Alex Carver

With a plethora of prospects set to become Rule 5 eligible next December, the Marlins have a lot of decisions to make before next year’s winter meetings. Who are those names and with no Minor League season, how does Miami gauge and decide who to protect? Below, we explore. MLB and the Players’ Union have finally made up their minds: 60 games beginning with a 30-man roster slowly dwindling down to the regular 26-man. Today, each team will be required to submit a list of 60 players. It can include players both on and not on the 40-man roster. These players and only these players may participate in the end of “spring” training and in the regular season. With no 2020 minor league season, we expect many of the Rule 5 draft eligibles to be included on the Marlins’ 60-man roster and “taxi squad” at some point during this season in order for the team to set their 40-man roster after the World Series and ultimately decide who and who not to protect next February. Note that the 60-man pool can change throughout the year but once removed from it, a player cannot return. The departing player must either be injured, traded, released or exposed to waivers. Here is a list of notable Marlins Rule 5 guys next year: SP Braxton Garrett SP Luis Palacios SP Remey Reed SP Josh Roberson SP Trevor Rogers SP George Soriano RP Tyler Stevens RP Colton Hock RP Sean Guenther C JD Osborne IF Jose Devers IF Joe Dunand IF Dalvy Rosario IF Riley Mahan IF Lazaro Alonso OF Jorge Caballero OF Jerar Encarnacion OF Thomas Jones Of that list, here are the guys with the best projected odds of being named to the Marlins’ 60-man pool either today or at some point during the season and on the Marlins’ 40-man at the end of the year: [caption id=attachment_1710" align="aligncenter" width="825] Braxton Garrett[/caption] SP Braxton Garrett Chance: 100% Our seventh rated prospect, Braxton is a huge piece of the Marlins future rotation, likely in the middle of it. A 6’3”, 202 pound first rounder from 2016 who signed for $4,145,900, $389K over slot value, Garrett features already great stuff that is still improving and one of the cleanest deliveries in the system. 94-79 with lower half pounding heat, an already big league ready curve with tight arc and late action and a still-improving changeup that he masks well with arm speed and tunnel, Garret has 50-grade control with the ability for more as he feels out the changeup all the way. A minimal effort guy, Garrett can and has already gone over the century mark in starts and the stuff hasn’t dropped off at all. As long as the health holds up (he had TJ back in 2017), he profiles as a Scott Kazmir-esque rotational piece at the next level. The Marlins know what they have in Garrett. He will take part in the end of camp but, already well polished for his age, we may not see him throw in an MLB game this season. [caption id=attachment_1691" align="aligncenter" width="828] Trevor Rogers[/caption] SP Trevor Rogers Chance: 100% Another first round prep lefty pick (2017) and another TJ recipient, Rogers is a 6’6”, 185 pounder out of New Mexico with a similar ceiling to Garrett. He absolutely dominated the Florida State League last year, holding down a 2.53 ERA by way of a 1.10 WHIP and 122/24 K/BB in 110 IP. His 21.5% K/BB led the league and he had the third best ERA and third best WHIP. The All-Star section made it up to AA for his final 26 innings of the campaign and was set to spend all of 2020 there. In the same way that he is a lefty prep pick who made over slot value and came back advantageously from TJ, Trevor profiles to a very similar big league ceiling as his teammate Garrett but adds a big factor: size. 6’6”, 185, Rogers controls the body well and throws everything on a naturally downward plane. The size, which he has room to still grow more, allows for more velo on his already solid 90-94 mph heater that shows both sink and run as well as plus command. His best secondary is a slurvy slider again with good downward action and tilt that plays very well off his fastball. That tandem has been a catalyst in his success in the lower minors. Rogers will need to grow a third pitch to reach a similar ceiling as Garrett. He throws both a changeup and cutter and they will currently blend into each other. The cutter is his youngest pitch in terms of time spent throwing it, but due to the aforementioned natural downhill action he creates, its already flashing better than the very change that only holds a 30 grade. Rogers says he wants to continue building both pitches, but he could drop the change in favor of the cut piece that already has good downward break and a bit of glove side run. The 40-grade offering tunnels better off the aforementioned FB/SL combo and even though he just started throwing it last year, it has the makings of a plus pitch. We saw a bit of Rogers in spring and the