Hector Rodriguez

Should the Marlins select Troy if he’s available with their first-round draft pick?Position: SS Height: 5’10″ Weight: 197 pounds School: Stanford Tommy Troy is a 5’10”, 197-pound shortstop who played for the Stanford Cardinals. Troy had an excellent collegiate career with the Cardinals including a major breakout season last season. Coming out of high school, Troy was one of the top high school prospects in the country. On Perfect Game, Troy was the 62nd-ranked prospect and the tenth-ranked shortstop. Troy went undrafted in a five-round 2020 MLB Draft and enrolled at Stanford. In his freshman season, Troy struggled early in the season but impressed during Pac-12 play. Troy slashed .247/.345/.487 with ten home runs, 28 RBIs, and a .831 OPS. In conference play, Troy batted .297 with four homers and eleven runs scored. In his sophomore season, Troy did a much better job of putting the ball in play but lost some power. Troy slashed .339/.371/.568 with 62 hits, 15 doubles, seven home runs, and a .939 OPS. In his junior season, Troy had a major breakout season and led the Stanford Cardinal to the College World Series. Troy slashed .394/.478/.699 with 98 hits, 17 doubles, 17 home runs, 58 RBIs, and a 1.177 OPS. Troy has proved himself to be one of the best hitters in this draft class. He has plus hitting tools and improved his plate approach, helping him draw more walks. His defensive identity is in question as he didn’t play shortstop at Stanford last season. Strengths Hits high for averageAdded some power in 2023Walk percentage up 7.3% from 2022Low strikeout percentage Above-average runnerWeaknesses Doesn’t project to play SS at the next levelDoesn’t possess as much power as other collegiate SS in this draft classPro Comparison: Kike Hernández Projection: Top 20 pick Bottom Line Tommy Troy impressed a ton last season and was also one of the best players in Cape Cod last summer. The Miami Marlins have a lot of quality options with their tenth pick. It’s more likely than not that Troy will be available for the Fish. He makes sense for an organization that has recently begun to prioritize bat-to-ball skills. Photo courtesy of tommytroy5/Instagram /mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-chase-dollander//mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-matt-shaw//mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-aidan-miller/

Should the Marlins select Dollander if he’s available with their first-round draft pick?Position: RHP Height: 6’2″ Weight: 200 pounds School: Tennessee Chase Dollander is a 6’2”, 200-pound right-handed pitcher who played for the Tennessee Volunteers. Dollander is one of the top power pitchers in this draft class with an elite fastball and also has a plus breaking pitch to go with it. Coming out of high school, Dollander wasn’t a top prospect. On Perfect Game, Dollander was the 227th-ranked right-handed pitcher in the nation. He signed with the Georgia Southern Eagles out of high school. In his freshman season, Dollander had a quality season for the Eagles. He earned a weekend rotation spot and posted a 4-3 record, a 4.04 ERA, and an 11.8 K/9. Dollander was named a Freshman All-American on Perfect Game and transferred to Tennessee. In his first season at Tennessee, Dollander had a major breakout season. Dollander posted a perfect 10-0 record with a 2.39 ERA, 1.5 BB/9, and struck out 120 strikeouts in 79 innings pitched. He was named the 2022 SEC Pitcher of the Year and First-Team All-American. In his junior season, Dollander took a little bit of a step back in terms of results, but should still showed why pro scouts are all over him. He had a 7-6 record with a 4.75 ERA but still struck out 120 batters in 89 innings pitched. Chase Dollander has a four-pitch mix that’s highlighted by his power fastball and plus slider. Dollander’s fastball sits 95-97 mph and can reach triple digits. His slider is also a really good pitch that can reach the low 90s and gets plenty of swing-and-miss. Strengths Elite fastballPlus sliderGood size for a pitcherStrike throwerPitched against elite college baseball competition Weaknesses Struggled junior seasonStruggled to locate his pitchesPro Comparison: Jacob deGrom Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line Chase Dollander is a power pitcher who could be an excellent fit in the Marlins system. They like drafting pitchers with plus fastballs and breaking pitches. They can help develop his other secondary pitches and fix his location issues from this past season. The Miami Marlins will have a lot of quality options with the overall tenth pick. There’s a chance Dollander is already gone by then. However, if he’s available when the Marlins make their pick, he should be under consideration. Photo courtesy of vol_baseball/Instagram /mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-matt-shaw//mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-aidan-miller//mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-kyle-teel//mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-arjun-nimmala/

