Alex Carver

The first signing of the Peter Bendix era is here. Early Friday, hours from the MLB non-tender deadline, the Marlins agreed to terms on a minor league contract with infielder Tristan Gray, formerly of the Tampa Bay Rays. Craig Mish of SportsGrid originally reported the signing on X. After the Mets took a flier on him out of high school in 2014, Gray signed his MLB contract with the Pirates in 2017 as a 13th-round pick out of Rice University. During his collegiate years, he played alongside a now-fellow Marlins prospect, Dane Myers. Fifty-three games into his pro career, Gray was flipped to the Rays in exchange for Corey Dickerson. From early on in his pro career, one tool stood out for Gray: power. In his first three seasons in MiLB, he hit 37 home runs. From 2021-2023, Gray hit 71 home runs, 12th-most in MiLB over that span and all coming at the highest level of the minors. To make it happen, Gray has a very aggressive approach which accosts him a high K rate. His 406 strikeouts in his last 331 games are the 30th-most on the minor league circuit. In the midst of a 151 wRC+ September, the Rays promoted Gray to make his MLB debut, filling in for Taylor Walls who was placed on the paternity list. Gray got into just two games with the Rays before being sent back down, but had a standout moment when he slammed a baseball 415 feet for his first big league home run. At the start of the offseason, the Rays placed the 27-year-old Gray on waivers. He went unclaimed and was outrighted to AAA. Gray refused the assignment and elected free agency. He will be making the trip further south for spring training as a non-roster invitee at Marlins camp. Miami is a fortuitous landing spot for Gray. The Marlins need help and depth on their infield, so his path to big league playing time is far simpler than it had been in talent-rich Tampa Bay. Gray is most experienced at shortstop where he has average tools, and he comes with more than 1,000 career innings played at second base and third base as well. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/7beca37e-14cc-4b39-80ba-e134735686f3.mp4A player Bendix knows well, Gray will have a solid chance of playing himself into a utility role this spring. Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Relive all of the ups and downs of the 2023 Miami Marlins with our Fish On First Season Review, containing detailed articles about a wide variety of players. The FOF staff analyzes the individual impact that each of them had and what it means for their future with the organization. This installment focuses on infielder Jean Segura. 2023 TimelineJanuary 11—introduced at loanDepot park after signing two-year, $17MM deal with third-year club optionMarch 11-15—represented the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball ClassicAugust 1—traded with prospect SS Kahlil Watson to Cleveland Guardians for 1B Josh Bell; immediately released by GuardiansNine different players started games at third base for the Marlins in 2022. After spending half the offseason searching for somebody who could bring continuity to the position, they eventually landed on established veteran infielder Jean Segura. Segura seemed to fit the Marlins’ blueprint: a contact-first bat who plays multiple positions. A finger injury limited him to 98 games in 2022, but he had been a consistent and fairly durable player prior to that. In the two-time All-Star, Miami hoped Segura could continue being the Phillies version of himself in a division he knows very well. Segura's signing included a $17MM guarantee, making him the Marlins' most expensive free agent pick-up of the 2022-23 offseason. Segura came to spring training with the Marlins and made a good first impression. In 11 spring games, he hit .324/.361/.382. That didn't carry over to the regular season, though. Segura started struggling immediately once the real games began. He posted very low exit velocities and had an affinity for putting the ball on the ground. His 58.6% ground ball rate was the highest he’d posted since 2015 and ranked as the third-highest in baseball amongst players with at least 200 plate appearances. Twelve of those grounders resulted in double plays. Segura spent most of his Marlins tenure hitting below the Mendoza Line. He wasn't much better with runners in scoring position, slashing .246/.333/.275 with only two extra-base hits. Segura had only spent 24 games at third base coming into 2023. Daily reps didn't help him get comfortable there, as he posted a -0.6 dWAR. Overall, his -1.9 WAR was tied for the third-lowest by a Marlins player while playing more than 80 games in a season, per Stathead. It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Segura. He had some standout moments in a Marlins’ uniform including a walk-off hit on April 28, part of a 10-for-36 stretch that could have signified Segura was returning to his previous form. https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-04/28/de87d275-35e62691-74425f0a-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4However, his dry spells continued to permeate. Hitting .219/.277/.279 at the trade deadline, the Marlins coupled Segura with prospect Kahlil Watson in a trade that brought them first baseman Josh Bell. Moments after the trade was finalized, Segura was released by the Cleveland Guardians. Overall, Segura was signed by the Marlins in a time of extreme need after being shunned by several of their preferred options. Playing a very unfamiliar position full time, he struggled mightily under pressure. The Marlins made a bet on Segura and ultimately came out on the wrong side of the equation. To their credit, the Marlins pulled the plug on Segura early enough to salvage their 2023 season. In his place, they now have the controllable 27-year-old power hitter Jake Burger. Presumably close to the summation of his career, Segura can call 2023 a wash and celebrate a very effective 12-year career. All in all, he owns a lifetime slash line of .281/.327/.401 and a 97 wRC+. Photo by Noah Berger/Fish On First

