Alex Carver

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.

Enjoying the best year of his minor league career so far, Marlins prospect Will Banfield joins Alex for an in-depth interview.Homegrown Miami Marlins catcher Will Banfield joins Alex Carver on Swimming Upstream. Banfield describes how the Marlins organization has changed through the years, the adjustments that have made him a more productive hitter, the importance of playing with selfless teammates and more. Subscribe to the Fish On First YouTube channel for video versions of every Swimming Upstream episode. Banfield joined the Marlins organization after being selected with the 69th overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft (the first draft class of the Bruce Sherman era). The Georgia native enters Sunday with a .216/.264/.356 slash line in 365 career minor league games and he's twice been a non-roster invitee at big league spring training. He has played all of his defensive innings behind the plate. Currently with Double-A Pensacola, Banfield is hitting better than ever in 2023 with a .260/.278/.462 slash line (91 wRC+). He has already matched his career high with 11 home runs. Banfield was a key piece of the 2022 Blue Wahoos team that won the Southern League championship. The team boasts a league-best 43-29 record so far this season. "We have such good guys in the clubhouse and in the dugout that wanna win," Banfield says. "Also, we all hang out outside of the field and we're all friends. That's the coolest thing about it—we can turn it on when we're on the field and make sure we're locked in and also get onto each other when we need to, but when we're off the field, we're able to have fun. Follow Will (@will_banfield), 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. Photo courtesy of Pensacola Blue Wahoos

In minor league baseball, there are times when winning games takes a backseat to overall individual development. In 2022, the members of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos made winning and cultivating a winning culture part of their development. To start the 2023 season, the club will have many of those same faces back by the bay at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Here's a look at what to expect from the Wahoos this season. -- While there are many names on the Wahoos roster that could have easily gotten the promotion to AAA, Kevin “Smoke” Randel will begin the year with many of the players who helped lead Pensacola to the 2022 Southern League title. Randel is excited about bringing players that know how to create a winning culture back into his clubhouse. “It’s a privilege to have a lot of these championship players return. I think we have 15 total and they were the guys going down the stretch,” Randel said. “They came to the park with some energy. They sparked some life in our club that we didn’t really have when they came. The clubhouse was unbelievable and the dugout was unbelievable. Watching these guys compete and win ballgames night in and night out was really impressive. I’m fortunate and grateful they are back with us.” Position PlayersC Paul McIntosh We have said this before and we will stick to it: McIntosh is a mountain of muscle. He puts it all to work for him well at the plate and this spring, he showed the ability to get more of it involved behind the plate. A 6’1”, 220 pound specimen, the undrafted free agent has turned a lot of heads during his first two seasons in the Marlins organization including last year where he hit .258/.379/.465 as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos’ primary catcher. At the plate, McIntosh has exhibited fantastic plate vision and some of the simplest power in the Marlins’ system. With the Wahoos, PMac had a 75/55 K/BB and hit 13 home runs. Behind the plate, McIntosh could be seen working diligently on his lateral movement and blocking ability this spring. It’s been a quick rise for PMac since he was signed by Miami in 2021. He’s played a lot of baseball at the most physically demanding position on the diamond, but he’s been productive and shown fantastic athleticism throughout. His body caught up with him at the end of 2022 when he suffered an intercostal injury, but he has remained healthy throughout the spring. If McIntosh’s offensive consistency continues and he continues to gain polish as a backstop, he could be called upon to contribute to the Marlins sometime this season. When rosters were released, there were questions about how Randel will get both McIntosh and Banfield adequate playing time. According to Randel, McIntosh will also see time in left field once a week. McIntosh has experience at the position due to spending time there in his collegiate years. The positional flexibility will only be to his advantage as he edges closer to his big league future. McIntosh is a high floor hitter who is only getting better and who continues to prove his worth to the franchise that trusted in his abilities. 