Alex Carver

With the calendar having just turned over and less than two months to go until Marlins’ pitchers and catchers report to Jupiter, the club has had a very quiet offseason. Though Peter Bendix and Co. have made a few small signings that will be expected to contribute to the MLB team in 2024, they have not addressed their biggest needs and have lost more than they have gained in the department of proven MLB talent. Despite having just reached the postseason last year, there is an emphasis being put on partially rebuilding internally, prioritizing the franchise's long-term viability. Per Ken Rosenthal, Jesus Luzardo is reportedly garnering serious trade interest. Luzardo, who joined his hometown team in 2021, was finally healthy over the course of a full season this last year. He also improved his arsenal by shelving his sinker in order to throw more four-seam fastballs and garnered more whiffs on his slider than ever before. Over 178 innings, Luzardo racked up 200+ strikeouts while walking just 55 with by far the most consistent control/command he’s ever shown. Painful as it would be to part with a high-end starter who's only 26 and still three years away from free agency, Luzardo is at peak value. The Marlins would be able to extract a handsome prospect package in return. Bleacher Report recently cooked up some potential trades. You can find countless others on Baseball Trade Values. Here are three plausible trade scenarios of our own. Marlins trade LHP Jesus Luzardo and OF/IF Javier Sanoja to Boston Red Sox for OF Ceddanne Rafaela and C Kyle Teel The Marlins and Red Sox match up well on a need-for-need basis. After a disappointing 2023 season, the Red Sox are desperate for more top-end rotational talent, especially after the trade of Chris Sale. They had the 21st-ranked team ERA in 2023 and currently only have four lefties on their entire 40-man roster (none in their projected Opening Day rotation). For a team that allowed a .799 OPS to lefty batters last season, Luzardo would be the perfect acquisition for their rotation and would likely ace it. Rafaela is a true center fielder who, after a .302/.349/.520 tenure in 108 games between AA and AAA, made his big league debut last season. Already 28 games into his MLB tenure, Rafaela is still just 23 years old. The Curaçao native who is lauded for his bat-to-ball skills and plus speed on the bases, would immediately become the Marlins’ everyday center fielder. His acquisition would also allow Miami to move Jazz Chisholm Jr back onto the infield at second base where he is much more comfortable with Luis Arraez moving to first base and Josh Bell becoming the everyday DH. This acquisition would bolster a fleeting defense and protect the health of multiple assets. Rafaela is under club control through at least 2029. He would be the target piece in a deal with Boston. From the Red Sox’s and Craig Breslow's standpoint, they have Jarren Duran to their credit who has ample ability to step back in as their everyday man at the eight spot. Still with the hope of developing their prep catchers Will Banfield and Joe Mack, the club passed on selecting the collegiate sophomore Teel in the 2023 draft in favor of prep hurler Noble Meyer. Four picks after the Marlins and Meyer, Teel went to the Red Sox at 14 overall. During his first year pro, Teel appeared in just 26 games but hit well at each of three levels, including AA. The addition of Teel would give the Marlins their most advanced backstop system wide. The lefty bat with a simplistic approach, great patience, 45-50 grade game power that is still developing, and fantastic athleticism that allots him a plus-plus arm and movements behind the plate, could contribute to a big league team as early as next season. He’s still just 21 years old and shows every intention of being the a long-term answer behind the plate for whichever organization is lucky enough to have him around. Think of a Brian McCann-esque ceiling. Marlins trade LHP Jesus Luzardo and 2B Yiddi Cappe to Baltimore Orioles for OF Colton Cowser, SS Joey Ortiz and C Creed Willems In their current state, the Orioles have some decent MLB pitchers, but they don’t have a clear bonafide ace. Like the Red Sox, their rotation is righty-heavy. In 2023, the team's 7.27 ERA in the playoffs doomed them. The acquisition of Luzardo would give the Orioles their Opening Day starter and ace. Without any pitching within their top third of the system right now, Luzardo would provide a massive upgrade for a team looking to go from a playoff appearance to playoff success. In Cappe, the Orioles would get a work-in-progress that is best suited for second base long term. He has a ton of athleticism but there are issues with his swing and timing that need to be solved for. Cappe, 21, still very much has time on his side and has already been exposed to A+. There is the potential for a lot more to be unlocked here both in the way of physical and statistical projection. A change of scenery could be exactly what he needs. Cowser is the Orioles’ first-rounder from 2021 who is capable of handling all three outfield spots, including center field. He doesn’t have great speed, but he shows good instincts off the bat which could allow him to stick in CF. He flew through the O’s system in just two short years to make his debut last season. According to his FanGraphs metrics, he was attacked very often with offspeed stuff including changeups and sliders which he struggled against, leading to an unproductive initial cup of coffee (40 wRC+ in 77 PA). That said, his historical MiLB stats pave the way for improvement related to his patience and swing selections. Cowser is still a bit of work in progress, but if acquired, would immediately step in as