Should the Marlins select Shaw if he’s available with their first-round draft pick?Position: 2B Height: 5’11″ Weight: 185 pounds School: Maryland Matt Shaw is a 5’11”, 185-pound second baseman who played for the Maryland Terrapins. Shaw has been a stud for the Terrapins since he enrolled on campus in 2021. He has developed into a first-round talent and could be the first second baseman selected in the 2023 MLB Draft. Coming out of high school, Shaw was a top ten high school prospect in Massachusetts. He undrafted and immediately earned a starting role for the Maryland Terrapins. During his freshman season, Shaw started in 45 games playing third base, second base, and left field. Shaw slashed .332/.409/.544 with 90 hits, sixteen doubles, seven home runs, 30 RBIs, and a .952 OPS. Bradfield was named a Freshman All-American and made the All-Big Ten Freshman team. In his sophomore season, Shaw’s power started to break out. Shaw slashed .290/.381/.604 with 79 hits, eleven doubles, 22 home runs, 67 RBIs, and a .986 OPS. He was named All-Big Ten First Team and was named the Cape Cod Player of the Year over the summer. Shaw saved his best for last. In his junior season with the Terrapins, he slashed .341/.445/.697 with 90 hits, twenty doubles, 24 home runs, 69 RBIs, eighteen stolen bases, and a 1.142 OPS. He was also named Big Ten Player of the Year and was a First-Team All-American. https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1654913891326115840/vid/1280x720/g09aiAR1BaJIpKoF.mp4Matt Shaw is one of the top offensive prospects in this draft class. He has a plus hit and power tools. His plate approach is also very advanced and has walked more than struck out in his collegiate career. Strengths Consistently barrels ballsPlus hitting and power toolsAdvanced plate approach 60-grade speedVersatile defensivelyWeaknesses Doesn’t possess a strong armWill likely play second instead of SS at the next levelPro Comparison: Ketel Marte Projection: Top 20 pick Bottom Line Matt Shaw is a really good and realistic option for the Miami Marlins. He’s an intelligent hitter who can drive the ball to all fields and with power. Shaw also runs very well and has a decent glove. Keith Law of The Athletic had the Marlins selecting Shaw in his latest mock draft, describing it as "another link that keeps coming up," though he also writes that other teams ahead of Miami in the draft order could consider him as well. One issue the Marlins might have with Shaw is that he doesn’t have a great arm and projects as a second baseman at the next level. The Marlins already have one of the best second baseman in the game with Luis Arraez and a handful of internal options who can contribute there as well. If Shaw can improve his arm strength, he could be an excellent third base or shortstop option for the Fish. Photo courtesy of terpsbaseball/Instagram /mlb-draft/2023-mlb-draft-profile-aidan-miller//prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-kyle-teel/embed/#?secret=JlbuoEV1p4#?secret=f4U1E0EZ8R/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-arjun-nimmala/embed/#?secret=rUxCnRHD8q#?secret=Lk8HeVEW1G/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-yohandy-morales/embed/#?secret=Ht1k7gA3f2#?secret=pz8ZeNspon/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-rhett-lowder/embed/#?secret=UyJ2xTiTCF#?secret=PpexhlrLvG/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-jacob-gonzalez/embed/#?secret=rp8MHhFFBG#?secret=asqivK8x54/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-jacob-wilson/embed/#?secret=lHQ17Cn8s2#?secret=awlZDE4ape/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-enrique-bradfield/