It’s that time of year again. On November 14, leading up to the MLB Winter Meetings, teams must decide which of their developing players to prioritize. This is the deadline to set their 40-man rosters and Triple-A reserve lists in advance of the Rule 5 Draft. Prospects who are four years removed from being college draftees and five years removed from being high school draftees or international amateur signees are eligible to be selected during the Rule 5 unless protected beforehand. Any of those players who aren't on a 40-man roster will be available in the draft's major league phase. The catch is, selections must spend the subsequent season on their new team's major league active roster or injured list, or else be offered back to their original team. Here is the full list of Marlins players who currently have 2023 Rule 5 eligibility: Position players Will Banfield Cameron Barstad José Estrada Jan Mercado Troy Johnston Ian Lewis Cobie Fletcher-Vance Ynmanol Marinez Cristhian Rodriguez Carlos Santiago Nasim Nuñez Victor Mesa Jr. Jake Mangum Griffin Conine Davis Bradshaw Osiris Johnson Javier Sanoja Jorge Caballero Renny Hidalgo Pitchers Luis Palacios Jake Walters M.D. Johnson Evan Fitterer Zach King Edgar Sánchez Sandro Bargallo Luis Vizcaino Anthony Maldonado Jackson Rose Cristian Charle Austin Roberts Zach McCambley Josan Mendez Luarbert Arias Breidy Encarnación Justin Evans Franklin Sánchez Chris Mokma Yeuris Jimenez Manuel Medina The Marlins have considerable roster flexibility in the aftermath of several veterans electing free agency. How should they proceed? Here are some thoughts. Must protect1B Troy Johnston https://fishonfirst.com/farm/troy-johnston-2023-player-of-the-year-award/Johnston was drafted by the Marlins in the 17th round in 2019. After seeing time with Batavia that year then moving to Jupiter and Beloit in 2021, he moved to Pensacola in 2022 where he broke out in a big way. With the Blue Wahoos, Johnston proved his skill set could translate to the upper levels of MiLB and against competition more equal to his age. A catalyst for Pensacola’s title run through 85 games, he slashed .292/.360/.450. He earned the call to AAA late in the year, but struggled a bit at the highest level of the minors, slashing .155/.293/.330 in 116 plate appearances. Johnston was also eligible for the Rule 5 last offseason and the Marlins left him exposed. Although there were teams interested, he went unselected. In 2023, Johnston reported back to AA where he slashed .296/.396/.567 before getting the call back to Jacksonville. In this stint with the Shrimp, not only did Johnston not struggle, he was nearly impossible to keep off the bases. In 51 AAA games, he hit .323/.403/.520. At the summation of the season, Johnston, who collected 20+ home runs and 20+ stolen bases, was named the Marlins’ Minor League Player of the Year. Despite being limited defensively, the scientific lefty bat of Johnston would be a hot commodity if once again exposed to the Rule 5. He would likely being one of the first names to go off the board in the major league portion of the draft. Asked about the possibility of being Rule 5-eligible again, the 26-year-old told Fish On First he is playing it by ear, but that he would like to stay with Miami. The Marlins have secured another year of Josh Bell's services, but their future at the first base/designated hitter spots is hazy beyond that. They simply must protect Johnston. RHP Anthony Maldonado Maldonado is a soon-to-be 26-year-old righty with great stuff including a fastball that can reach the high 90s and a hard slider with wipe-out action. So why has Maldonado yet to appear in an MLB game? Injuries and missed time. After being drafted, Maldonado appeared in 10 FCL games before the missed COVID season. He stayed active outside of affiliated ball by appearing in 12 games in the Puerto Rican Winter League and the Caribbean Series. He returned to MiLB in 2021 with the AA Blue Wahoos, but a month into the season, he suffered an injury that sidelined him for nearly three months. In 2021, Maldonado stayed on the mound the entire year. Despite some minor struggles with the long ball, the former 11th-round pick held down a sub-4.00 ERA before earning the call to Jacksonville. In his first taste of AAA, Maldonado was very impressive. He ended the year with a 3.03 ERA and 86/20 K/BB via a 1.06 WHIP. This past season, Maldonado was assigned to AAA to start the season. He got off to a solid start before suffering an injury in June. The injury proved to be tricky to diagnose. Ultimately, it wound up that Maldonado was struggling through a hip ailment that came with another extended absence. He returned to Jacksonville in August and closed out the season allowing only one earned run over his final 15 ⅓ innings pitched. Maldonado is a zone-pounding righty with two plus pitches and a usable third to his credit. He can contribute to a Major League bullpen right now, as long as he is at 100%. With his AAA brilliance and high quality of stuff, he would very likely be selected if left unprotected. Should protectOF Victor Mesa Jr. Mesa is a Marlins’ international signing from 2018. He came stateside with his older brother, Victor Victor. The pair cost the Marlins nearly their entire bonus pool, some of which they had to trade for. While Victor Victor spent much of the year away from baseball, Mesa Jr. took on AA. Playing against competition nearly three years older than him on average, VMJ posted a 91 wRC+ via a .242/.308/.412 slash line. It came by way of some tough luck in pitcher-friendly Pensacola (.286 BABIP). The most encouraging development in Jr.’s game was physical development and the realization of more power. From early on in spring, a bigger and stronger version of VMJ was on display. He impressed members of player development by exhibiting some of the best swings in camp including one that allotted him a walk-off home run in Miami's March 19 Grapefruit League game. https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-03/19/2f33b3e0-3d8881b9-333d439b-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_16000K.mp4During the regular season, he swatted 18 home runs. He also maintained his 60-grade speed and stole 16 bags, drawing him very close to a 20-20 season. Mesa Jr. is further away from being a finished product than Johnston or Maldonado are. However, a 22-year-old true center fielder with projection remaining would merit Rule 5 consideration from teams around the league. After an impressive jump to the upper minors all things considered, it would behoove the Marlins to protect VMJ. WildcardsIF Nasim Nuñez Nuñez, the Marlins’ second-round pick in 2019, has MLB-ready defense right now. With plus range, a solid arm, and great athleticism, he’s one of the better defensive shortstops in all of MiLB. He’s also a true problem on the basepaths. In 2023, he followed up a 70 SB season by posting another 52 in 59 opportunities, plus another 14 in 14 attempts during the Arizona Fall League as of this writing. While Nuñez won’t ever be a slugger, he needs to increase his consistency of medium-hard contact in order for his offensive skill set to translate well to the