Marlins will see more from him at the end of camp. He could get into a few games out of the pen this season in order to continue building that third pitch. Rogers draws favorable comps to JA Happ. [caption id=attachment_1694" align="aligncenter" width="828] Jose Devers[/caption] IF Jose Devers Chance: 100% A 2016 international signee by the Yankees out of the DR who commanded a $250K price tag, Devers came to the Marlins in the Stanton trade. Thought to be a distant third piece next to Starlin Castro and Jorge Guzman, Devers has could wind up being the star return chip of the deal. In two seasons with Miami, Devers has already made it up to AA and, if not for injury while leading the Florida State League in batting last June (.325/.384/.365), would probably have already gone even further. He was invited to spring training as an NRI this season and will very likely be back in camp in mid July. A wiry 6’, 174, Devers, who won’t be 21 until December, is a contact-emanating hitter whose best mechanic is his bat speed. He can almost always at least make contact, even on pitches slightly out of the zone. Devers appeared to temper the swing and miss he showed in 2018 last year, improving plate vision. He will need to show that on a more consistent basis if he’s going to succeed as a for-average threat at the next level. Jose’s best overall tool is his plus-plus foot speed, all the way up to 60-grade. He will use it to do many things: beat out infield hits, turn singles into doubles and steal bags. In 187 career MiLB games, Devers has a 37/10 SB/CS. What really pulls Devers’ game down is his lack of any power whatsoever. He doesn’t hit many gaps and hits even less fences. There’s room for that to come as he grows into his body in stateside facilities but he doesn’t profile as much more than a 40-grade power ceiling. However, with disruptive hit and on-base tools on top of even better defensive tools at short where he has the ability to stick full time. If he can’t grow into more power, the Marlins, who have a ton of shortstop depth at the lower levels, may be wise to start moving Devers around, making him a catalytic, spark-inducing and equal run scoring and run saving bench piece. If José can make up for the time lost last year and begin creating some sort of lift with the bat, he could approach a Miguel Rojas-type ceiling (a great mentor for him). If not he is floor Adeiny Hechavarria. He could see some big league action this year, especially if the Marlins choose to start trying him out at other positions and in order to gauge where the bat is after his season-ending injury. Either way, we expect him to be pushed to AA at some point next season. [caption id=attachment_1708" align="aligncenter" width="799] Jerar Encarnacion[/caption] OF Jerar Encarnacion Chance: 100% The surprise of spring training, Jerar, a a 6’5”, 240 slugger out of the DR, parlayed a .276/.331/.425 2019 MiLB season between A and A+ into a 6-14, 2 HR showing in Miami Blue. Don Mattingly said it all about Jerar during a postgame interview in March: Donnie on Jerar’s power potential: “Jerar is off the charts. When he hits ‘em, they stay hit.” “His thing is the oppo power. He’s got middle of the field and right field which is always a great place to start. He’s coming quick. Just let him play.”#Marlins | #MarlinsST — Fish On The Farm (@marlinsminors) February 25, 2020 Jerar has absurd lower, all the way up to 60-grade. It’s the best power tool in the entire Marlins organization. And it’s still growing. That said, Jerar has been historically immature in terms of plate coverage mechanics especially when it comes to pulling off and letting his head come off the ball. Those habits though were much less pronounced from the get go of his short showing this spring. Suddenly, Jerar could do this: Jerar Encarnacion's first #MLB #SpringTraining game was a memorable one, as the hulking (6'4", 219 lb) outfielder extended the #Marlins' lead over the #Mets with this shot into the wind. Here's Encarnacion and the rest of the @Marlins' top prospects: https://t.co/zBML13HyGH pic.twitter.com/i7QVoJU5um — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 22, 2020 With mechanics that mirror a young Mike Stanton but not much in the way of defense (outside of a plus arm), Jerar’s big league future with the Marlins got a huge boost when the NL adopted DH. We may see Encarnacion moonlight in that spot under the tutelage of pro hitting coaches with the hopes of continuing to improve his opposite field coverage this big league season before he joins the Shrimp in 2021. [caption id=attachment_1698" align="aligncenter" width="828] Luis Palacios[/caption] SP Luis Palacios Chance: 45% Palacios has been something of a legend wt the lowest levels of the minors for the Marlins organization. And he won’t be 20 until this coming Wednesday. Selected as a teenager in