The 2023 MLB Draft is fast approaching on Sunday, July 9. The Miami Marlins will have one of the earliest picks in each round due to their poor performance during the 2022 season. The Fish finished the 2022 season with a 69-93 record (fourth in the NL East). They hold the tenth overall pick and will have the tenth pick in each subsequent round minus the compensation and competitive balance rounds. For the second mock draft, we’ll only simulate four rounds—the 10th, 35th, 47th, 78th, and 110th overall selections—but will continue to expand the exercise as the draft date approaches. Here is the Miami Marlins 2023 MLB Mock Draft 2.0. First Round (10th overall)—Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit HS (OR) With the tenth pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select right-handed pitcher Noble Meyer. The Marlins grab one of the top pitching prospects in the draft class with the selection of Noble Meyer Noble Meyer is a 6’5”, 185-pound right-handed pitcher out of Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon. On MLB Pipeline, Meyer is the eighth-ranked prospect and the #1 right-handed high school pitcher in this draft class. Meyer has a three-pitch mix that is highlighted by his mid-to-upper 90s fastball. His fastball sits 95-97 mph and has touched the triple digits in his senior season. Meyer’s slider is his best secondary pitch and he also has a good feel for his changeup. Meyer is a projectable arm who has room for growth as he starts to fill in his large frame. The Marlins have done a terrific job of developing pitching prospects and Meyer fits the mold that Marlins scouts look for. Competitive Balance Round A (35th overall)—Brayden Taylor, 3B, TCU With the 35th pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select third baseman Brayden Taylor. The Marlins grab one of the best power hitters in all of college baseball in Brayden Taylor. Brayden Taylor is a 6’1”, 180-pound, left-handed-hitting third baseman from Texas Christian University. On MLB Pipeline, Taylor is the 15th-ranked prospect and the third-ranked third baseman in the draft. During his collegiate career, Taylor led the TCU Horned Frogs all the way to the College World Series. Taylor had a monster junior season as he slashed .306/.430/.635 with fifteen doubles, 23 home runs, 69 RBIs, and a 1.066 OPS. https://www.instagram.com/p/CtCesGHp52Y/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Taylor would be a steal for the Marlins if he’s still on the board after the first round. Taylor is a quality bat and he’s also a good defensive infielder. He’d be a great option for the Fish with their 35th overall pick. Second Round (47th overall)—Joe Whitman, LHP, Kent State With the 47th pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select left-handed pitcher Joe Whitman. The Marlins draft another pitcher and grab a left-handed pitcher that had a major breakout season. Joe Whitman is a 6’5”, 200-pound left-handed pitcher from Kent State University in Ohio. On MLB Pipeline, Whitman is the 37th-ranked prospect and the third-ranked left-handed pitcher in the draft. Whitman spent his first two seasons at Purdue but had two awful seasons pitching for the Boilermakers. Whitman entered the Transfer Portal and got a fresh start pitching for the Kent State Golden Flames. Whitman had a major breakout season and was named the MAC Pitcher of the Year. Whitman posted a 9-2 record in fifteen starts. He also had a 2.56 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 11.1 K/9, and 100 strikeouts in 81 innings pitched. Whitman has a low-90s fastball that can reach 96 mph. He also has two plus off-speed pitches with a wipeout slider that he can locate well. Third Round (78th overall)—Ryan Lasko, OF, Rutgers With the 78th pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select outfielder Ryan Lasko. The Marlins grab their first outfielder prospect, a power hitter with five-tool potential. Ryan Lasko is a 6’0”, 190-pound outfielder who played for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. On MLB Pipeline, Lasko is the 89th-ranked prospect and the tenth-ranked collegiate outfielder in the draft. Lasko was a top high school prospect that signed with Rutgers and immediately earned a starting role with the Scarlet Knights. In his three seasons at Rutgers, Lasko slashed .314/.408/.580 with 201 hits, 47 doubles, 38 home runs, 135 RBIs, and a .988 OPS. The Marlins lack center field depth and Lasko would be an excellent option for the Fish. Lasko was an excellent defensive centerfielder at Rutgers and could do the same thing in the Marlins’ farm system. He has five-tool potential and could end up being a top player in the draft class if he continues to develop as a hitter. Fourth Round (110th overall)—Alex Mooney, SS, Duke https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpgqFR0DrAr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==With the 110th pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select shortstop Alex Mooney. The Marlins draft their first middle infielder out of Duke. Alex Mooney is a 6’1”, 195-pound shortstop who played for the Duke Blue Devils. On MLB Pipeline, Mooney is the 114th-ranked prospect and the ninth-ranked collegiate shortstop in the draft. Mooney only spent two seasons at Duke, but he is eligible to be selected in this class because he’ll be 21 years old when the draft comes around. In his two seasons at Duke, Mooney slashed .305/.416/.454 with 141 hits, 30 doubles, three triples, eleven home runs, 68 RBIs, and a .870 OPS. Mooney is a versatile defensive player that can play all around the infield. He has a strong arm and solid range in the infield. He’s a solid hitting prospect and would be a good addition to Miami’s farm system. Photo courtesy of n0ble.meyer/Instagram

The Miami Marlins were back in the win column Saturday night, but it wasn’t pretty. The Marlins offense continued to struggle hitting with runs in scoring position and their bullpen blew another save. Nonetheless, Jon Berti came through in the bottom of the eleventh with a walk-off single to right field. https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-06/24/e03822c0-0fd7a300-bde075d4-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4Right-handed pitcher Bryan Hoeing got the start for the Fish and was lights out again in his second start of the season. Hoeing pitched five no-hitter innings allowing no runs, three walks, and two strikeouts. Left-handed relief pitcher Steven Okert came in relief for Hoeing, but lost the no-hitter when Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen ripped a one-out ground-rule double to right field. After walking Carlos Santana, JT Chargois came in relief and got Ke'Bryan Hayes to ground out to escape without any damage. After a scoreless seventh inning, the Marlins handed the ball to set-up man Dylan Floro. The right-hander continued to struggle on the mound as he gave a two-out single to Santana to break up the shutout. Floro has allowed base hits in five consecutive appearances. After the RBI single, the Marlins handed the ball to left-handed reliever Tanner Scott to get out of the inning. Scott was causing until the bottom of the ninth with two outs. He walked Nick Gonzalez and gave up an RBI double to Jason Delay to tie the game. Heading into extras, the Marlins gave the ball to reliever Huascar Brazoban. He gave up one run in the tenth but Miami was able to tie it to keep the game going. Left-hander Andrew Nardi was the hero as he struck out the side in the eleventh. He also picked up his fifth win of the season. The Miami Marlins made some changes to their lineup as they were looking for more offense to help out their pitching. While the Marlins didn’t overwhelm offensively, they did enjoy getting the win. Leadoff hitter Luis Arraez had another big game and is still batting over .400 on the season. Arraez went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run to RF and a walk. His batting average now sits at .401. The Marlins had other offensive contributors. First baseman Yuli Gurriel went 2-for-4 with a double and a sacrifice fly against Pittsburgh closer David Bednar to extend the game into extra innings. Jacob Stallings had a big game at the dish as he went 3-for-4 with three knocks. Third baseman Jon Berti went 2-for-5 with the walk-off single in the bottom of the eleventh. What’s next? The Miami Marlins will look to clinch the series win Sunday afternoon in their series finale versus the Pirates. Rookie Eury Pérez will be on the mound for the Miami Marlins. The 20-year-old right-hander has been lights out since his MLB call-up. Perez has a 4-1 record with a 1.54 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched. The Pirates will hand the ball to right-handed pitcher Johan Oviedo. The Cuban-born righty has been decent for Pittsburgh this season. He has a 4.30 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 74 strikeouts in 81 2/3 innings pitched. The first pitch of the series finale is at 1:40 pm EST on Bally Sports Florida. Photo by Danis Sosa/Fish On First