majors. It may be beneficial for Nuñez to drop switch-hitting and only hit lefty. That being said, it is possible another team takes a liking to Nuñez's advanced field and speed tools and the probability for more projection with the bat. He’s another guy who will certainly need another year in MiLB, but if he can quickly come by more bat speed and solid contact, he’d be ready to contribute to a big league team—at least off the bench—fairly quickly. With dwindling depth on the left side of the infield, the Marlins may take the cautious route and protect Nuñez. C Will Banfield Banfield is another prospect who's always been known for his defense. Coming into 2023, the volatility of high school catchers was starting to trend in the wrong direction. Then Banfield rose to the occasion. Via some mechanical changes and some changes to his mindset at the plate, Banfield enjoyed his best offensive season by a large margin. https://fishonfirst.com/podcasts/swimming-upstream-will-banfield/Coming into the season with a completely different setup and approach at the plate, Banfield attacked early in counts and his swing was much more relaxed and built for line drives. In 115 games with Pensacola—the longest season of his pro career—Banfield hit .258/.302/.472 with an even 100 wRC+. Banfield’s attack-early mindset accosted him a higher K rate of 24.6% and an extremely low walk rate of 5.1%. Because of his consistent plus receiving skills behind the plate, Banfield carries the floor of at least a third-string catcher at the next level. Even if the Marlins are unsure whether he's ready for that role in 2024, they'd certainly want him with the organization in spring training to compete for it. Banfield was left unprotected in 2022. Considering his 2023 gains and the flimsy catching depth the organization currently holds from top to bottom, the Marlins may choose to roster him this time around. The Rule 5 Draft will be held on December 7 at the site of the Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by Kevin Barral/Fish On First

With the parting of ways with Kim Ng occurring earlier this week, another domino fell on Friday afternoon. The Marlins separated from the services of amateur scouting director DJ Svihlik, Fish On First can confirm. The news was originally reported by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. An original part of the Jeter/Sherman takeover, Svihlik joined the Marlins organization in November 2017 and ascended to director of amateur scouting in June 2018. Before coming to Miami, Svihlik was a longtime contributor to the New York Yankees as an area scout and national talent evaluator of the New York farm system. The 2019 MLB Draft was Svihlik's first time in charge of the process. He selected the collegiate bat of JJ Bleday with the fourth overall pick over the likes of Riley Greene, CJ Abrams, Josh Jung, and Corbin Carroll in what has proven to be a star-studded first round. Bleday was traded to the Oakland Athletics earlier this year for A.J. Puk. That 2019 Marlins draft class also included Peyton Burdick, Nasim Nuñez, Evan Edwards and Kameron Misner. Burdick has since earned his way to a big league call-up, but his production has been shrouded by a very high strikeout rate and inconsistencies in finding the barrel. Nuñez is a special defensive talent and a threat on the bases, but his lack of hard contact could limit his ceiling. In 2020, Svihlik played to the Marlins’ greatest developmental strength and used the draft to shore up pitching. In the shortened draft, the Marlins selected six arms: Max Meyer, Dax Fulton, Kyle Nicolas, Zach McCambley, Jake Eder, and Kyle Hurt. Meyer, Fulton, and McCambley remain in the Marlins organization. All have struggled through some modicum of lengthy injuries early in their careers related to their throwing elbows, with both Meyer and Fulton currently rehabbing from surgeries. That said, the above-average ceilings of all three of those arms could still positively impact the Marlins’ organization as soon as next season. Svihlik returned to the war room in 2021 and continued to use his best player available strategy to select Kahlil Watson, a presumed top-10 pick who fell to the Marlins at 16 overall. The lefty-hitting prep pick out of Georgia got off to a hot start to his pro career with Miami, but struggled through dealing with his first taste of failure. In 659 MiLB ABs, he has a .744 OPS. Other notable Svihlik selections from 2021: Joe Mack, Cody Morissette, and Jordan McCants. The most successful minor league career amongst these selections so far has been that of LHP Patrick Monteverde, who earned 2023 Marlins Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors. In 2022, DJ prioritized a polished bat above all by selecting Jacob Berry, a .360/.450/.655 collegiate hitter but a player with defensive limitations. In 144 MiLB games, Berry is slashing .236/.300/.382. He is currently participating in the Arizona Fall League. Berry was selected over Brooks Lee, Kevin Parada, and Jace Jung. Additional Svihlik & Co. selections in 2022 included Jacob Miller, Karson Milbrandt, Marcus Johnson, and Torin Montgomery. Since the 2022 draft, the Marlins have done well dealing from prospect capital drafted by Svihlik to acquire big league talent. They traded Watson for Josh Bell and Jake Eder for Jake Burger, both of whom were integral to the Marlins’ postseason run this year. Previously, they traded Johnson as part of a deal that landed them JT Chargois and Xavier Edwards. It should also be pointed out that amateur scouting under Svihlik found several diamonds in the rough in undrafted free agency such as Paul McIntosh and Jake Thompson. However, Miami has not reaped many positive contributions from the most lucrative selections made by Svihlik, especially on the offensive side of the baseball. With the exception of his most recent first-rounder, Noble Meyer, none of Svihlik's draftees are currently ranked as Top 100 MLB prospects. According to the Jackson report, Ng was keen on retaining Svihlik, which could have added to disagreements between her and principal owner Bruce Sherman. Whoever is ultimately hired by Sherman to lead Marlins baseball operations will have the flexibility to build an entirely new organizational identity. Amateur scouting and international operations will both have different looks following the departures of Svihlik and Adrian Lorenzo, respectively. In a time of uncertainty, one thing is clear: the Marlins have strengths that should be built on and they have opportunities which must be addressed in order to form a more sustainable foundation.