1B Troy Johnston Johnston is the most scientific hitter in the Marlins’ minor league system. The 2019 draftee out of Gonzaga works to maintain that title by way of good swing decisions and the ability to keep it simple. Johnston takes what he can get at the plate and settles for reaching base, but his ability to make consistent quality contact has started to earn him more extra bases late in his MiLB career. Johnston is an average corner outfielder who started playing first base in 2021. He’s still working to complete his polish at the spot, but he shows enough consistency to be able to man first regularly. Being able to man one of the thinnest positions in the organization, if this new slimmed down version of Johnston continues to hit at Pensacola this year, his big league debut shouldn’t be far away. 2B Jose Devers 3B Cobie Fletcher-Vance SS Nasim Nunez Nunez is hands down the best defensive player in the Marlins’ organization. His 70-grade field tool and 60-grade arm give him a very high floor as there is little doubt he will stick at shortstop for his whole career. How close Nunez will get to his ceiling of a catalytic starting shortstop will depend on the future progression of his bat. This spring, although he only saw limited time in games, Nunez impressed the new Marlins coaching staff with his work ethic, drive and exhibition of on base tools. A 5’9”, 168 pound switch hitter, Nunez showed continued patience and plate vision while also beginning to exhibit higher exit velos up to 107 mph. Per his own words, Nunez is a guy who is starting to understand himself as a player with each rep he gets. He will continue to get those as the every day shortstop for the Wahoos this season. Despite his wiry frame, Nunez also remains confident in his ability to come by consistent plus contact, but even if he doesn’t, Nunez is consistently looking to turn his opportunities on base into more bases. With MLB ready defense right now, blazing speed, and a simple approach, Nunez has a high MLB floor as utility player and the ceiling of a full time starter. He’s also still just 22. With plenty of time to completely fill out, Nunez is a very intriguing follow this year. LF Griffin Conine Conine has had a lot of moments to remember in Pensacola as a member of the Blue Wahoos. Thirty-seven of them relate to his ability to put the ball over the fence. The owner of insane power bordering on 70 grade, Conine went from 13 in 42 AA games last year to 24, a team record, over the course of a full season with Pensacola last season making him a key cog in their Southern League championship run. Over the course of the past three seasons, Conine has slammed 27 homers per season on average. There’s zero question about what Conine can do when he makes quality contact. The question is how often can he do so? Conine’s development has been limited by an extremely high strikeout rate. As hard as it can be to hit on the bay in Pensacola, luck hasn’t played much of a part, either. In fact, Conine was slightly luckier than the league average player in the Southern League this past season, posting a .308 BABIP. The good news for Conine is that he was seeing AA pitching so much better last year, reviving his walk rate from 6.9% in his 42 games with the Wahoos all the way back up to 14.9% in 118 games. Conine’s offensive profile will always include strikeouts, but how respectable can he make his on base figures? How he answers that question as he finishes his minor league career will make the difference between fourth outfielder/bat off the bench and starting outfielder/DH. This is a big year for Conine. CF Victor Mesa Jr Mesa Jr was a highly heralded Marlins international signing that came to the club with his brother and top international class signee Victor Victor Mesa. Five years later, Mesa Jr has made his own name and rose to within the top 10 in the Marlins’ organizational rankings. After a solid 2022 with the Sky Carp, Mesa Jr came to camp this spring with added weight and a more focused purpose. On the backfields, Mesa Jr consistently exhibited arguably the best swings of any non-40 man player. Late in camp, Mesa Jr got into a couple games with the big league team and faced off against mostly AA and AAA talent. On March 19th, he stepped up in the bottom of the 9th in a tie game and ambushed the first pitch he saw for a game winning ace. At the plate, Mesa Jr continues to build on a much quieter approach and a more straight-through swing that he began to fully implement in 2021. As he fills out physically, Mesa Jr is coming by more power via improved bat speed. How he acclimates to pitching at the upper levels of the minors will be the tipping point but judging by how he looked both physically and mechanically this spring, this could be a breakout year for the younger Mesa brother. Still just 21, Mesa Jr is well ahead of schedule which gives him a pretty high floor. Defensively, Mesa has an average arm and makes good reads, giving him the ability to get it done in center field, but as his physical projection continues, he may fit better as a corner outfielder long term. Overall, there’s still a lot of variance and a lot to learn about this prospect. That learning continues this season. RF Victor Victor Mesa BN Will Banfield BN Dane Myers BN Joe Rizzo BN Norel Gonzalez BN JD Orr RotationSP Dax Fulton SP Eury Perez Perez is music to Marlins’ fans ears. Perez is the top pitching prospect in baseball in one of the best pitching development systems. And he had the NL Cy Young award winner at his disposal this spring. Perez didn’t balk on the chance to make the most of Sandy’s tutelage. Minus the time that Sandy spent away competing for the Dominican Republic, Perez wasn’t seen far from