Should the Marlins select Miller if he’s available with their first-round draft pick?Position: 3B Height: 6’2″ Weight: 205 pounds School: J. W. Mitchell HS (FL) Commitment: Arkansas Aidan Miller is a 6’2”, 205-pound infielder out of the talent-rich Central Florida region. Miller is one of the highest-ranked prospects in the 2023 MLB Draft class. On MLB Pipeline, Miller is the 12th-ranked prospect and the #1 ranked third baseman in the draft class. Miller is the fifth-ranked high school prospect in the 2023 MLB Draft class. On Perfect Game, Miller is the sixth-ranked prospect and the second-ranked shortstop in the country. He’s also the second-ranked prospect in the state of Florida. https://www.instagram.com/p/CivNbd2u209/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Miller is one of the best pure hitters in this draft class. The Sunshine State native is a big-time power threat who has shown off that power against great competition. He’s also a very good defensive player who originally played shortstop until he filled out his frame. Due to a hamate injury, Miller barely played during his senior season. Strengths Raw power potentialGood hitting toolsHits well against elite velocityPlus fielding skillsExcellent arm strength Lots of offensive upside Weaknesses Average speedDoesn’t have much more room to fill in his framePro Comparison: Evan Longoria Projection: Top 20 pick Bottom Line The Miami Marlins used their first-round draft pick last year on third baseman Jacob Berry. The former LSU Tiger was one of the best hitters in college baseball during the prior two seasons, but he has not hit well in the Marlins organization and he's already moving down the defensive spectrum (splitting reps between 3B and 1B). Due to these offensive and defensive woes, the Marlins might need to find another third baseman in case Berry doesn’t figure it out. Aidan Miller is a talented hitter with plus power and arm strength. He would be an excellent pick for the Marlins, though Miller should demand a hefty signing bonus to forgo his college career. Featured image courtesy of aidanmiller/Instagram https://fishonfirst.com/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-kyle-teel/https://fishonfirst.com/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-arjun-nimmala/https://fishonfirst.com/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-yohandy-morales/https://fishonfirst.com/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-rhett-lowder/https://fishonfirst.com/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-jacob-gonzalez/https://fishonfirst.com/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-jacob-wilson/https://fishonfirst.com/prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-enrique-bradfield/

Should the Marlins select Teel if he’s available with their first-round draft pick?Position: C Height: 6’1″ Weight: 190 pounds School: Virginia Kyle Teel is a 6’1”, 190-pound catcher who plays for the Virginia Cavaliers. Teel is one of the top overall prospects and is also considered the #1 catching prospect in the 2023 MLB Draft class as well. Coming out of high school, Teel was a top 150 prospect and the #1 high school prospect in New Jersey. Teel went undrafted out of high school and honored his commitment to the University of Virginia. During his first season at UVA, Teel earned a starting role and played in 54 games. Teel slashed .335/.416/.526 with 70 hits, 11 doubles, nine home runs, 41 RBIs, and a .942 OPS. Teel was named a Freshman All-American and earned All-ACC Third Team honors as a designated hitter. In his sophomore season, Teel took a little bit of a step back, but was still a productive player. Teel slashed .276/.402/.439 with 61 hits, 12 doubles, six home runs, 41 walks, and a .841 OPS. He was also selected to play for the Team USA Collegiate National Team. As a junior, Teel has had a breakout season, establishing himself as one of the best hitters in the country. Teel is slashing .413/.481/.665 with 105 hits, 25 doubles, 13 home runs, 69 RBIs, and a 1.147 OPS to lead the Cavaliers to a College World Series berth. Teel is a smart, talented hitter. He has good hitting and defensive tools to go along with his high "baseball IQ." On MLB Pipeline, Teel is the 10th-ranked prospect and the #1 catcher in the draft. The Athletic has Teel as their sixth-ranked draft prospect. Strengths Plus hit toolsAdvanced plate approachHigh baseball IQExtremely athletic Plus arm strength Weaknesses Struggled to hit his sophomore seasonDoesn’t possess plus power potential Struggled offensively last summer in the Cape CodPro Comparison: Patrick Bailey Projection: Top 10 pick Bottom Line Kyle Teel is the best catching prospect in a draft class that doesn’t have a lot of high-level catchers. He is one of the best athletes in this class and will be very sound defensively at the next level. The Miami Marlins have a major need at catcher and could view Teel as a long-term solution at the position. If he can be an average big league hitter, he will be a huge upgrade for them. Featured image courtesy of kyle_teel/Instagram /prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-enrique-bradfield//prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-jacob-wilson//prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-jacob-gonzalez//prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-rhett-lowder//prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-yohandy-morales//prospects/2023-mlb-draft-profile-arjun-nimmala/