Troy Johnston looked down from a suite at loanDepot park on Sunday afternoon as the Marlins took on the Milwaukee Brewers. It was the last home game of the season and the Marlins had just handed out their minor league awards moments earlier. Awards included MVPs for each level and three organization-wide achievements. The 26-year-old infielder received arguably the most prestigious title: Minor League Player of the Year. Johnston, a Marlins’ 2019 draft pick, had been to Miami before. He joked and jested that he misses the home run sculpture that used to sit behind the center field wall at loanDepot park. This time, though, Johnston was in Miami all but a breath away from his first MLB call-up, a fact that was only further corroborated with the handing over of the newly etched plaque from Hector Crespo, Kim Ng, and Bruce Sherman. But Johnston remained as humble as ever. “It’s a long season and I’m just happy to be here," Johnston said. “I worked really really hard both defensively, trying to do baserunning, changing my swing offensively to try to be an overall better player. I’m really glad that they saw that and they valued that.” Johnston’s 2023 season was one for the books and it all started with a chip being placed on his shoulder. After an effective and impressive stint at AA in 2022, the 5’11”, 205 pound first baseman was left unprotected for the Rule 5 draft. Although there were teams interested, Johnston would wind up going unselected. “It gave me the opportunity to know that I needed to be a better player,” Johnston said about being exposed to the Rule 5 draft last year. “That pushed me to be a better player and not only that, but a better person. Go about baseball the right way.” Johnston began 2023 in AA where he hit .296/.396/.567. He got the promotion to AAA Jacksonville in June, a level he struggled at in a small cup of coffee to end his previous season. This time with the Shrimp, Johnston was nearly impossible to contain. In 51 games, he hit .323/.403/.520. At one point, he had a 30-game on-base streak, the first time in over a decade a Jacksonville player accomplished that feat. Late last season, Johnston dealt with a neck injury that required an epidural. According to Johnston, when he returned, he did not feel the same, spelling the way for his struggles with Jacksonville. “I couldn’t quite move the same. It was really just bugging me a lot,” Johnston said of his end to 2022. “I really didn’t have that at all this year. I was healthy all year and I could play every single day. I think that was the biggest thing—just realizing what my body can do and how far I could push it.” Johnston also stated he changed his mindset and overall approach at the plate to remove unnecessary complexity and to try to attack as often as possible. Striking this balance was another key to his success. “Keeping things simpler while being as aggressive as I could,” Johnston said. “It’s hard to be passive and aggressive at the same time. So you have to be either all in or all out.” Another extraordinary aspect of Johnston's year was accruing both 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. He's the first Marlins prospect to achieve that since Bryan Petersen did it between A/A+/AA in 2008. Along with getting stronger physically, Johnston, who doesn’t have blazing speed, was able to quickly learn how to steal bases from the ground up: “I didn’t know how to steal a base before this year, so learning how to steal a base was really, really fun. I felt faster, but I got better jumps as well. I learned a lot from the guys in AA especially Nasim (Nuñez) and J.D. Orr on how to steal bases. It’s not just about being fast—it’s about reading the pitcher, getting good jumps.” https://fishonfirst.com/farm/troy-johnston-20-20-season/One of the main questions surrounding Johnston’s skillset in years past has been where he will fit in defensively. Originally an outfielder when drafted, the Marlins moved Johnston into the infield at first base. In 2023, Johnston played 100% of his defensive innings at first, and he believes he made some significant progress with his glove and overall athleticism. He thanked coaches Danny Black, José Ceballos, and others for aggressively pushing him to succeed: “I think the biggest thing for me this year was that I need to learn how to dive. In the outfield, it’s much different than diving in the infield. I made quite a few diving plays this year and I’m really really happy with the way that has progressed.” https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/f1a6e083-2cd7-46f0-be66-bcae4426d91f.mp4After a grueling year that included a non-roster invite to big league camp and 600 regular season plate appearances, Johnston will now head back to his hometown for some well deserved time off. He's still Rule 5-eligible entering the offseason. After the season he had, he would almost certainly be claimed by another team if left unprotected again. “I’m gonna play it by ear,” Johnston said. “We know it’s business. Whatever they want to do, they’re gonna do. I’m just happy with my season I’ve had. I hope I had a good showing. Any way I can help the Marlins win, I would love to.” The Marlins have until November 14 to select Rule 5-eligible players to their 40-man roster. Photo courtesy of Miami Marlins

In this interview, Miami Marlins INF Angelo DiSpigna tells Alex Carver about deciding to pursue baseball over football, his collegiate career at Mercer University and Georgia Tech, the adjustments he's made in 2023, signing with the organization as an undrafted free agent and much more. Please rate and review Fish On First wherever you get your podcasts!After four seasons at Mercer, DiSpigna transferred to Georgia Tech for his final year of college eligibility. He led the team in OPS (1.176) while playing in all 57 games. He was teammates with outfielder Jake DeLeo, who the Marlins would select with their sixth-round pick in the MLB Draft. DiSpigna says he was "pretty confident" in the progress he made and his chances of being drafted. "You'd think with my athleticism, speed, power, average, all that, you'd think it would, but at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. Once you get here, I've realized you're all on the same playing field, regardless if you signed for $5 million or you signed for five grand. It doesn't matter. Just the opportunity is most important." DiSpigna saw his first minor league action with the FCL Marlins. In 17 games (splitting time between first base and designated hitter), he slashed an outstanding .373/.515/.627 (194 wRC+) with more walks than strikeouts. Soon after the complex league season ended, the Marlins invited DiSpigna to take live batting practice at LoanDepot Park against a rehabbing Johnny Cueto. He discussed that experience with FOF's Daniel Rodriguez. Turning 24 in November, DiSpigna projects to begin the 2024 season with Single-A Jupiter. He could progress rapidly from there if he continues to rake like some of Miami's other recent undrafted free agents, Paul McIntosh and Jake Thompson. Follow Angelo (@AngeloDiSpigna), Alex (@marlinsminors) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com. Our Fish On First podcast programming includes The Offishial Show, Fish Unfiltered, Fishology, State of the Fish, Swimming Upstream and What a Relief. All new episodes are posted to FishOnFirst.com/podcasts. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean, Megaphone or wherever you normally get your pods from.