the international draft in 2016, Palacios’ minor league stats read this way: 152.1 IP, 1.50 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 147/21 K/BB. He came stateside last year and struck out 42 while walking just 2 and allowing five earned runs in 40.1 IP. He was set for a huge developmental year this minor league season. While that has been put on hold, the Marlins would like to see if Palacios’ potential can begin to live up to the next level before making him available to other teams this winter. Palacios is a command-and -control over stuff guy who shows the ability to paint corners at will with three pitches. Those pitches aren’t lights out but they aren’t bad either. While Palacios won’t blow it by you with velo, the 6’2”, 160 pounder is already sitting at 91 with tons more physical projection to grow into. He owns two breakers: a high-70s slider and a low-mid 80’s change. The slider has high arc and good late sweeping action. It stands at 40-grade with the ability to become more with more pronounced velocity separation. Palacios’ changeup shows some good one plane break to his arm side and also stands to improve as he gains a better feel for his arm slot and speed. Currently, he can speed it up more than the heat which could run him into trouble at the full season levels. While his command and control is well ahead and is definitely his anchor tool, the stuff will need to take a jump if Luis is to have a big league rotational future. Still, even though it has been exclusively at the lowest levels of MiLB, you don’t post the results he did in his first two seasons pro while always pitching against older average competition by accident. We see the Marlins placing Luis on the 60-man taxi squad and, like Jerar, getting him some valuable time with pro coaches and facilities, hopefully building both the physicality and the stuff closer to the current grade of the command and control. [caption id=attachment_1700" align="aligncenter" width="830] Lazaro Alonso (Photo by MiLB.com)[/caption] IF Lazaro Alonso Chance: 40% A 2016 international free agent signee out of Cuba in 2016, Alonso is a guy who has continued to live up to his huge power potential despite being pushed hard in each of his first two years stateside with the Marlins organization. Last year with the Hammerhwads, he completely went off: .294/.393/.434. In the Florida State League, one of the most pitcher-friendly circuits in baseball. Laz did most of his damage in the second half, continuing to prove his ability to adjust to better stuff advantageously. Like Jerar, he’s a bat-only option and a guy who could play his way onto the squad in the early years of the NL adoption of DH. Even more than Jerar though who is three years younger, Laz will need to prove gain ability to hit for opposite field power. An older guy who is very limited defensively but who shows absolutely monstrous power when he finds a barrel, the Marlins may give Laz, who has actually shown very good patience for an extremely heavy power threat, the chance to show out against big league stuff this season but unless he goes off, we see him going unprotected. [caption id=attachment_1702" align="aligncenter" width="830] Josh Roberson (Photo by Clinton LumberKings)[/caption] SP Josh Roberson Chance: 40% Roberson is a well built 6’3, 175 pound righty who was primed to be an early round section coming out of college but his junior year, his first year as a mainstay rotational piece, was cut short due to TJ. He came to the Marlins as a 12th rounder as a lower risk higher reward type piece and has begun to live up to the latter side of that potential. He sits 93-95 with the fastball and can ramp up near triple digits. He has both a slider and curve which currently blend into each other but they create a nasty power slurvy breaking piece which he can manipulate the grip on for different breaking action and he controls it well. It stands as a current 50-grade pitch with room to go. He also mixes in a changeup. He will need to grow the feel for that pitch to stick as a starter, but it shows flashes of a useable third offering. Roberson is a guy who built arm strength back quickly and whose stuff immediately played up to MiLB competition despite missed time. The only thing you’d have liked to have seen more from out of Josh is the ability to induce whiffs, but as long as he’s limiting walks the way he has, he is an intriguing deeper-down prospect who could at least contribute out of a Major League bullpen. Based off what he showed early in MiLB camp this year, the Marlins could opt to place him on the 60-man squad and feel out what they have in him at the back end of camp and potentially out of the pen in 2020. [caption id=attachment_1704" align="aligncenter" width="701] Remey Reed (Photo by Bryan Green)[/caption] SP Remey Reed Chance: 35% Another guy who has missed