the everyday center fielder. At 23, he still has two option years to his credit and all his club-controlled years ahead of him, fitting the Marlins’ mold for young, controllable players who are prepared to contribute immediately. Known for standout 60-grade defense at shortstop, Ortiz has also showed a balanced contact-oriented approach at the plate and has incorporated the capability for some plus pop in the recent years of his four year MiLB career. Scouts point to his ability to improve physically over the past two seasons as a catalyst for taking him from a utility player ceiling to that of an everyday player who most definitely can stick at short. At the very least, Ortiz has the capability and athleticism to man multiple positions at the big league level, making him a high-floor player. If acquired, he’d have a great chance to immediately take over shortstop duties, allowing Miami to deploy both Berti and Edwards in utility-based roles. Having just debuted last season, Ortiz is also inexpensive for many years to come. Like the aforementioned Teel, Willems is a lefty-hitting catcher. The Orioles got him out of high school in 2021. After missing time with an elbow injury during his first full season in 2022, he returned in 2023 in better shape and with a modified approach at the plate. That work allowed Willems to improve his receiving skills and pump out 17 home runs between A and A+. https://sporty-clips.mlb.com/def862b7-f0ca-4029-b72b-919e967756a4.mp4The Marlins have had a volatile past when it comes to high school catchers and Willems definitely requires more developing. That said, with his 60-grade raw power starting to translate to game power as well as his strong arm and improvements made as a receiver, he's an attractive prospect. Willems has also spent time at first base. Marlins trade LHP Jesus Luzardo and RHP Juan De La Cruz to Texas Rangers for OF Evan Carter, OF/1B Dustin Harris and SS Cameron Cauley With Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom rehabbing from injuries and several more soon-to-be-expiring contracts, the defending World Series champions are in dire need of controllable starting pitching. Luzardo should be a clear target for them. De La Cruz gets added to this trade as an up-and-coming righty who was very impressive this past season, reaching as high as 98 mph with an advanced three-pitch mix. He spent most of 2023 at Low-A as an 18-year-old, pitching against competition that was more than four years his elder on average. He will require patience, but would be a sneaky acquisition as a second piece in any potential deal with Miami. Carter would undoubtedly be Miami’s main target in a deal with the Rangers. A high school pick from 2020, Carter rose through the minor league ranks in under two full seasons. After an injury to Adolis Garcia, he debuted for the Rangers this past September and made an immediate impact, hitting .306 with a 1.058 OPS through his first 23 games. Despite Garcia’s return for the playoffs, Carter was impossible to keep off the Rangers’ playoff roster. In each of his first six postseason games, Carter recorded at least one hit. He also had standout moments on both sides of the ball in the ALCS. Carter’s success at the plate continued in the World Series where he went 6-for-21 with a walk. All in all, he reached base at least once in all 17 games during the Rangers’ title run (.417 OBP). The seemingly unprecedented run to start Carter’s career corroborated his bombastic scouting grades including 60 grade hit and 60 grade speed. With plus bat and strike zone control, Carter’s approach on top of already solid raw power should manifest in a yearly 20/20 threat, at least. Carter has mostly played the corners with the Rangers, but he more than has the speed, arm strength and route running ability to man center field regularly. So mature at such a young age, he would immediately step in as the Marlins’ everyday center fielder and if his projection continues, would have perennial All-Star potential and the very real capacity for all five tools. Harris is a 6’3”, 185-pound, lefty-hitting/righty-throwing outfielder and first baseman. He was an 11th-round pick out of JuCo by the A’s in 2019. After an injury-hampered 2022 season, Harris made it from AA to AAA this past season where he hit .273/.382/.455. Harris limits swings-and-misses and picks his spots very well. Through his minor league career, his K rate is a very manageable 19.4%. He’s also walked at an impressive 12.2% rate, including 13.9% at the highest level of MiLB last year. When Harris does attack, he shows fairly easy power that he can deploy to all fields. It has allotted him 52 home runs in his first 380 career games. Defensively, Harris shows just average peripherals in the corners which will likely limit him to playing left field. However, his offensive upside would keep him in the lineup. Harris also has eligibility at first base, an important position for the Marlins to address assuming this proves to be Josh Bell's final season with them. At 24 with his MLB clock yet to be started, Harris would slot in nicely as the first baseman of the future for Miami. Cauley was a third-round prep pick by the Rangers in 2021. He broke into pro ball with Texas that season and has since only risen to A+, repeating the Low-A level to start 2023. He also had a subpar showing with the bat in the hitter-friendly Arizona Fall League this year. While the 21-year-old righty isn’t expected to grow into much power and needs to be developed to be more of a bat-to-ball threat, he is already a massive difference-maker in the field and on the bases. With good reads off the bat, range to both sides, and an above-average arm, Cauley has spent time at multiple defensive positions but is more than capable of sticking long term at shortstop. On the bases, he shows 60+ grade speed, giving him the ability to turn anything into extra bases by consistently challenging opposing defenses. He’s currently a righty-hitting-only Nasim Nunez (Nunez was taken from the Marlins last month in the Rule 5 Draft) with room to grow into more if his bat can be further developed. The Marlins don’t have many sure-fire shortstops in their system. Cauley’s fairly high floor would fill that void. Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire

Baseball America editor-in-chief J.J. Cooper helps Alex Carver, Kevin Barral and Ely Sussman make sense of what happened during this week's MLB Rule 5 Draft. We also go through the Marlins' recent track record in the amateur draft, what to expect from player development under the leadership of Peter Bendix and much more. Subscribe to the Fish On First YouTube channel to watch video versions of every Swimming Upstream episode. With the fifth pick in the Rule 5 Draft, Marlins infielder Nasim Nuñez was selected by the Washington Nationals. Interestingly, reigning Marlins Minor League Player of the Year Troy Johnston did not get selected. Here's what Cooper had to say about that: "As good as his season was, he sometimes will chase out of the zone, and I do think that is a concern when you say, 'How well is this gonna translate?' "We're drafting a first baseman in the Rule 5 Draft. You're gonna want a guy who can really control the zone pretty well, who from day one is kinda hitting. Not that Johnston doesn't have a lot of attributes that kinda indicate maybe he can, but you have this one concern here...that might right there have had another list of teams say, 'Nope, we're just not interested because he'll expand a little bit outside the zone sometimes.' "First base is just not a position that always gets taken...You're pretty much only taking that guy if he's going to not only stick, but get regular at-bats." https://fishonfirst.com/news/2023-rule-5-draft-results/Baseball America subscribers can read scouting reports for every pick from the major league phase of the Rule 5 Draft here. Follow J.J. (@jjcoop36), Alex (@marlinsminors), Kevin (@kevin_barral), Ely (@RealEly) 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, State of the Fish, Swimming Upstream, Fishology 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. Image courtesy of Washington Nationals

The most recent iteration of the Rule 5 Draft is in the books. On Wednesday afternoon in Nashville, Tennessee, Nasim Nuñez departed the Miami Marlins organization, selected by the Washington Nationals with the fifth overall pick. The Marlins chose the speedy infielder with their second-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. Nuñez hit .233/.358/.286 with 183 stolen bases in 351 minor league games, establishing himself as Miami's best defensive shortstop. He represented the organization in the 2023 Futures Game and made one final impression on the Nats (and other potentially interested teams) during the Arizona Fall League. The Marlins will play the Nationals six times in Grapefruit League spring training games, starting on February 25 in Jupiter. If Nuñez cracks Washington's regular season roster, he'll face his former organization at LoanDepot Park from April 26-29. To the surprise of many, Marlins Minor League Player of the Year Troy Johnston is still with the Fish. A 2019 draftee out of Gonzaga, Johnston's breakout campaign occurred in 2022 where he hit .292/.360/.450 in his jump to the AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos. That stint earned him the call to AAA at the back end of his age-25 season. In his initial showing with the Jumbo Shrimp, Johnston’s production stumbled as he hit .155/.293/.330. Left unprotected in his first year of Rule 5 eligibility, he went unselected and remained with Miami. This past season, better physical preparation allowed Johnston to become one of the most productive players in the Marlins’ organization. Starting with AA Pensacola then moving back up to AAA Jacksonville, Johnston slashed .307/.399/.549 across both levels. With 26 home runs and 24 stolen bases, he was the first Marlins player to record a 20-20 season of this caliber since 2008. At the final home game of the season during which he was presented with his Player of the Year award, Johnston stayed committed to a future with Miami. https://fishonfirst.com/farm/troy-johnston-2023-player-of-the-year-award/Explaining the reason why Johnston wasn’t protected at the November 14 deadline, new Marlins President of Baseball Operations Peter Bendix stated that 40-man roster decisions weren’t easy to make, but those spots are “finite.” Meanwhile, Bendix felt comfortable claiming marginal relievers Ryan Jensen and Kaleb Ort off waivers in recent weeks and standing pat with prospects who have underwhelmed at the plate. Fortunately, Johnston stays put despite the advancements he's made and performing like a top-30 player in all of Minor League Baseball in 2023 by many metrics. Josh Bell will be the Marlins' 2024 starter at first base. Retaining Johnston gives them a clear-cut option to man the position behind him. At the very latest, Johnston could earn regular playing time in 2025 if Bell changes teams in free agency next winter. The Marlins made five selections during the minor league phase of the Rule 5: OF Yeral Martinez (New York Mets)OF Marty Costes (Houston Astros)IF Sean Roby (San Francisco Giants)LHP Adam Laskey (Chicago Cubs)RHP Julio Dilone (Seattle Mariners) None of their own players were selected in the minor league phase. Photo courtesy of Pensacola Blue Wahoos

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