Position: SS Height: 6’1″ Weight: 185 pounds School: Strawberry Crest HS (FL) Commitment: Florida State Arjun Nimmala is a 6’1”, 185-pound middle infielder out of the talent-rich Central Florida region. Nimmala is one of the highest-ranked prospects in the 2023 MLB Draft class. On MLB Pipeline, Nimmala is the 14th-ranked overall draft prospect and the third-ranked shortstop. Nimmala is also the top-ranked prep middle infield prospect in the class. On Perfect Game, Nimmala is the third-ranked prospect and the #1 shortstop in the country. He’s also the #1 prospect in the state of Florida. Nimmala is an all-around talent prospect with good hitting and defensive tools with above average speed. During his senior season, Nimmala slashed .479/.573/.904 with 35 hits, seven doubles, six home runs, fourteen walks, and a 1.477 OPS. Strengths Good contact hitterCan drive to ball to all fieldsAggressive hitterProjects to play shortstop at the next level Raw power potential Plus rangeWeaknesses Has some swing-and-missInconsistent results against tough competition at the platePro Comparison: Didi Gregorius Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line Arjun Nimmala is being viewed as one of the top talents in this draft class. He has stood out in an area filled with D1 or pro-level talent. That's despite being exceptionally young for a draft-eligible player—Nimmala won't turn 18 until October. If the "safest" college bats are already off the board when it's time for the Marlins to pick in the #10 spot, Arjun Nimmala could be an option. Featured image courtesy of arjunnimmala99/Instagram

The 2023 MLB Draft is barely a month away as it begins on Sunday, July 9. The Miami Marlins have one of the earliest picks in each round due to their poor performance during the 2022 season. The Fish finished the 2022 season with a 69-93 record (fourth in the NL East). They hold the tenth overall pick and will have the tenth pick in each subsequent round minus the compensation and competitive balance rounds. For the first mock draft, we’ll only simulate three rounds—the 10th, 35th, 47th, and 78th overall selections—but will continue to expand the exercise as the draft date approaches. Here is the Miami Marlins 2023 MLB Mock Draft 1.0. 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 collegiate hitting prospects in this draft class. He also filled a position of need for the Fish. Jacob Gonzalez is a 6’2”, 200-pound left-handed hitting shortstop from the University of Mississippi. On MLB Pipeline, Gonzalez is the eighth-ranked prospect and the second-ranked shortstop in the draft. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqyfBwAgThY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MTcxNTI2OWQ4ZQ==During his collegiate career, Gonzalez has been a highly productive hitter with a good mix of contact and power. He has a career slash line of .319/.427/.561 with 225 hits, 43 doubles, 40 home runs, 158 RBIs, and a .988 OPS. Gonzalez would be a really good option for the Marlins with the tenth overall pick. He’s a very talented hitter who has competed against some of the toughest pitchers in college baseball. The Fish have a need at shortstop moving forward and Gonzalez could be a candidate to lock down that position. Competitive Balance Round A (35th overall)—Nolan Schanuel, 1B, FAU With the 35th pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select first baseman Nolan Schanuel. The Marlins grab an elite power-hitting first baseman/outfielder not too far away from home. Nolan Schanuel is a 6’4”, 210-pound left-handed hitting first baseman from Florida Atlantic University. On MLB Pipeline, Schanuel is the 39th-ranked prospect and the second-ranked first baseman in the draft. https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1644900769387126784/pu/vid/1280x720/BBOrdif58OVmMV9A.mp4During his collegiate career, Schanuel has been a monster in the middle of FAU’s lineup. However, he had a major breakout season in 2023 and was even ranked as the #1 collegiate first baseman in the country. On the season, Schanuel slashed .447/.615/.868 with 88 hits, eighteen doubles, nineteen home runs, 64 RBIs, 71 walks, and a 1.483 OPS. Schanuel would be a huge steal for the Marlins if he’s still on the board. There have been some mock drafts that think Schanuel could sneak into the first round. He has a plus hitting tools and an advanced approach at the plate. Second Round (47th overall)—Jonny Farmelo, OF, Westfield HS (VA) With the 47th pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select outfielder Jonny Farmelo. The Marlins grab their first high school prospect in the 2023 MLB Draft Jonny Farmelo is a 6’2” 205-pound left-handed hitting outfielder from Westlake High School in Virginia. On MLB Pipeline, Farmelo is the 48th-ranked prospect and the eighth-ranked outfielder in the draft. Farmelo is a talented ballplayer who projects to play center field at the next level. He’s a good contact hitter with elite speed and promising defensive tools. On Perfect Game, he’s one of the fastest high school players in the country as he was clocked running a 6.34 60-yard dash. Jonny Farmelo is also signed to play college baseball at the University of Virginia. Third Round (78th overall)—Ty Floyd, RHP, LSU With the 78th pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Miami Marlins select right-handed pitcher Ty Floyd. The Marlins grab their first pitching prospect from one of the top programs in college baseball. Ty Floyd is a 6’2”, 195-pound right-handed pitcher from the LSU Tigers. On MLB Pipeline, Floyd is the 78th-ranked prospect and the tenth-ranked collegiate right-handed pitcher in the draft. Floyd possesses a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup. Floyd’s fastball is his best pitch as it sits at 91-94 mph and tops out at 97 mph with a high spin rate. His slider is his best secondary pitch as it sits in the low-80s and gets some swing-and-miss. Floyd has a good feel for the curveball but doesn’t really use his changeup much. The Marlins have done a terrific job of developing pitchers and Floyd fits the mold of what the Marlins look for in a pitching prospect. He has a plus fastball and breaking pitches, but lacks a changeup. The Fish can help develop that offspeed pitch and make him into a starter. Featured image courtesy of jake.jjg/Instagram