considerable time with injury, Reed, a sixth round pick in 2016, underwent TJ in 2018 and missed the entire season. Despite being nearly pen exclusive in college, the Marlins championed Reed’s size and solid three pitch arsenal and chose to continue developing him as a starter. At both short and full season A ball, he was effective: 2.75 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 76/14 K/BB. Reed is huge: 6’5, 220 and he uses it well to shorten distance and plane downhill. The delivery is smooth and he has two plus pitches, a fastball up as high as 97 and a curveball at 77-79 with good late 12-6 drop and placement, an any-count pitch for him. What works against Reed: the age and missed time against better MiLB competition. And he will suffer another year if they this season unless the Marlins 60-man him. For that reason, the club might in order to see what they have in Reed, but due to his age and what the Marlins have coming starting pitching wise, he may be continuing his MLB career elsewhere. OF Jorge Caballero Chance: 25% Caballero is a 2016 international free agent signee from Venezuela who missed all of 2019 with a presumptive shoulder injury. Before that though, Caballero raked as a teenager both in the DSL and stateside. His career MiLB stat line reads .282/.394/.360 with a 125 career wRC+. However, Caballero has already missed what was primed to be a big level of development for him at the lower levels and will now miss another unless the Marlins 60-man him. For that reason, we believe there is an outside chance the Marlins might do so. Despite missing all of last season, he showed back up at camp this year and not only did he look healthy, he looked to have added double-digit poundage to his listed 6’1”, 170 build something they will be paramount if Caballero is to live up to his full potential. We also observed Caballero go yard in a sim game which will be another big facet for Caballero if he hopes to compete in future Marlins outfields. Even if he goes unprotected (due to missed time, he likely will), Caballero will be just 21 next spring training and already the owner of a beautiful swing with improving size. While we don’t see him being placed on the 60-man roster or being protected, if he is a Marlin next season, he’s an attractive deeper-down piece.

[caption id=attachment_1662" align="alignnone" width="830] Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via AP[/caption] The MLB Draft. Usually a 40-round marathon in which countless hours of scouting, interviewing and program research done simultaneously by each team all over the country come to fruition when 1200+ young men have their baseball dreams come true. This year, circumstances beyond control turned that marathon into a short sprint: five rounds and 160 picks, six of which belonged to the Marlins. So who are the lucky few? Who are they, how did they get to this point and why Miami? Herein, we examine. -- [caption id=attachment_1643" align="aligncenter" width="830] Max Meyer (Photo by Christopher Mitchell, Sport Shot Photo)[/caption] 1/3: RHP Max Meyer, Minnesota With what was one of of not the most crucial draft picks of the Marlins’ rebuild, Michael Hill took the vow that the club would not gamble. #Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill in pre-draft interview w/ @Kyle_Sielaff and @GlennGeffner: "We've always drafted best player available, and that's something that we won't change here." — Jordan McPherson (@J_McPherson1126) June 10, 2020 After the Orioles surprised by selecting Heston Kjerstad second overall and opened up the board, it appeared as though the Marlins had a decision to make between two guys: righty Asa Lacy and third baseman Austin Martin? But before the Orioles picked and likely even before the draft began, DJ Svihlik, Michael Hill and the Marlins had already agreed with their guy: Minnesota righty Max Meyer. The #Marlins have already reached an agreement with Max Meyer, pending physical. #MLBDraft #305OnTheRise Derek Jeter had a Zoom call with Max earlier tonight. — Joe Frisaro (@JoeFrisaro) June 11, 2020 Meyer is a 6’, 200 pound righty who had the consensus best pitch in the entire draft: his high 80s power wipe out slider that is just absolutely deadly. He can plane it anywhere inside the strike zone, place it on the back foot or bury it in the dirt for whiffs. But that’s far from all there is to the kid. Despite the limited size, Meyer throws absolutely blistering heat which sits at 97 and he can ramp it all the way up to triple digits. Both of Meyer’s primaries are already 70 grade offerings. But wait, there’s even more. He also mixes in a changeup that holds a current 55-grade value and with a bit more feel, has the ability to become another plus plus pitch in the future. He pounds the entire strike zone with all three pitches, comes right after hitters with a bulldog mentality, works ahead in the count regularly and can get swings and misses both in and out of the zone with 55-grade command. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjn2PIzLKwk] Meyer has unquestioned ace potential. The only caveats to him reaching that potential lay in his unfavorable size for a starting pitcher and the fact that he only started 15 games in college. 2020 was going to be a tell-tale junior season for him, but he was only able to get four games under his belt before the entire world, including the sports world, shut down due to COVID-19. A physically limited high stress, max effort hurler, the biggest question surrounding Max will be can his arm hold up through the toil of a full slate of rotational innings? If it can, he is drawing favorable comparisons to Tim Lincecum and Sonny Gray with stuff resembling Noah Syndergaard’s. [caption id=attachment_1664" align="aligncenter" width="800] Daxton Fulton (Photo by PerfectGame.com)[/caption] 2/40 - LHP Daxton Fulton, Mustang High School (OK Where Lacy would’ve made and probably will still make over slot value, the Marlins will ink Meyer for well under the $7,221,200 price tag assigned to the third overall pick. Michael Hill and Co. will use the money saved to sign this pick away from his college commitment. Clearly, Svihlik and the scouting department had a target on Daxton and a plan to get him signed, conceding Lacy. They really wanted this kid and it’s easy to see why. Daxton Fulton three pitch K sequence featuring all three of his pitches. He was the consensus top ranked high school lefty in #MLBDraft and here’s why. Way far ahead for his age, great size, smooth mechanics. DJ targeted this guy for a good reason.#305OnTheRise | #Marlins pic.twitter.com/gsYwQrn9vh — Fish On The Farm (@marlinsminors) June 12, 2020 At age 18, Fulton, the consensus best lefty prep in the draft, is 6’6”, 225. He already shows good knowledge for his body, featuring a smooth wind and release and a very pronounced downhill stride. But the size isn’t the only thing that’s way beyond his teenage years. His arsenal features four useable pitches and two plus offerings, low 90s heat with slight arm side run and his best pitch, a high 70s 12-6 curve with tight arc late bend to his spot. The pitch moves on both axes and he can fool with the grip and release a bit to shape it in different ways, giving him a few different looks with the same pitch. Fulton will show a bit more effort in his delivery when throwing the fastball which is something he will need to rectify against pro hitters to keep from tipping it, but that should be a fairly quick fix under the tutelage of pro coaches. The curve, which has an MLB-grade spin rate of 2,600, already ranks as 60-plus offering and the fastball is grading at 55-plus. Those two pitches create a future lights out combo at the next level. He also has a changeup that sits 82-84. Fulton lacks a consistent release point and overall feel for the pitch, but at its best, it has good late fading action and two-plane break. Scouts say it plays up to a future 50-grade ceiling. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1N4ZJQtBlA] Just 19 with already two plus pitches with a third in the making and a plus command tool and a great starter’s build with the ability to even more velo, there is a very high ceiling here. The next time he takes the mound will likely be in 2021 (COVID aside), so this is a slow-pace project who, as a second round pick coming off the surgery, the Marlins will take it extremely easy with as he builds back his arm strength. He enters the system as a top 20 prospect (no easy task considering all the Marlins have starting pitching wise) who will be a guy to follow closely leading up to his projected MLB debut in 2023. Jumping Evan Fitterer from last season’s draft, he is the new head of the Marlins’ high school class. [caption id=attachment_1646" align="aligncenter" width="830] Kyle Nicolas (Photo by BallStateSports.com)[/caption] CBB2/61 - Kyle Nicolas, Ball State Nicolas is a 6’4”, 225 righty out of Ball State University. A two-time letterman as a high schooler, he had a decorated senior season. 8-0 with a 0.50 ERA and 78 Ks in 46 IP, he won his league’s player of the year award and was a first team all-state selection. His tenure at Ball State was a lot less statistically impressive: serving in a swing man capacity, he has a 5.12 ERA, a 1.53 WHIP and a 174/102 K/BB. So how did he earn this draft slot? After showing improved stuff in the Cape Cod League including added velo on the fastball (sitting 94-96 and up to triple digits), according to scouts, Nicolas did a ton of work in the offseason. He worked tirelessly with coaches to simplify his delivery, leading to much more fluidity, much easier repetition and added deception. That was on display during Kyle’s first four starts of 2020 during which he held down a 2.74 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 23 IP. The most paramount and encouraging product of Nicolas’ offseason work was his huge improvement in command. His 8.3% walk rate fell to just under 3%. One of Kyle’s final starts at the collegiate level was a 17 strikeout performance in which he only allowed two hits. A comparison of #Marlins CBA2 pick Kyle Nicolas’ delivery circa 2019 next to his improved delivery from last year. Higher leg kick, higher release point, shorter stride, much less stiffness, much more fluidity. This is the version of Kyle Miami is bought in on.#MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/8Iz5MIKYBM — Fish On The Farm (@marlinsminors) June 16, 2020 Nicolas’ crutch pitch is his aforementioned 70-grade fastball which has natural downward plane and good run. When at his best, he will pound the zone with it and outmatched collegiate hitters. Nicolas’ best secondary is an 86-88 power slide piece which he has really begun to tunnel, again due to the improvement in his mechanics and command. The pitch holds good late bite and from his higher release point and much shorter stride, is masked well against the heat. Because of his recent adjustments, the pitch takes the jump from 50-grade to 60-grade. Kyle’s work ethic and his ability to vastly improve over the course of just one offseason is very impressive. However, if he is to reach his ceiling as a back-end rotational piece he will need to continue to grow into his newly refined delivery while further developing his distant third pitch, the changeup. Currently, the Nicolas changeup is just average and he’s in the nascent stages when it comes to the release and overall feel for it but at its best, it shows good shape and flashes of becoming a plus pitch. If he continues to put polish on his newly refined mechanics and continues to advantageously develop the changeup. Not set to turn 22 until a month before next spring training, there is a lot to like about a guy with extremely projectable size and two plus-plus pitches who shows the ability and willingness to make positive adjustments joining a developmental system like the Marlins'. [caption id=attachment_1648" align="aligncenter" width="768] Zach McCambley (Photo by Josh Bell/The Sun News)[/caption] 3/76 - RHP Zach McCambley, Coastal Carolina McCambley is a 6’1”, 215 pound righty who was recruited to Costal Carolina after being named his high school conference’s MVP and an All-American honorable mention and being rated the 108th best RHP in that year’s Draft. As a Chanticleer, McCambley had a 3.89 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with a 158/59 K/BB in 141 IP. He was primed for a tell-tale junior year and began it advantageously holding down a 1.80 ERA by way of a 1.08 WHIP and 32/7 K/BB in four starts and 25 IP before the COVID shutdown. Had the season played out and had those brand of results stagnated, McCambley could’ve gone much higher. Instead, he entered the Draft as the 80th ranked RHP. The Marlins pulled the trigger on him at number 75. Clearly, Svihlik and Co. had their chips in on McCambley’s last season rather than his subpar 2019 regular season campaign. It’s easy to see why the Marlins bought in and took him over his predraft ranking: on top of being a great student, Zach had a a very impressive showing against wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer, holding down a 1.74 ERA with a 1.06 WHIP and 24/7 K/BB in 20.2 IP. Based off his overall collegiate numbers, McCambley wasn’t a sure thing. However, he’s another guy exactly like Nicolas: despite a limited showing of just 40 IP, he showed a ton of improvement from his 2019 regular season up to the present, especially in showing more consistent command. That’s what the Marlins are buying in to. Here’s Marlins third-rounder Zach McCambley racking up Ks with @CoastalBaseball pic.twitter.com/4cSry99j0B — Fish Stripes (@fishstripes) June 12, 2020 McCambley owns two plus pitches, a 92-95 MPH fastball with good riding action and sink to the lower half and his best pitch, a curveball which he developed as a child and which usually sits 79-81 (making it more of a slurve). However, he can take more off of it by slowing down his arm speed, creating a higher arcing 12-6 offering. A plus to-contact fastball and wipe-out primary breaker thrown multiple ways are a great start, but if he is to succeed as a rotational piece, McCambley will need to develop his changeup (again, like Nicolas). Presently, the McCambley change sits 86-88. He lacks a current overall feel for the pitch causing it to blend into the fastball, but he does show flashes of it becoming a plus pitch with good fade. Along with the improved command he showed this canceled season, that’s the potential that will need to pronounce itself for Zach to succeed as a starter. Currently