With the 2023 MiLB season nearing its end, Alex Carver and Kevin Barral have an in-depth discussion about the state of the Miami Marlins farm system. This part focuses on the Triple-A Jacksonville performances of RHP Anthony Maldonado, LHP Josh Simpson, INF Xavier Edwards, INF Jacob Amaya, INF Jordan Groshans, OF Jake Mangum, OF Griffin Conine and 1B Troy Johnston. Subscribe to the Fish On First YouTube channel for video versions of every Swimming Upstream episode. 2023 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp advanced statsFollow Alex (@marlinsminors), Kevin (@kevin_barral) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com. Our Fish On First podcast programming includes The Offishial Show, Fish Unfiltered, Fishology, State of the Fish, Swimming Upstream and What a Relief. All new episodes are posted to FishOnFirst.com/podcasts. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean, Megaphone or wherever you normally get your pods from.

With the 2023 MiLB season nearing its end, Alex Carver and Kevin Barral have an in-depth discussion about the state of the Miami Marlins farm system. This part focuses on the Double-A Pensacola performances of C Will Banfield, INF José Devers, OF Victor Mesa Jr., SS Nasim Nuñez, C/INF Bennett Hostetler and INF Jacob Berry. Subscribe to the Fish On First YouTube channel for video versions of every Swimming Upstream episode. 2023 Pensacola Blue Wahoos advanced statsFollow Alex (@marlinsminors), Kevin (@kevin_barral) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com. Our Fish On First podcast programming includes The Offishial Show, Fish Unfiltered, Fishology, State of the Fish, Swimming Upstream and What a Relief. All new episodes are posted to FishOnFirst.com/podcasts. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean, Megaphone or wherever you normally get your pods from. Photo courtesy of Pensacola Blue Wahoos

With the 2023 MiLB season nearing its end, Alex Carver and Kevin Barral have an in-depth discussion about the state of the Miami Marlins farm system. This part focuses on the Low-A Jupiter and High-A Beloit performances of RHP Juan De La Cruz, RHP Jacob Miller, OF Jake DeLeo, OF Kemp Alderman, INF Ian Lewis, INF Jordan McCants, 1B Torin Montgomery, OF Osiris Johnson, INF Yiddi Cappe, C Joe Mack, 1B Zach Zubia, OF/1B Jake Thompson and INF/OF Javier Sanoja. Subscribe to the Fish On First YouTube channel for video versions of every Swimming Upstream episode. 2023 Jupiter Hammerheads advanced stats2023 Beloit Sky Carp advanced statsFollow Alex (@marlinsminors), Kevin (@kevin_barral) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com. Our Fish On First podcast programming includes The Offishial Show, Fish Unfiltered, Fishology, State of the Fish, Swimming Upstream and What a Relief. All new episodes are posted to FishOnFirst.com/podcasts. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean, Megaphone or wherever you normally get your pods from. Photo courtesy of ian_.3/Instagram

With the 2023 MiLB season nearing its end, Alex Carver and Kevin Barral have an in-depth discussion about the state of the Miami Marlins farm system. This part focuses on the Florida Complex League and Dominican Summer League performances of RHP Noble Meyer, 1B Angelo DiSpigna, OF Antony Peguero, OF José Gerardo, INF Junior Sánchez, INF Jesús Hernández, RHP Walin Castillo, C/INF Carmine Lane, INF Fabian López, LHP/OF Janero Miller, INF Yoffry Solano, OF Jancory De La Cruz and INF Erick Lara. Subscribe to the Fish On First YouTube channel for video versions of every Swimming Upstream episode. 2023 FCL Marlins advanced stats2023 DSL Marlins advanced stats2023 DSL Miami advanced statsFollow Alex (@marlinsminors), Kevin (@kevin_barral) and Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) on Twitter. Complete Miami Marlins coverage here at FishOnFirst.com. Our Fish On First podcast programming includes The Offishial Show, Fish Unfiltered, Fishology, State of the Fish, Swimming Upstream and What a Relief. All new episodes are posted to FishOnFirst.com/podcasts. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean, Megaphone or wherever you normally get your pods from.

