Hector Rodriguez

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Overview Position: 3B Height: 6’1″ Weight: 220 pounds School: Tennessee Billy Amick is a 6’1”, 220-pound corner infielder who plays for the Tennessee Volunteers. Amick has emerged as one of the top hitters in college baseball after a fantastic season playing for the Volunteers. Coming out of high school, Amick was a quality high school prospect ranked inside the Top 350 in his class. Amick went undrafted and signed his National Letter of Intent to Clemson University. During his first season at Clemson, Amick saw limited action and didn’t perform well when he got his opportunity. Amick only batted .105 with one run scored in nine games and three starts. In his sophomore season, Amick earned a starting role and was one of the biggest breakout stars in college baseball. Amick slashed .413/.464/.773 with 69 hits, 17 doubles, 13 home runs, 63 RBIs, and had a 1.236 OPS. He was named First Team All-ACC and was universally considered a First- or Second-Team All-American. Then, Amick entered the Transfer Portal and committed to Tennessee. In 2024, he has picked up where he left off. Amick is slashing 351/.432/.776 with 47 hits, seven doubles, 16 home runs, 42 RBIs, 16 walks, and a 1.208 OPS. Amick has some of the best hit tools in this draft class. He consistently makes hard contact and can drive the ball to all fields. He has plus power that’s generated by his bat speed and strength. His above-average arm is well-suited to third base. Amick is 33rd on the 2024 MLB Mock Draft Consensus Board. Strengths Plus hit tools Consistently barrels balls Can drive the ball to all fields Hit well in the Cape Cod League Power should translate to the next level Weaknesses Chases a lot of pitches out of the zone Low walk rate Tends to be over-aggressive at the plate Fringy third baseman at the next level Pro Comparison: Isaac Paredes Projection: Top 30 pick Bottom Line Billy Amick is among the most dangerous hitters in the talent-rich Southeastern Conference that includes the likes of Charlie Condon, Jac Caglianone, Tommy White, and many others. He has proven that he’s capable of hitting at a high level and even continued to rake with a wood bat in Cape Cod. 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. Amick would instantly become one of the Marlins’ top hitting prospects if they select him with their first-round pick.

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