a two-pitch guy with limited size, we place McCambley as a higher-floor, lower-ceiling guy at the next level. [caption id=attachment_1651" align="aligncenter" width="830] Jake Eder (Photo by Vanderbilt University)[/caption] 4/104 LHP Jake Eder, Vanderbilt Eder is a local guy, born October 9th, 1998 in Fort Lauderdale and an attendee of both Delray Beach Atlantic and Calvary Christian Academy. A letterman in all four of of high school seasons, Eder was the earner of a an All-American selection in his junior year and he was a key cog in his team earning a state semi-finals berth as a senior. He was drafted by the Mets in round 34 of the 2017 Draft but chose to continue his education both mentally and athletically at Vanderbilt. As a Commodore who played on two of the same teams as JJ Bleday, Eder served in a swing-man capacity and held down an overall 4.00 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 105/57 K/BB in 92.1 IP. He did much better in limited showings as an exclusive pen piece in 2018-19. Eder began 2020 in the Vandy rotation posting a 3.60 ERA via a 1.45 WHIP prior to the shutdown. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI2I6n3a0l8] 6’4”, 210, Eder has a solid pitcher’s frame but he is consistently inconsistent. His windup is quirky and has a lot of moving parts which he struggles to control. Eder’s initial motion is a front foot step back to the third base side leading into a cross-body leg kick without much weight on the back leg before a whip-through half arm circle delivery from a mid-3/4 slot. The length of his stride will differ and, considering the effort he puts into his release, it will lead to an-off balance finish in which he winds up on his front heel. He is much, much better from the stretch, leading to the belief that he will be a future pen piece. Stuff wise, he Hs the same issue: inconsistency. he is capable of a plus two pitch mix including a 94-96 MPH fastball and a shapely curveball but it doesn’t always show up. Even on a start to start basis, both Eder’s velo and control can completely disappear. He is also yet another guy who lacks a third pitch. He’s another step down the ladder from McCambley because of the dodgy mechanics and unreliability, further limiting the ceiling. The Marlins believe they can iron him out, make the raw stuff come out advantageously and turn him into a back end starter, but he currently profiles much better as a future bullpen piece. [caption id=attachment_1653" align="aligncenter" width="830] Kyle Hurt (Photo by Shotgun Spratling)[/caption] 5/134 Kyle Hurt, USC Hurt is a 22-year old junior out of USC where he had a very unstable career. After a knee injury lowered his draft stock in 2017, he chose to go back to school rather than signing with the Phillies who selected him in the 34th round. His numbers as a Trojan read 172.2 IP, 5.06 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 170/107 K/BB. He has two plus pitches and two more behind it. The former combination includes a fastball that has good action and sits 94-95 topping at 97 and a depthy changeup at 85-88. Both pitches grade at 55+. Hurt backs those offerings up with a maturing slide piece grades at 50 and a less advanced curve. The two pitches can blend into one another at times. He may drop the curve at the next level. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEVgi2JK7F4] The reason for the inflated stats in college could be attributed to one big thing: incredibly spotty command. What convinced Svihlik and the Marlins was the lineage of athleticism JM his family (his father played football at Ole Miss and his grandfather played football at the University of Tampa and one season for the Miami Dolphins), his high school pedigree, his extremely projectable size — already 6’3”, 215 — and his fantastic limited showing under a new regime at USC this canceled season. According to Svihlik, Hurt is a low-risk, high-reward type signing who he is counting on the Marlins’ fantastic development team to help continue recent positive progression. “He was a multi-million dollar player out of high school that had an up-and-down career at USC,” Svihlik said. “We really thought that we had an opportunity to take a player that has under-performed expectations, put him with a great group of player development guys and really extract the most out of his talent. Kyle Hurt was outstanding this year. He really turned the corner with a new pitching style, with a new coaching staff at USC.” Hurt, who turned 22 on May 30th, projects to start his big league career in Low-A.