In his first career start last week, Marlins’ first round draft pick Noble Meyer managed nerves well and learned of the factors within his game he needed to work on in order to reach his very high ceiling. During the week, Meyer and his coaches drafted that blueprint and on Saturday afternoon, they began to act on it. Under a very bright and very hot sun with few clouds around the Cardinals’ side of the complex at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Meyer took the mound for the second time. After his first start, Meyer said one of the main things he needed to improve was establishing the count in his favor by getting two of his first three pitches over for strikes. He threw a first-pitch strike to each of his first two hitters with his fastball. Both of those at bats ended in strikeouts. After a walk, Meyer rolled a slow ground ball to shortstop to end his first frame. “My fastball felt great today. I felt like I could throw it right by them,” Meyer said after his outing. “First pitch strikes was better, but I still think there’s more I can improve on.” To begin his second inning of work, Meyer would wind up allowing a walk in a 3-2 count, but appeared to be battling a finite strike zone. After coming back well against his next hitter by rolling a slow ground ball out, Meyer threw his only errant pitch of the day to allow the walk to reach third base. What followed was a very encouraging moment for the 18-year-old. Against Cardinals’ catcher Alejandro Loaiza—who wound up hitting a home run later in the game—Meyer went behind in the count early, battled back into it, then had the gumption to throw his curveball purposefully in the dirt. He garnered the swing-and-miss for his third strikeout. As impressive as that moment was, Meyer quickly upstaged it as he came back out for his third inning of work. Facing infielder Javier Bolivar, Meyer went behind in the count 3-0. He came back with a fastball followed by a slider for two straight strikes. On the first payoff pitch, Meyer dotted the curveball up on the inside corner for a strikeout looking to end his day. “Kind of was getting a little tired, kind of was getting under the ball,” Meyer said. “I zoned in and said I gotta get on top of the ball. I got strike one, strike two. I had a lot of trust in the curveball today so I figured why no go back to it and got him looking.” All in all, the righty’s line read 2.1 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 4 K. He threw 46 pitches and topped out at 96 mph with his fastball. Afterwards, Meyer summed up his second career start with two words: “Much better.” Meyer attributed his progression to having a ground floor to build off of in his side work throughout the week for the first time before getting back on the mound in game action. “It was nice to have a base to work off of after last week’s outing,” Meyer said. “Giving me things to work on and showing me how it’s going on game. So to have things to work on, like fastball command. It was really beneficial to go out and see batters again.” Behind Meyer and the rest of the FCL Marlins pitchers, Delvis Alegre, Julio Mendez, and Walin Castillo who qualified for a four-inning save, the offense was on fire. Three Marlins hitters collected three hits as the club plated 11 runs including four in the 5th inning and six in the 9th. All but one member of the team was on base at least once. “Major production today. Everyone swung the bat well,” Meyer said. “They were on fire. It was a fun day.” Happy but not satisfied, Meyer will go back to work before his next start this coming week. Things to watch for will be further consistency of first-pitch strikes and more consistency with his slider. That said, Meyer took a step forward on Saturday afternoon especially with his fastball command. Because of his stuff, makeup, maturity and willingness and want to grow, we can expect many more positive steps forward to be taken from the Marlins’ consensus top prospect. Other FCL notes: Walin Castillo continues to throw up zeroes. With limited velo but a funky delivery and a ton of deception, Castillo is holding down a 1.81 ERA in 28.2 FCL innings. That includes his last 12 innings in which he has allowed just one earned run. Command consistency is real for Castillo who has more than twice as many strikeouts than walks (25 K/12 BB). The 6’3”, 175 pound 18-year-old righty is a prospect who is quickly making his way towards full-season ball. He has a back-end rotational ceiling with multiple-inning reliever being a more likely outcome. He won’t turn 19 until January.A healthy Junior Sánchez is fun to watch. After being signed by the Marlins in 2019 for a lucrative $1.15 million, Sánchez sat out over three years due to the cancelled COVID season and ongoing injuries. He played his first pro game in 2022. This season, Sánchez has played in nearly every FCL contest. Overall, he’s hitting .265 with a .703 OPS. He’s been on base in 14 of his last 15 starts. During Meyer’s first start, Sánchez made a spectacular diving grab at second base that saved a run. In this game, Sánchez reached base three times and stole two bases, both of which occurred during the same inning. 5’10”, 177, the lefty hitter is built for a solid average and good on base rates. He’s walked 19 times and only struck out on 16 occasions. Once on, he has good instincts and great athleticism which follows him into the field at second base. Although behind schedule, he is starting to prove why he was so high prized by Miami.Jesús Hernández is starting to make a name for himself. A member of the 2021 international signing class, Hernández exhibited awesome on-base numbers and an advanced approach upon his pro debut in the DSL as a 17-year-old that season. After splitting time between the DSL and his first 18 stateside games last season, Hernández has played in nearly every FCL Marlins game so far this season. He’s slashing .286/.415/.401 and has walked more than he’s struck out (33/32 K/BB). Hernández currently has limited power, but shows advanced plate presence and discipline with sneaky above average bat speed capable of hitting gaps on short season fields. On the infield, Hernández exhibits fantastic athleticism and an above average arm. In this game, he laid out to make a grab down the line and made a play behind the bag before accurate throws to first base. The owner of the best wRC+ on the Marlins’ FCL squad and 14th best in the league (123), Hernández is an under-the-radar prospect to keep an eye on. He could make it up to full-season ball very shortly.