Sandy’s side. The pair were part of the same throwing group in early spring and in the clubhouse, even though their lockers were placed on opposite sides, they were usually shoulder to shoulder. Speaking about Perez and the rest of the Marlins’ young pitchers in camp this spring, Alcantara stated he was impressed with how they’ve responded to his leadership. For Perez himself, even in his time in MLB games and on the backfields, it’s clear that opposing teams and hitters are getting to know him. During his time with the Marlins, Perez gave up two long balls as part of the same start and a total of 10 earned runs in his 10.2 IP. On the backfields, Perez could be seen doing a bit of the same especially when he worked himself into deeper counts. The tipping point for Perez as he continues his fast-track development this spring will be the mental side of the game: how does he affect the hitter and throw off timing while continuing to exhibit his plus-plus stuff. With four pitches up to triple digits and down to the low 80s, Perez is still well ahead of his time and still has so much more room to grow into his full potential. While he still has a bit to learn to fully grow into his craft, he will take lessons from Sandy and the rest of his future big league teammates into his third pro season. A 6’8” power arm, Perez is the model candidate for what the Marlins’ front office is targeting in their pitchers of the future. With continued projection, this man will ace the a big league rotation alongside his mentor someday soon. SP M.D. Johnson It finally happened. Johnson has taken the next step. A sixth rounder from 2019, Johnson came to the Marlins after a fantastic senior season at Dallas Baptist consisting of a 2.76 ERA, 1.020 WHIP and 110/29 K/BB in 16 starts. Since arriving in the pros, all Johnson has done is perform. In 232.2 MiLB innings, the 25-year-old has a 3.25 ERA, 1.165 WHIP and 254/102 K/BB. The Doctor is another sizable specimen who tosses from an easy delivery and a high 3/4 arm slot. The velo is average but the array of pitches, stuff, deception, command, and durability are all real. Johnson owns four pitches, a fastball, slider, curveball and changeup that he mixes supremely well. Johnson throws the four-seam within the 92-94 mph range with enough behind it to play off his plus breakers. He works extremely well all around and in the zone with great command (probably his best tool) and the pitcher IQ to make it stick as a starter. Speaking this preseason, Randel stated Johnson impressed him during spring training. “His overall package stood out. He threw strikes,” Randel said. “I know in the past he’s been a tinkerer with mechanics and spin; all that stuff was kind of out the window and he just went out and performed. He had a great spring. He’s earned his spot here in the rotation.” Randel also said part of what set Johnson apart is the addition of a new pitch. “He developed a cutter/slider type pitch to go in his repertoire. He will be filtered into the back end of the rotation here and it’ll be good to see what he has under the lights.” 2023 will welcome a big jump for Johnson as he faces off against upper minors hitting but he is up for this challenge. Going on 26, Johnson is another arm who could be pushed rather quickly into big league action. He has the size, stuff, and background to make it stick at any level. How he responds to the upper minors this year will be well worth keeping tabs on. SP Patrick Monteverde Monteverde is another guy over 6’5” that fits the mold the Marlins have made for pitchers they love to develop perfectly. A guy that was passed on by D I schools out of high school, Monteverde rose up the ranks from D III to Texas Tech. The Marlins selected him in the 8th round of the 2021 draft. So far in his big league career, Monteverde has had a similarly quick rise going from the FCL to AA in under two seasons. The southpaw has performed at every level he’s visited. His current career numbers include a 3.04 ERA and a 149/37 K/BB. And he keeps getting better. This past week in his AA debut, Monteverde struck out a career high 11. Though it has ticked up slightly from his collegiate career and currently sits at 93-94, velocity is not Monteverde’s calling card. What is is his wide arsenal of four pitches including an advanced changeup, a good tunneling slider and a curveball and his ability to exhibit consistent command of the strike zone. From a high arm slot, Monteverde planes downhill well adding a layer of deception to his delivery. While Monteverde will need to show he can maintain those strengths at the toughest level of MiLB as the league adjusts to him, the initial output has continued to be very positive. He has the ceiling of a back end rotational talent. SP Zach King OutlookTo start the year, Pensacola will welcome back many of the guys who led them to the Southern League title last season, especially down the stretch and during the playoffs. Meanwhile, AAA will be housed with older players, many closer to a replacement level ceiling. Looking up and down rosters, it is clear that the Marlins are housing much of their top talent at Pensacola. It is entirely possible the big league team draws straight from this level to contribute to the big league team in 2023. On the forefront though, the defending champs look primed to make another run.

