 draft class. On Perfect Game, Johnson is the 19th-ranked prospect and the fifth-ranked shortstop in the country. He’s also the #1 prospect in Alabama. Johnson is signed to play college baseball for the Alabama Crimson Tide. At the plate, Johnson is a well-rounded prospect who has developed into an excellent hitter. Johnson has a line-drive approach and can drive the ball to all fields. He has advanced plate discipline with plus power, mostly to his pull side. Defensively, Johnson has plus hands and a good arm, but most scouts view him as a third baseman at the next level. He also has above average speed. Strengths Advanced plate discipline Drives the ball to all fields 20+ home run projection Plus glove Weaknesses Lacks present power Might move to third base at the next level Needs to work on reading spin Pro Comparison: Gunnar Henderson Projection: First two rounds pick (34th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of July 6) Bottom Line I expect the Marlins to draft a college hitter in the first round, but that could require a signing bonus equivalent to the No. 16 pick's full slot value of $4,704,700. Selecting Johnson should be less expensive than that. If the team feels his long-term projection is similar to other candidates remaining on the board, they might decide to save a higher percentage of their bonus pool for signing players in the later rounds. Check out the rest of our 2024 MLB Draft Profile series. View full article

The Marlins offense jumped on Brayan Bello in the first inning. but couldn't build upon that for the rest of the game. Meanwhile, Boston totaled 12 hits and seven walks, putting runners on base in eight of nine innings. The Miami Marlins dropped their third consecutive game on Wednesday night. The Miami offense struggled to put runs on the board and couldn’t get the clutch hits with runners in scoring position. The Boston Red Sox continue to have their number historically, having beaten the Fish in 33 of their 49 all-time meetings. Left-handed pitcher Trevor Rogers got the start for the Marlins. He had lasted at least five innings in each of his previous six starts, but the 2021 All-Star didn’t last very long this time around. Rogers pitched three innings while averaging 28 pitches per inning, allowing five hits, two runs, three walks, and six strikeouts. Rogers picked up his ninth loss on the season, tied for the second-highest total in the majors. 60f772b4-8f5156bb-b84b341d-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 Right-handed relief pitcher Huascar Brazoban came in relief for Rogers. Brazoban was excellent out of the bullpen. He pitched three innings allowing three hits, no runs, no walks, and three strikeouts. Right-handed pitcher Calvin Faucher came in relief and got in trouble by walking batters. He led off the inning walking the first two batters and allowing an infield single to load the bases. Faucher was able to get an out before being pulled from the game. He finished with ⅓ of an inning allowing one hit, one run, and two walks. Left-hander Andrew Nardi replaced Faucher and minimized the damage in the seventh. Yoshida grounded out to third, which allowed a run score. Nardi then punched out Dom Smith. Anthony Bender pitched the eighth and blanked the Boston offense. That was the only 1-2-3 inning for the Marlins pitching staff all night. Heading into the ninth, the Marlins handed the ball to rookie right-handed pitcher Anthony Maldonado. The Bethune-Cookman product was called up earlier today. Maldonado immediately got in trouble as Tyler O’Neill led off the inning with a single. Rafael Devers jumped on a first-pitch slider for an RBI triple down the right field line. Things only got worse after a base-clearing double by Ceddanne Rafaela broke the game open, 7-1. Rafaela has six runs batted in during the series, outscoring the Marlins all by himself. 5320c635-4e1e952e-985df999-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 Maldonado had allowed five earned runs in the 10 games he pitched during his previous MLB stint. He was charged with four in this outing alone. The Marlins offense jumped on Boston’s starting pitcher, Brayan Bello, early with three hits and a run scored in the first. Miami would score only one other run in the ballgame in the bottom of the ninth when the outcome was already determined. Jesús Sánchez performed very well in Wednesday’s loss. Sánchez went 3-for-4 including an RBI single. Left fielder Bryan De La Cruz went 1-for-3 with a single and walk. The Marlins offense had another rough game due to their lack of production with runners in scoring position. Miami went 1-for-9 in the ballgame with runners in scoring position. The Red Sox went 5-for-20. What’s next? The Miami Marlins will complete their home series versus the Boston Red Sox with an afternoon game on the Fourth of July. Right-handed pitcher Kyle Tyler is scheduled to be the starting pitcher for the Marlins. The Boston Red Sox will have right-handed pitcher Nick Pivetta on the mound for the series finale. Pivetta has posted a 4-5 record this season with a 4.52 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts in 61 ⅔ innings pitched. He's made four career appearances at loanDepot park, all as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies from 2017-2019. The first pitch is at 1:10 pm EST on Bally Sports Florida. View full article