The Miami Marlins were in the win column Saturday afternoon with one of their most comfortable victories this season. The Marlins dominated the Oakland A’s, 12-1, and clinched the series win. Rookie right-handed pitcher Eury Perez got the start and win for the Marlins. Perez had another impressive outing in his young MLB career. He pitched five innings allowing four hits, no runs, one walk, and five strikeouts. https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-06/03/8abc999c-94fa4ea6-1d7609fa-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4The Marlins’ offense had a big game teeing off against Luis Medina and the A’s pitching staff. Leadoff hitter Luis Arraez stayed hot at the plate. The league-leading hitter went 5-for-5 for the first time in his career. He also drove in a career-high five RBIs. Arraez hit for the first cycle in Marlins history earlier in the year, but this individual performance may have been just as special. https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-06/03/383a8514-9f5df19e-422aa2fe-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4Shortstop Joey Wendle also had a huge game at the dish. Wendle went 3-for-4 with two doubles and scored three times (he hadn't had more than one hit in any previous game this season). Outfielder Jonathan Davis went 1-for-3 with a two-run double and Jesus Sanchez went 1-for-3 with two walks. Protecting the lead for the Perez, left-handed relief pitcher Steven Okert came in for the sixth and was lights out as well against the Oakland offense. Okert struck out all three batters he faced in the sixth in his one inning of work. Right-handed reliever George Soriano came out of the bullpen for the Fish in the top of the seventh. Soriano completed the game from there, picking up a rare three-inning save. What’s next? The Miami Marlins will look to complete the sweep versus the Oakland A’s in the series finale on Sunday. Reigning NL Cy Young Award pitcher Sandy Alcantara will be on the mound for the Marlins. Alcantara hasn’t looked like himself this season, but will look to rebound against the A’s offense. The A’s will have right-handed pitcher Paul Blackburn on the bump as they look to avoid another sweep. Blackburn pitched well in his first start of the season versus the Braves—he threw four innings allowing four hits, one run, two walks, and six strikeouts. The first pitch for the series finale is at 1:40 pm EST on Bally Sports Florida. Featured image by Danis Sosa/Fish On First