Minor League Baseball is back once again. After a spring campaign that seemed to quickly pass by, players are learning where they will begin the 2023 season and have hit the road for their new temporary destinations. Accordingly, we begin our yearly season preview series. First up: the AAA Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. --Wednesday afternoon, players and staff reported back to Bragan Field for the team's annual media day. This provided us with our first confirmed look at what the Shrimp roster will look like when they take the field in Gwinett tonight against the Stripers. There are some interesting omissions from the Jumbo Shrimp roster that will apparently head back to the AA level to start the year. Jacksonville will begin the 2023 season with what looks to be a roster not inclusive of many top Marlins prospects. However, with traffic abound and aplenty at the lower levels, they will most certainly house them as the season wears on. For now, here is a look at some of the talent fans can expect to see during the early weeks and months of the year at Bragan Field. Position PlayersC Austin Allen 1B Jerar Encarnacion Encarnacion is a 6’4” 250 huge physical specimen who has arguably the best raw power in the Marlins’ organization. After struggling with injury in 2021, Encarnacion got a full season in with the Blue Wahoos, Shrimp and in his major league debut with Miami in 2022. Leading up to his initial call up to the major leagues in June, Encarnacion was mashing, hitting .313/.385/.518. In his first game with Miami, he did this: Overall in his time with the Marlins though, Jerar proved exactly how much swing and miss there is to his game at the next level. In his 23 games, he struck out at a 39% clip. In his small sample with Miami, he was nearly literally homer or nothing. Another aspect that holds Jerar back is his defensive limitation. He has a good arm in the outfield but his route running is well below average. He began playing first base in 2021 and he has spent time there this spring on the backfields, but he needs a bit more experience to be able to quantify regular big league time at that spot. Encarnacion will look to gain the rest of his polish at the AAA level to begin 2023. Due to the power potential, he will likely see another stint with the Marlins in the near future, but at this point, his reasonable expectation is closer to his floor rather than his ceiling. 2B Xavier Edwards Edwards is a Marlins’ acquisition from this offseason who came over as the main return piece from the Rays for two pitching prospects, Marcus Johnson and Santiago Suarez. This was the second time the 23-year-old Edwards has been traded before making his debut. He was a key piece in the deal that sent Blake Snell to the Padres. The switch hitting Edwards has had a solid minor league career overall, hitting 300/.373/.379 over four seasons, but he didn’t fare well or nearly up to his ceiling projection against AAA pitching last year. With the Durham Bulls, Edwards hit just .246/.328/.350 while posting a career high 18.8% strikeout rate. However, Edwards also recorded five home runs. He entered the 2022 season with just one career home run to his credit. In his 93 games with Durham, he also recorded 19 doubles. It wasn’t luck, either. Edwards’ BABIP was a normalized .300 even. Beginning the season with the Shrimp, Edwards will need to find the balance between swinging harder and getting back to swinging at quality stuff that he can do something with. He’s not a guy who has ever been built for a ton of over-the-fence power. The Marlins, who approached this offseason with the mindset of finding contact over anything else in the offensive players they acquired, understand that. If they can get Edwards back to amplifying his strengths, he’s a piece that plays multiple infield positions and who may be tried out in the outfield. His higher floor gives him a very real chance to contribute to the big league club this season. 