Hector Rodriguez

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

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

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

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

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

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

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/