On Thursday night, the Marlins emphatically declared themselves buyers. At 55-48, Miami addressed the leaky back end of their bullpen by acquiring one of the biggest arms on the market from a division rival. Down and out, the New York Mets swapped 38-year-old reliever David Robertson, who is on an expiring contract, for two long-term prospects.Robertson will almost certainly move into the closer role for the rest of the season as his new club makes its playoff push. A veteran with a 2.05 ERA and 48/13 K/BB to go along with 14 saves is a huge upgrade for a team that had already blown 19 save opportunities.But what did it cost? Here’s a look at who is going the other way and the impact this trade has on the Marlins’ farm system.IF Marco Vargas Vargas was a member of the Marlins’ 2022 international signing class. He was 17 when he was selected and turned 18 just over two months ago. The Mexican infielder signed for just $17,500. Not a big name going into the signing period, the 6’, 160-pounder quickly made a name for himself in his pro debut in the DSL. In his first 53 career games, Vargas hit .319/.421/.456 with 18 extra base hits and 14 stolen bases. Vargas came stateside as a pro for the first time this spring and stood out to the Marlins’ organization in a big way. One of the youngest guys in minor league camp, Vargas could be seen standing in against Marlins who had performed at full-season levels as high as AA. What stood out immediately in viewing him in camp is the fact that in those situations, he did not look uncomfortable and in some moments, even got the better of much older competition. Speaking with some members of the Marlins development team about Vargas’ performance in camp, his maturity at such a young age was the defining factor. The overarching consensus was that Vargas is well ahead of schedule. Vargas has continued to showcase that trait this season. Challenged to the FCL, he is slashing .283/.457/.442. He has hit two home runs and stolen eight bases. He’s also once again walking more than he is striking out (22/38 K/BB). Vargas exhibits an extremely patient approach and simple mechanics all before a well-balanced and extremely quick swing. What he currently lacks in size he makes up for with bat speed and the ability to force pitchers to challenge him inside the strike zone. All of this gives Vargas a 60-grade hit tool. Still developing physically, Vargas could and should come by some more raw strength which will further enhance his skill set. Defensively, Vargas can cut it at shortstop, but with somewhat limited range, he is likely a better long-term fit at second base. On the bases, while his run tool is just average, it does not hamper Vargas. There, he shows a great IQ and instincts that should allow him to dip into the 20-25 range in stolen bases over the course of a full season. Doing so much at such a young age, Vargas has the potential to be a future three-tool or four-tool player. He could become a top organizational talent very quickly. With his new organization, I believe he could handle a promotion to full-season ball immediately and be fast-tracked from there, pushing for a big league opportunity as early as 2025. Overall, Vargas is a very high-floor player with a ton of projectable upside. Ranked seventh within Fish on the Farm’s current prospect rankings, this loss is a significant one to a system without many top-tier offensive talents. It’s a huge gain for the Mets as they look to begin to build from within towards the long term future. C Ronald Hernandez Hernandez was signed by the Marlins as a member of the 2021 international signing class out of Venezuela. He earned a lucrative $850,000 signing bonus. Hernandez spent the first 32 games of his career in the DSL. Hernandez got off to a bit of a slow start at the plate, but ended the year by slashing .267/.367/.529 in September. A switch-hitting 17-year-old at the time, Hernandez showed a solid blueprint and began to exemplify why the Marlins were enamored enough to give him over three quarters of a million dollars. Hernandez was a member of the FCL Marlins in 2022 and hit .236/.329/.321. He improved his ability to find open field, but also was a bit more aggressive when selecting swings. Considering the usual trajectory of young and developing backstops, there were a lot of encouraging signs in Hernandez’s development including his continued ability to showcase awesome raw athleticism, not only in switch-hitting and starting to spray the baseball to all fields, but also in his ability to improve as a backstop despite limited physical size. Hernandez came to camp in 2023. The Marlins got a good look him against various levels of competition. He could be seen at times playing with and against some of the upper levels minor league development. What stood out to me in watching Hernandez was his physical improvement and his mobility behind the plate. Hernandez, who appeared to be larger particularly in his lower half, could be seen receiving, framing, and blocking pitching sufficiently, no matter the level he was catching. Offensively, Hernandez exhibited a solid approach and knew what he wanted to do at the plate. His mechanics were mirrored from both sides, and he showed the ability to work counts and lengthen at bats while also being able to step and stride into pitching on both sides of the plate. Coming out of camp, I believed that Hernandez showed more than enough to garner the challenge to Low-A Jupiter. Instead, the Marlins took it easy with their investment and sent Hernandez back to the FCL. This season, he’s hitting .296/.464/.452. Not only has Hernandez’s pitch recognition improved, so too has his ability to lift the baseball. Looking at splits, Hernandez is hitting lefties and righties nearly equally which proves he can continue to make it stick as a switch hitter. Improvements Hernandez needs to commit to are continuing to develop physically and arm strength. Overwhelmingly though, Hernandez earns the highest grades for his athleticism. Through that, at age 19, he should continue to project as a long term backstop who hits to all fields consistently from both sides of the plate. That said, this is another great get for the Mets and another substantial loss for the Marlins once again considering how far advanced Hernandez is offensively at such a young age. Grading the Trade In losing Vargas and Hernandez, the Marlins are out of two of their most intriguing offensive prospects. In an organization that has had trouble developing offensive talent, these losses will significantly impact the system. On the other side, it is extremely encouraging to see the the team plant the flag as buyers several days in advance of this deadline. In Robertson, the team acquires a performing veteran with playoff experience who will add to fostering a winning culture for the rest of this season. Overall, you need to give up something to get something. In this case, the Marlins get a solid B for this mutually beneficial trade. Photo courtesy of Florida Complex League Mets