3B Jordan Groshans At the start of the offseason, Groshans, who was acquired by the Marlins at the deadline and performed well down the stretch for the Marlins, was looking at potentially beginning the season back with the big league club. But after the acquisition of Jean Segura, Groshans’ chances diminished. The Marlins attempted to work Groshans out at first base for a bit, an experiment that ended rather quickly after the team acquired veteran Yuli Gurriel. Due to the numbers crunch and the fact that his spring wasn’t very impressive overall, Groshans heads back to AAA. That said, Groshans, who is still just 23, progressed through the minors quickly en route to his aforementioned debut last year. After his change of scenery from Toronto to Miami, the bat perked up as he hit .301/.399/.416 for Jacksonville. The first round pick and 6’3”, 200 righty exhibits good plate discipline and the ability to hit to all fields. In his 17 big league games, Groshans struggled against breaking pitches at the next level which limited his quality of contact. That is what he will attempt to work out with Jacksonville before he gets his next chance. With more success at AAA, the positionally flexible Groshans will very likely be back with the Marlins at some point this season. SS Jacob Amaya Amaya is another new face in town after he came over from the Dodgers in the trade that sent Miguel Rojas westward. Much like his new teammate Edwards, Amaya has had similar recent results. Another piece who is at his best when he is focused on working his way on base however possible, Amaya came by some newfound power after bulking up a bit during COVID. Working to understand his new frame better, Amaya came by more power but his on base numbers became a victim. As he rose to AAA in 2022, Amaya posted a 23.6% K rate with the Oklahoma City Dodgers, by far a career high. Prior to 2021, his career high was 17%. Amaya still saw the ball very well though with OKC, allowing a 14%+ walk rate permeate to the highest level of minor league baseball. Amaya’s hit tool is dependent on his best offensive asset, his plate vision and his ability to spit on close pitches and wait for his spot. His recent power surge has been encouraging but it’s come at the expense of consistent barrel contact. With just an average run tool, Amaya is a player who is at a pivotal moment of his career in his age 24 season. At his ceiling, Amaya is a doubles first threat who could definitely stick as a starter at a premium defensive position, shortstop where he is very good and the owner of a 60 grade glove. The question revolving around his ability to make consistent contact will be the main one for him to answer when it comes to him getting higher to that rather than lower to his utility player floor. LF Jake Mangum Mangum is another new Marlins acquisition who came over as part of an in division trade with the Mets. A 27-year-old outfielder who signed for $20K when he was selected in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, he’s a switch hitter who set school records at Mississippi State, including their single season hits record and the all-time hits record for the Southeastern Conference. Looking at Mangum overall, he can make contact from both sides of the plate but he’s another guy who struggles to hit the ball hard. Mangum puts the ball in play to all fields and his run tool is probably the most developed tool that he owns. That said, he hasn’t shown much in the way of stolen bases throughout his pro career as of yet. To carve out a regular role with a big league team, Mangum will need to show better vision of pro stuff and the ability to work his way on base for free more consistently. The 6’1”, 180 pound specimen will be developed as a catalytic type threat that can make it at any of the three outfield spots, but is probably best suited for a corner. He’s a lower floor guy who could become more with proper tutelage. CF Garrett Hampson RF Peyton Burdick I don’t think I’ll ever be low on the potential of Burdick. The 6’, 200 ton of bricks build is without question the most physical player in the Marlins’ system. And this offseason, he got even more built. Before suffering a toe injury, Burdick had some of the best swings in camp. A 2019 third rounder out of Wright State University, Burdick has flown through the Marlins’ minor league system to make it to the majors in just two seasons. Amidst his call to the bigs last year, Burdick’s biggest challenge was balancing his supreme physicality and explosiveness with his bat to ball skills. Burdick put out four homers in his 32 games with the Marlins, but it came at the expense of a 34% K rate. Working with new hitting coach Brant Brown this spring, Burdick improved his lower half mechanics. He ceased getting out on his front foot, allowing him to incorporate more torque into his swings and improve his timing. A guy who only went oppo 29% of the year with Miami last year, Burdick showed he has a newfound ability to cover that area of the field and pitches on the outer half more often. Because of his style of game, there will always be swing and miss to Burdick, but if his plate coverage and contact consistency improvements permeate from this spring into the regular season, he will be back in the Marlins’ outfield shortly, possibly in center field which he learned how to play last year