The Miami Marlins are expected to take a college bat with their first-round pick, but there's always a slight chance Miami takes a pitcher. Jurrangelo Cijntje might be the best arm available with the 16th overall pick, and he's certainly the most unique one. Overview Position: SHP Height: 5'11″ Weight: 200 pounds School: Mississippi State Jurrangelo Cijntje is a 5’11”, 200-pound pitcher who plays for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Cijntje is one of the most unique baseball prospects since he’s an ambidextrous pitcher. Coming out of high school, Jurrangelo Cijntje was one of the top high school prospects in his class. On Perfect Game, Cijntje was the 34th-ranked prospect and the #1 both-handed pitcher in the country. He was also the ninth-ranked prospect in Florida and was a Perfect Game All-American. Cijntje was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 18th round of the 2022 MLB Draft, but honored his commitment to Mississippi State. Cijntje struggled as a freshman in Mississippi State’s weekend rotation. He posted a 3-5 record with an 8.10 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 11.3 K/9, and 63 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched. As a sophomore, Cijntje had a breakout season and turned himself into a first-round draft prospect. Cijntje posted a 8-2 record in sixteen starts to go along with a 3.67 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 11.2 K/9/. 3.0 BB/9, and 113 strikeouts in 90 ⅔ innings pitched. Cijntje was also named a Second Team All-American. On the mound, Cijntje possesses a three-pitch mix which includes a fastball, slider, and changeup. As a right-handed pitcher, Cijntje’s fastball sits in the mid-90s and tops out at 98 mph. He also has a plus slider and has a good feel for his changeup. As a left-hander, Cijntje’s velocity and control both drop a little bit. His fastball sits in the low 90s and peaks at 94 mph. He also works from a low slot and his slider is more of a sweeper from the left side. Strengths Ambidextrous Power fastball Mixes his pitches well Pitched well against SEC competition Weaknesses Left-handed fastball doesn’t miss many bats Average-to-below average control Scouts might ask him to be a right-handed pitcher only Pro Comparison: Marcus Stroman (when throwing righty) Projection: Top 25 pick (38th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of July 1) Bottom Line The Marlins desperately need to add more hitters to their farm system. However, they have done a good job of drafting and developing pitching prospects. They could lean into that organizational strength in the first round and still load up on hitting talent in later rounds. Jurrangelo Cijntje is a hometown prospect who played for Champagnat Catholic School and pitched for Curacao in the Little League World Series. If Cijntje improves as a left-handed pitcher, he could turn into a middle-of-the-rotation type arm. Check out the rest of our 2024 MLB Draft Profile series. View full article

Simulating who the Marlins could select with their first five picks in the upcoming draft. The 2024 MLB Draft is only a couple weeks away, beginning 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. Following up on our first Marlins mock draft, we’ll simulate four rounds—the 16th, 56th, 70th, 92nd, and 122nd overall selections—and will continue to expand the exercise as the draft date approaches. Here is the Miami Marlins 2024 MLB Mock Draft 2.0. First Round (16th overall)—Seaver King, 3B/OF, Wake Forest With the sixteenth pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select third baseman and outfielder Seaver King. Under the new regime, the Marlins use their first pick on one of the top collegiate players in the country. The former Division II All-American was one of the top players available in the Transfer Portal last year and he signed with Wake Forest. During his junior season, King slashed .308/.377/.577 with 78 hits, fourteen doubles, three triples, 16 home runs, 64 RBIs, eleven stolen bases, 34 walks, and a .954 OPS. King was named Third Team All-ACC. King is 12th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of June 28. Second Round (56th overall)—PJ Morlando, OF, Summerville HS (SC) With the 56th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select outfielder PJ Morlando. The Marlins grab one of the most talented high school prospects in this draft class. On Perfect Game, Morlando is the #1 high school prospect in the country. On MLB Pipeline, Morlando is the 57th-ranked prospect in the 2024 draft class. During his high school career, Morlando won the High School Home Run Derby and was named MVP of the High School All-American Game. Morlando has a good plate approach and can work counts and draw walks. Morlando’s raw power hasn’t translated into games yet and he does get pull-happy at times. Morlando is 37th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of June 28. Competitive Balance Round B (70th overall)—Tristan Smith, LHP, Clemson With the 70th pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select left-handed pitcher Tristan Smith. The Marlins grab their first pitcher in this draft class and select the ace pitcher for the Clemson Tigers Tristan Smith is one of the top southpaw pitchers in this draft class. Smith is a 6’2”, 195-pound left-hander out of Clemson. During the 2024 season, Smith posted a 2-1 record in twelve starts. He posted a 4.47 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, a .250 opponent batting average, and 66 strikeouts in 50 ⅓ innings pitched. On the mound, Smith possesses a three-pitch mix which includes his fastball, slider, and changeup. Smith’s fastball sits 91-94 mph and tops out at 96 mph. His slider is his best pitch—sitting in the low 80s, it generates a high spin rate. Smith also has a good feel for his changeup which gets swing-and-miss against both right-handed and left-handed batters. Smith is 133rd on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of June 28. Third Round (92nd overall)—Josh Kuroda-Grauer, SS, Rutgers With the 92nd pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer. The Marlins grab one of the best contact hitters in all of college baseball who's coming off an outstanding junior season. During the 2024 season, Kuroda-Grauer played and started in 53 games. He slashed .428/.492/.590 with 95 hits, 19 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 45 RBIs, 24 stolen bases, 23 walks, and a 1.082 OPS. Kuroda-Grauer was named the 2024 Big Ten Player of the Year. He finished second nationally in batting average just behind the Golden Spikes Award winner, Charlie Condon. Kuroda-Grauer has some really interesting tools that could make him into a quality MLB player. He also rarely strikes out and he only punched out 18 times in 258 plate appearances (7.0 K%). Kuroda-Grauer is 83rd on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of June 28. Fourth Round (122nd overall)— Nick Brink, RHP, Portland With the 122nd pick of the 2024 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select right-handed pitcher Nick Brink. The Marlins grab a senior right-handed pitcher in order to try to save some bonus pool money. During the 2024 season, Brink started in fifteen games and posted a 10-4 record. He had a 3.61 ERA, two complete games, one shutout, 130 strikeouts, and 24 walks in 99 ⅔ innings pitched. He also posted a 1.08 WHIP, 11.7 K/9, and a 2.1 BB/9. He was named a Second Team NCBWA All-American. On the mound, Brink possesses a four-pitch mix which includes a fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup. Brink’s fastball sits in the low 90s and tops out at 95 mph with good command. Brink has a good feel for both his breaking pitches. However, his best pitch is his changeup which sits at 81-85 mph and generates swing-and-miss. View full article