When it comes to the placement of their younger minor leaguers, the first half of the Marlins’ season in the minors has differed significantly from last. After the team challenged the likes of Eury Perez, Evan Fitterer, Victor Mesa Jr. and others in 2022, they took a more conservative approach to 2023 as many of their minor leaguers headed to levels where they more closely matched the league’s average age. Now, in July with the MLB Draft wrapped up, challenge will need to occur as 21 new faces are stepping into the organization at presumably the lowest stateside levels in Jupiter. Who will be challenged to step up to the next level of their development? Here is a list of players who are deserving. INF/OF Javier Sanoja Sanoja is a signing from the Marlins’ 2019 international class, the same class that also brought them Eury Perez, Jose Salas, Ian Lewis, and others. The Venezuelan signed just before the 2020 COVID shutdown, disallowing him from participating in MiLB games or even being around the team facilities in the Dominican much for two years. He stepped into his debut pro ball season in 2021 and showed an immediate impact. In his first 28 pro games, Sanoja amassed a 143 wRC+. Still 19, Sanoja came stateside in 2022. He skipped the FCL and instead spent 73 games with the A Jupiter Hammerheads where he experienced an understandable dip in production. Back with the Hammerheads this year, Sanoja is back to doing what made him an attractive piece when the Marlins signed him: limiting strikeouts as well as just about anyone in Minor League Baseball, exhibiting simple bat to ball skills, running extremely well, and playing multiple positions. Through 80 games, already the most he’s played in a season, Sanoja is slashing .287/.337/.382 with a 7.9% K rate, a 98 wRC+ and 25 stolen bases. The 5’7”, 150 pound Sanoja probably won’t ever be a huge power threat, but he exhibits a great feel for and handle of the bat, views pitching extremely well, puts the ball in play consistently, and has plus speed on the base paths. With positional flexibility, Sanoja could be in line for the call to A+ Beloit. 1B/DH Torin Montgomery Montgomery is a 22-year-old who was drafted by the Marlins in the 11th round last year out of Missouri. Montgomery is listed at 6’3”, 220 but is a lot more physically imposing than those figures illustrate. A slow starter in Jupiter this year, Torin turned it on in a big way in May and hasn’t turned it off since. Since May 1st, Montgomery is hitting .355/.487/.476. He’s also been viewing A pitching very well, evident by a 17.1% walk rate and a manageable 17.7 K% rate. Over that same span, he has 13 XBHs. Montgomery is a defensively limited prospect that can only be placed at 1B or DH. That said, he’s over performing in a pitcher friendly environment and clearly needs a challenge. If Torin can continue to get his lower half more involved in his swing and show that his plate vision can permeate at higher levels, he’s an under-the-radar prospect who could continue to cement his name pretty quickly. 1B Zach Zubia To make room for Montgomery at the A+ level, the Marlins could decide to promote Zubia who is plenty deserving of a look in the upper minors during the second half. A 6’4”, 230 pound physical specimen who was drafted by Miami in 2021, Zubia is enjoying his highest rate of success at the plate this season with Beloit. Always a patient hitter at the plate who has limited his swings and misses, Zubia has started to come by higher contact rates this season with the Sky Carp. Through 41 games, he’s slashing .274/.412/.404 with a 34/24 K/BB and a 141 wRC+. The only puzzling part of Zubia’s game has been his inability to hit for power. He only has six extra base hits this season. However, the Texan has spent the year dealing with cold weather months and a very pitcher friendly park. At age 25, Zubia has a mature approach at the plate and is doing more than enough to warrant a look at the upper levels of Minor League Baseball. At AA, hope is hitting coach Matt Snyder will work on fostering Zubia’s natural raw power potential to fill out his skill set and boost his floor. His call-up makes a lot of sense if Troy Johnston—currently hitting .277/.389/.558—is promoted from AA to AAA. C Ronald Hernandez Signed by the Marlins as part of the 2021 international class, Hernandez, 19, made an immediate impression with his plate presence and ability to work his way on base, all while dealing with catching duties consistently. With the DSL Marlins that year, Hernandez slashed .209/.365/.358. In a similar amount of ABs in 2022, Hernandez’s slash took a bit of a hit as the league adjusted to him. For a third straight year, Hernandez is back in the FCL and he’s back in a big way. Through 22 games, Hernandez is hitting .268/.470/.437. He has a 147 wRC+. The switch hitter is still developing his catching tools including his throwing arm, but shows a solid feel for the barrel from both sides of the plate and the ability to hit to all fields. He should have more than enough room to continue to his development with the Hammerheads. He is solidly on the radar for a call-up to full season ball very shortly. RHP Ike Buxton Buxton is a member of the 2022 draft class. After being recruited to Boise State out of high school, he red-shirted in 2019 before missing nearly all of 2020 due to the COVID cancellation. Facing a comeback from nearly two full years idle Buxton earned his draft capital in 2022 when he proved he can handle a full slate of work and improve his craft. So far, the Marlins have taken it easy with Buxton’s workload, originally making him a member of the Hammerheads’ bullpen. Recently, Buxton has returned to the Jupiter rotation. This past week, in his fourth career start, Buxton had a career day as he went six innings on five hits, one run, three walks and eight strikeouts. Overall in 33 IP with Jupiter, Buxton has a 1.91 ERA via a 1.21 WHIP and a 40/23 K/BB. Buxton features a wide arsenal of five pitches and can reach the upper 90s. He throws his fastball three different ways (4S, 2S, CT) and mixes in a changeup. Arguably his best pitch is a sweeper that tunnels off the heat very well. Buxton’s focal point as he grows will be improving his command and control and controlling all quadrants of the zone. That said, at 22, Buxton has shown enough to get a look at A+ in the second half this year. An inspirational story as a three-sport collegiate athlete with a great work ethic, Buxton has a back end rotational ceiling. LHP Evan Taylor Taylor is a 23-year-old lefty drafted in the 9th round last season. After being assigned to the Hammerheads for the first nine games of his pro career last season, he is back with Jupiter this season. For the entirety of the season, Taylor has served as Jupiter’s closer. He’s successfully converted 11 of 12 save opportunities and is holding down a 2.86 ERA via a 50/18 K/BB through 34.2 IP. In 47 pro innings total—all with Jupiter—he has a 2.87 ERA and 69/25 K/BB. Taylor’s arsenal consists of two pitches: a fastball that tops at 93 and and his best pitch, a slider that sits in the high 70s and can reach 82. Taylor’s best weapon is his deception. At 6’4”, 250, Taylor is extremely quick and extremely short to the plate from a funky low left handed arm angle. This and his confidence to challenge inside the zone has awarded him with a possible call up to A+. 3B Jake Thompson Thompson is quite possibly the next diamond in the rough find prospect by the Marlins. A guy who has never had an issue staying on the field, Thompson moved from South Dakota State University to Oklahoma State University and mixed in four summer league showings before the MLB Draft. Despite OPSing 1.063 in his senior year, Thompson went undrafted. The Marlins signed Thompson as a free agent on July 20th, 2022. Since being drafted, Thompson has found consistent offensive success. After slashing .292/.397/.475 in his first 34 pro games, the 6’, 207-pound lefty batter is hitting .254/.356/.520 in 53 games this season. His 11 home runs are tied for 8th in the Midwest League. A compact yet physical bat, Thompson is showing solid bat to ball skills. He can also play all corner positions on the infield and outfield. Performing at age 25, Thompson could get pushed quickly through the system.