and proved that he can make it stick. BN CJ Hinojosa BN Santiago Chavez BN Charles Leblanc BN Alex De Goti BN Brian Miller There are a lot of questions surrounding prospects in the Marlins’ system this year, but one no one is asking (maybe because they’ve just given up on receiving an answer) is what does Brian Miller have to do to get his full shot in the major leagues? Miller is one of the longest tenured members of the Marlins’ organization. A 2017 pick out of North Carolina, he knows Jacksonville well. Since joining the Shrimp in 2018 when they were the Marlins’ AA affiliate, he’s spent most of his career playing at Bragan Field including 66 games of 2018, all of 2019 and all of 2021 minus the five games he spent with the Marlins. Miller was once again back with the Shrimp in 2022 and he put together a career year. Slashing .292/.349/.434 with 26 steals, Miller proved that he’s worthy of a spot on a team struggling to put runners on base. The hope for Miller, arguably the fastest guy in the organization next to Nasim Nunez and a couple of others, is that the Marlins’ new method of thinking regarding their offense as well as their thinning in center field will allow him to finally break through to some real big league time in 2023. RotationSP Daniel Castano Castano, the 28-year-old lefty, pretty evenly split time between AAA and the majors last year. During that time, Castano fully developed a cutter. He gained complete feel for it pretty quickly and wound up throwing it over 40% of the time, by far his most used offering. The Italian Stallion’s slider tunneled off the cutter nicely. His ground ball rate spiked to right around 46% and his walk rate fell to under 6%. All in all, despite multiple trips back and for there between Jacksonville and Miami, Castano put together a fairly productive year and could be counted on to eat innings. Entering his final option year, Castano had a great spring training, tossing 17.2 innings and allowing just three runs. He stuck around big league camp for its entirety and nearly pitched himself into a bullpen role. Castano isn’t and will never be a dominant ace, but in his role of a guy who will provide length wherever and whenever he is called upon, he’s a solid option. The Marlins will need Castano again at some point this season. SP Devin Smeltzer Smeltzer is a 27-year-old lefty with quite an admirable backstory. As a child, Smeltzer was diagnosed with a form of cancer that required surgery. Smeltzer battled the ailment for three years before entering remission at age 12. He entered full remission in 2012 when he was attending high school. Drafted by the Dodgers as a fifth rounder in 2016, Smeltzer made it through the minors in three seasons. He debuted with the Twins in 2019. After shuttling back and forth multiple times during the COVID year, Smeltzer made the Twins Opening Day lineup in 2021. However, after just one outing, Smeltzer was placed on the IL due to a hernia. He rehabbed from the injury and nearly made it back, but during a bullpen in May, he collapsed and was hospitalized, bringing an end to his season. Smeltzer made it back to the Twins in May of 2022. Healthy, Smeltzer was affective mostly as a starter pitching to a 3.71 ERA in 70.1 IP. He was outrighted to AAA and elected free agency before signing a minor league deal with Miami this offseason. Smeltzer has gone from the proverbial highest of highs to lowest of lows, but he’s never stopped working to improve and get the most out of his potential. On the mound, Smeltzer isn’t the highest velo guy (he will rarely go much higher than 90 mph) but he keeps hitters guessing thanks to a wide variety of pitches. Running down his laundry list of offerings, Smeltzer throws a fastball, cutter, sinker, slider, curveball and changeup. Historically, he’s mostly relied on fastball/changeup but last year showed more confidence in the curveball, going to it 18% of the time. Smeltzer at his core is another depth arm who can provide length in either a bullpen or swing man role. He won’t overpower with velo or strike many guys out, but he relies on weak contact and deception to record quick outs. He can get in trouble when he’s not living on the corners so he is very much reliant on his command. He’s another arm that the Marlins could easily go to this year to eat innings. SP Enmanuel De Jesus SP Chi Chi Gonzalez SP Jeff Lindgren OutlookI was as surprised as many others when I received our first glimpse of this Shrimp roster. This is a much older team than it could have been and there are several of glaring omissions who will be back in AA ball to start the season. But after a much busier offseason and after a spring in which nearly all of their new acquisitions stuck around, Miami needs a place to house them and get them reps. The vision seems to be to continue to get those players regular playing time and to get most of those who performed well at AA last year within the organization the same. Another unexpected surprise is that the team is expected to begin the year with a five man rotation even with six game series being continued. The method here would seem to be that the Marlins want to keep guys who they may need to contribute to their rotation on a five day schedule. Overall, Jacksonville starts out a bit older in the average age category but they prove to get younger as the season goes along