Vance Honeycutt was one of the best players in college baseball this season. His power, glove, and speed are at an elite level, but his hit tool and plate approach worries some scouts. Could the Marlins take a chance and draft Honeycutt with the 16th overall pick? Overview Position: OF Height: 6’3″ Weight: 205 pounds School: North Carolina Vance Honeycutt is a 6’3”, 205-pound outfielder who plays for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Honeycutt has one of the highest ceilings in the 2024 MLB Draft class, but he has some things he needs to work on in order to realize his full potential. Coming out of high school, Honeycutt was one of the best high school prospects in North Carolina. On Perfect Game, Honeycutt was the 17th-ranked prospect and the fifth-ranked infielder in North Carolina. Honeycutt was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 20th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. However, he didn’t sign and honored his commitment to UNC. During his freshman season, Honeycutt made a huge splash and was one of the best players in the ACC. Honeycutt slashed .296/.409/.672 with 73 hits, ten doubles, four triples, 25 home runs, 57 RBIs, 29 stolen bases, and a 1.082 OPS. He was a Third Team All-American and consensus Freshman All-American. As a sophomore, Honeycutt took a step back in production and also missed the last couple of games due to an injury. He slashed .257/.418/.492 with 49 hits, seven doubles, twelve home runs, 43 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, 49 walks, and a .910 OPS. Honeycutt was also named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. In his junior season, Honeycutt returned to form and led the Tar Heels to the College World Series. Honeycutt slashed .318/.410/.714 with 81 hits, 13 doubles, two triples, 28 home runs, 70 RBIs, 28 stolen bases, 36 walks, and 1.124 OPS. He was named a Second Team All-American by Baseball America. Honeycutt is one of the best athletes in this draft class. He has some exciting tools that compare favorably to established big leaguers. However, his plate approach leaves a lot to be desired. Strengths Plus power Excellent speed and baserunner Gold Glove potential Plus arm strength High ceiling Weaknesses 27.5% strikeout percentage Chases at pitches out of the zone Pull-happy hitter Pro Comparison: Byron Buxton Projection: Top 20 pick (19th on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board as of June 29) Bottom Line While Vance Honeycutt was one of the best hitters in college baseball in 2024, some scouts are worried about his plate approach. His strikeout rate is a concern and he needs to use the whole field more often at the dish. The Marlins desperately need to add more hitters to their farm system. Honeycutt is a high-risk, high-reward prospect with a wide range of possible outcomes—he could develop into one of the best outfielders in the game, or fail to make the transition to pro ball. Check out the rest of our 2024 MLB Draft Profile series. View full article

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