Position: OF Height: 6’1″ Weight: 170 pounds School: Vanderbilt Enrique Bradfield Jr. is a 6’1”, 170-pound center fielder who plays for the Vanderbilt Commodores. Bradfield is considered to be one of the fastest prospects in this draft class. Coming out of high school three years ago, Bradfield was a Top 100 prospect and a top ten prospect out of Florida. Bradfield went undrafted in 2020 as his commitment to Vanderbilt was very solid. His career as a Commodore has solidified him as somebody capable of succeeding at the pro level. During his first season at Vandy, Bradfield earned a starting role and played in 67 games. Bradfield slashed .336/.451/.414 with 82 hits, eight doubles, four triples, 38 RBIs, 47 stolen bases, and a .865 OPS. Bradfield was named a Freshman All-American and the SEC Freshman of the Year. In his sophomore season, Bradfield had another big season and started to hit with more power. He slashed .317/.415/.498 with 77 hits, ten doubles, five triples, eight home runs, 46 stolen bases, and a .913 OPS. He was a consensus All-American and wasn’t caught stealing at all during the 2022 season. So far this season, Bradfield continues to hit for the Vanderbilt Commodores. He is slashing .286/.423/.441 with 63 hits, 12 doubles, six home runs, 33 RBIs and 37 stolen bases. Bradfield is one of the best athletes in the 2023 class. He utilizes that athleticism on the bases, but it also has turned him into an elite defensive center field with Gold Glove potential. In the SEC this season, the league average strikeout rate is 20%—Bradfield’s strikeout rate is only 13% (a career best). Bradfield is the 10th-ranked draft prospect on MLB Pipeline. StrengthsElite speedPotential Gold Glove winnerPlus hit toolsHits to all fieldsExtremely low strikeout rateLeadoff type batterWeaknessesDoesn’t possess any powerBelow-average arm strengthHis batting average has dipped since he has tried to hit for more powerPro Comparison: Juan Pierre Projection: Top 15 pick Bottom Line From left to right: Enrique Bradfield Jr., Jazz Chisholm Jr., Xavier Edwards and Juan PierreParticularly over the last year, the Miami Marlins have zoned in on contact-oriented hitters. Enrique Bradfield Jr. will surely be on their radar if they intend to stick with that approach. Bradfield grew up in Hialeah and watched the Marlins as a kid. He already has relationships with key members of the organization (as pictured above). The question is whether the Marlins are comfortable utilizing their first-round pick on the lefty-swinging 21-year-old because he’s unlikely to still be on the board when their second selection comes around.

Position: SS Height: 6’3″ Weight: 190 pounds School: Grand Canyon Jacob Wilson is a 6’3”, 190-pound shortstop that plays for the Grand Canyon Lopes. Wilson is one of the top prospects in the 2023 MLB Draft class. Coming out of high school, Wilson was a top 500 ranked prospect and a top 100 prospect out of California. Wilson went undrafted out of high school and signed to play college baseball for Grand Canyon. During his first collegiate season, Wilson earned a starting role and played in 47 games. Wilson slashed .313/.376/.440 with 57 hits, eleven doubles, four home runs, 29 RBIs, and a .816 OPS. Wilson was named a Freshman All-American and earned All-WAC first-team honors. As a sophomore, Wilson had a breakout season and was a Golden Spikes semifinalist. Wilson slashed .358/.418/.585 with 88 hits, eighteen doubles, twelve home runs, 25 walks, and a 1.004 OPS. He also only struck out seven times in 275 plate appearances. So far this season, Wilson continues to hit for the Grand Canyon Lopes. Entering Friday, Wilson is slashing .412/.461/.635 with 79 hits, 17 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 61 RBIs, while striking out only five times (2.3 K%). https://www.instagram.com/p/Cscq77yLj9P/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Wilson is one of the best pure hitters in this draft class. MLB Pipeline rates his hit tool as a 65 and he's their seventh-ranked draft prospect overall. StrengthsPlus hit toolsAdvanced plate approachHigh Baseball IQConsistently barrels ballsExtremely low strikeout rateAbove-average arm strengthWeaknessesDoesn’t face great competition at Grand CanyonDoesn’t have a plus speedMight move to third base due to lack of rangePro Comparison: Luis ArraezProjection: Top 10 pickBottom LineBaseball-ReferenceJacob Wilson is a player talented enough to be selected in the top five. However, if Wilson falls to the Marlins with the tenth overall pick, he should be on their radar. The Fish have recently been focused on acquiring players who put the ball in play and have low strikeout rates. Wilson would continue that trend.

Position: SS Height: 6’2″ Weight: 200 pounds School: Ole Miss Jacob Gonzalez is a 6’2”, 200-pound shortstop who plays for the Ole Miss Rebels. Gonzalez is one of the top prospects in the 2023 MLB Draft class andt could be on the Marlins’ radar. Coming out of high school, Gonzalez was a top-150 ranked prospect and a top-25 prospect out of California. Gonzalez went undrafted out of high school and honored his commitment to the Rebels. During his first season at Ole Miss, Gonzalez had a monster season and started in all 67 games for Ole Miss. Gonzalez slashed .355/.443/.561 with 93 hits, sixteen doubles, twelve home runs, 55 RBIs, 38 walks, and 1.005 OPS. Gonzalez was also named the National Freshman of the Year by D1 Baseball. In his sophomore season, Gonzalez helped Ole Miss win a national championship. He didn’t hit as well as he did in his freshman season. However, Gonzalez led the Rebels in home runs with 18. So far this season, Gonzalez is raking for the Rebels. Gonzalez is slashing .327/.435/.564 with 66 hits, 18 doubles, 10 home runs, 51 RBIs, and a .999 OPS. MLB Pipeline has Jacob Gonzalez as the eighth-ranked prospect in the upcoming draft class. This left-handed-hitting infielder has good bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline. Gonzalez has walked more than he has struck out in each of the three seasons of his collegiate career. StrengthsPlus hit toolsAdvance plate approachGood powerGood gloveAbove-average arm strengthWeaknessesLacks range typically needed to stick at shortstopBelow-average speedGets pull-happy when he’s hunting for the homerPro Comparison: Vaughn Grissom Projection: Top 10 pick Bottom Line Baseball-ReferenceJacob Gonzalez has had an excellent collegiate career and will be one of the first players taken in the 2023 MLB Draft. Gonzalez might even be one of the top options on the Marlins’ draft board. Every team considering Gonzalez needs to ask themselves whether they see him as a shortstop in the pros. An offensive profile like his could be a steal with the 10th overall pick if he’s manning a premium defensive position moving forward.