Nasim Nunez knows it: he isn’t and has never been the biggest guy in any locker room he’s been a part of. But he also knows that he has had some of the highest potential of anyone he has played with, including his Marlins organizational mates. This spring, he is proving it. Nunez, a Marlins’ second round pick out of high school in 2019. Miami gave Nunez $2.2 million to take him away from his commitment to attend Clemson University. At that time, Nunez was ranked the third best player in the state of Georgia and the fifth best shortstop in the country. Nunez earned such accolades due to a 6.28 sec 60-yard dash time which is considered elite and allotted him the ability to cover all ground necessary, silky smooth twitchy actions balanced by quick hands and easy transfers, and a 95 mph throwing arm. There was never been a doubt: Nasim Nunez was built to be a top-tier defensive shortstop. He’s reinforced that fact all throughout his minor league by continuing to show the range and the arm. “He’s showcasing what he can do on the defensive end,” Skip Schumaker said. “He’s got one of the better arms in our system across the diamond. There’s no doubt he can play on the left side of the infield.” At the plate, Nunez is an extremely patient hitter who is content working his way on base by any means necessary. From there, his elite speed allows him to turn anything into extra bases. Last season, his .384 OBP between A+ and AA ranked second in the organization amongst full season players. While Nunez worked favorable counts, what has lacked for him is the consistency of quality contact. This has been a huge catalyst for why his career batting average sits at .238. Late last season, against the most advanced competition he’s ever faced, Nunez started to come by a bit more barrels, allowing him to hit his first two career home runs. It has permeated into this spring where Nunez has continued to show improved offensive prowess in both his preparation and against live pitching. Though Nunez has gotten just five at bats so far in games this spring he’s already reached exit velocities as high as 107 mph. Today, Nunez finally got into the game as a starter. He recorded two hits in three ABs. Schumaker has stated he has been pleasantly surprised with what Nunez has shown offensively. “You don’t see much of him; you see him a bit in batting practice and stuff but he’s actually stronger than you think. He’s got wiry strength and I think he’s trending in the right direction. There’s a lot more in his offensive profile than what he’s shown.” In coming by more frequent bat to ball, higher exit velos, and more overall thump beginning late last year, Nunez stated he believes he has always had the ability to do so and that it has been his education of the game and of education and knowledge of himself that has made the difference. “I believe I’ve always been strong despite what everybody says about me being small,” Nunez said. “I believe I’m just learning how to hit now. Understanding who I am as a hitter, understanding what the pitchers are trying to do. Having an approach and plan and trusting my swing; understanding that I’m not going to always get my A swing off but that I still have to go up there and fight.” What will continue to make the difference for Nunez as he polished off his development? Nunez summed it up in one word. “Repetition,” Nunez said. “Repetition is everything. The more reps I get, the more I trust my swing. It’s just work, work, work and repetition.” While Nunez is present in Marlins camp more so for experience and exposure to what it means, sees, and feels like to be a big leaguer, he’s giving the club a glimpse of what his ceiling could possibly be if he continues to advantageously develop in the minors. “He’s asking the right questions, he runs the bases the right way, obviously,” Schumaker said. “I think he could be a really good two way player.” Nunez will likely continue his development back at AA Pensacola to begin 2023.