Position: RHP Height: 6’2″ Weight: 200 pounds School: Wake Forest Rhett Lowder is a 6’2”, 200-pound right-handed pitcher who plays for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Lowder is one of the top prospects in the 2023 MLB Draft class. Coming out of high school, Lowder was one of the top prospects out of North Carolina. Lowder was the twelfth-ranked prospect and the sixth-ranked right-handed pitcher in his home state. During his first season at Wake Forest, Lowder was named a starter for the Demon Deacons and started in twelve games. As a freshman, Lowder posted a 4-2 record with a 6.12 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9, and 10.4 K/9. In his sophomore season, Lowder had a breakout season. He made sixteen starts and was outstanding for Wake Forest. Lowder posted an 11-3 record with a 3.08 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9, and 9.5 K/9. He was named the 2022 ACC Pitcher of the Year. So far this season, Lowder continues to perform like one of the best pitchers in the country. He has made 15 starts and has a perfect 13-0 record. Lowder also has a 1.69 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 114 strikeouts in 96 2⁄3 innings pitched. He won ACC Pitcher of the Year again. https://www.instagram.com/p/Csjgin4OaXa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==MLB Pipeline has Lowder as the ninth-ranked prospect in the upcoming draft class. StrengthsMid-90s fastball with sinkPlus changeupLow walk rateRepeatable deliveryPitches well against top-tier competitionWeaknessesDoesn’t have much more room for growthDoesn’t use his lower half muchThrows across his bodyPro Comparison: Mike Clevinger Projection: Top 10 pick Bottom Line Baseball-ReferenceThe Miami Marlins have done a fantastic job of identifying and developing pitching prospects. The Marlins have not had the same success with hitters, particularly when picking them in the first round. With that being said, they might want to stick with what they know. Lowder is a very talented pitcher who has two plus pitches and a good feel for the slider. Lowder projects to be a frontline to mid-rotation type arm. He would serve as excellent depth in Miami’s farm system.

Position: 3B Height: 6’4″ Weight: 225 pounds School: Miami Yohandy Morales is a 6’4”, 225-pound third baseman who plays for the Miami Hurricanes. Morales has been a stud for the Hurricanes since he enrolled on campus in 2021. He’s now a top draft prospect and could be selected by his hometown team. Coming out of high school, Morales was a blue-chip high school prospect. Instead of going pro then, he ended up not getting drafted and honored his commitment to the Miami Hurricanes. During his first season at Miami, Morales earned a starting role and made 53 starts at third base. Morales slashed .284/.343/.531 with 60 hits, thirteen doubles, three triples, eleven home runs, 45 RBIs, and a .874 OPS. Bradfield was named a Freshman All-American and made the All-ACC Freshman team. In his sophomore season, Morales had a breakout season for the Hurricanes. Morales slashed .329/.411/.650 with 79 hits, seventeen doubles, three triples, eighteen home runs, 59 RBIs, and a 1.061 OPS. He was named All-ACC Second team and was selected to play for the USA Collegiate National Team. So far in his junior season, Morales continues to be the best for the Miami Hurricanes. He is slashing .405/.477/.680 with 90 hits, thirteen doubles, sixteen home runs, 61 RBIs, and a 1.157 OPS. https://www.instagram.com/p/CswpyDEP6nD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==Morales has tons of power and has consistently been a productive hitter for the Hurricanes. The Miami-born native is also the son of former Cuban National Team player, Andy Morales, who also spent time in the Yankees and Red Sox farm system. MLB Pipeline has him as the 23rd-ranked prospect in the upcoming draft class. StrengthsConsistently barrels ballsPlus powerGood hitting toolsStrong arm at thirdPlays well against top competitionWeaknessesChases at pitches out of the zoneCan overly aggressive at the plateBelow-average speedPro Comparison: Manny Machado Projection: Top 20 pick Bottom Line Baseball-ReferenceYohandy Morales has been one of the best hitters in college baseball and has a high ceiling. His offensive abilities make him a top prospect but he’s also a good defensive player. A shortstop out of high school, he outgrew the position similar to Miami native and six-time All-Star Manny Machado. Morales could be an early first-round selection and a serious target for the Marlins with the #10 overall pick.