[caption id=attachment_1609" align="alignleft" width="1024] Isan Diaz (Photo by Brian McLeod/MiLB.com)[/caption] Continuing our series of All-Time Baby Fish Teams, we make the jump up to AA to highlight the best members of the Jacksonville Suns/Jumbo Shrimp. An MLB affiliate since 1962 and a Miami partner since 2009, the club continues to aid in the growth of some of baseball’s best such as Larry Walker, Randy Johnson, Clayton Kershaw and Alex Rodriguez. In this listing, we will highlight the top Shrimp who became Marlins. — [caption id=attachment_1610" align="alignnone" width="640] J.T. Realmuto (Photo by MiLB.com)[/caption] C J.T. Realmuto Jacksonville Stats (2013/2014) - .269/.340/.408, 68 XBH, 101 RBI His second selection in our All-Time Baby Fish Teams Series, Realmuto spent all of 2013 and most of 2014 with the Suns where he totaled a .269/.340/.408 slash line with 68 XBH 101 RBI in 203 games. He threw out 47 of 84 or 56% of his potential base stealers. In the latter of his two stints with the Suns, Realmuto’s .299 BA, his .461 SLG and his 132 wRC+ each ranked fourth among all AA baseball catchers. Realmuto made his MLB debut on June 5th of that same year. He went 2-4 with three RBIs. The showing served as a perfect prelude to a .279/.327/.442, 59 HR, 189 XBH, 243 RBI career with the Marlins including a .303/.343/.428 2016 campaign in which his BA ranked third, his OBP ranked sixth and his 111 wRC+ ranked seventh among 24 qualified MLB catchers. He threw out 28 runners, fifth most in baseball. Solidified as one of the top backstops in the game, the Marlins dealt Realmuto, who was coming off his first All-Star selection and a career high 4.5 WAR campaign, to the Phillies last offseason for a package of prospects including future ace and the organization’s current top prospect Sixto Sanchez. Miami also acquired their current backstop Jorge Alfaro and international bonus pool money which they eventually used to sign the Mesa brothers. Realmuto began his tenure in Philadelphia by recording career highs in homers with 25, RBIs with 83, slugging percentage with a .493 marker and dWAR with a 1.7 tally. He earned his first Gold Glove, his second All-Star selection and by way of the NL’s second best BA and second most homers among catchers, his second Silver Slugger award. A guy who has caught his power tool up to plus plus hitting mechanics and strike zone recognition, an elite throwing arm and insurmountable athleticism, Realmuto owns 4/5 tools and has already, in just over five seasons in the league, has a WAR over 18. He’s special. And it all ran through Jacksonville. [caption id=attachment_1611" align="alignnone" width="600] Logan Morrison (Photo by Bruce Lipsky/The Times-Union)[/caption] 1B Logan Morrison Jacksonville Stats (2009) - 79 G, .277/.411/.442, 8 HR, 26 XBH, 47 RBI, 46/63 K/BB LoMo mojo. A Marlins’ 22nd round prep draft pick in 2005, Justis Logan Morrison attended Northlake High School in Slidell, Louisiana. The son of a military man, Morrison has credited his su but stringent father as his toughest critic but also his greatest influence on his rise to stardom as a standout talent despite hailing from a scarcely recruited corner of America. A sign and follow prospect, the well-traveled Morrison spent a year in Missouri in the JuCo ranks where he hit .436/.532/.743 with a conference most nine homers and third most 34 RBI in 35 games before he took his talents to the affiliated ranks in A Greensboro 2007. As a a Grasshopper, Morrison immediately flashed his plus power potential, clubbing 24 homers, fourth most in the South Atlantic League. The mid-season All-Star also led Greensboro in RBI with 86, spurring his call to A+ the next season. Morrison took a huge step forward in 2008, hitting .332/.402/.494 in the pitchers haven Florida State League. While his K rate fell from 19 to 14 and his walk rate stayed around 10%, Morrison placed second in the FSL in BA, fourth in OBP and seventh in SLG. Among countable stats, his 162 hits and 38 doubles were each the most on the circuit, his 74 RBIs ranked sixth and his 13 homers ranked eighth. Morrison began his 2009 season in Jacksonville but after just two games, he hit the IL with a broken thumb. A month later, the organization’s second-ranked prospect came back with a vengeance. From June 11th through the end of the season, LoMo hit .277/.411/.442 with the Southern League’s fifth best OBP, eight homers, 36 XBHs and 47 RBIs. Despite the big jump and missed time, he walked more than he struck out, tallying a 48/64 K/BB. His 0.18 walk percentage led his circuit. A year later, Morrison was called up to AAA New Orleans where he hit .307/.427/.487. Once again, his OBP ranked top five in his league as his patience persisted evidenced by a 38/45 K/BB. Morrison received his first MLB call at the kid season mark and spent the rest of 2010 with the Marlins. His skill set immediately translated to the bigs advantageously as he hit .283/.390/.447 with 29 XBHs, 18 RBIs and a 51/41 K/BB in his first 62 games in Miami. Somehow, he didn’t receive a single Rookie of the Year vote. Morrison would go on to have a decent career with the Marlins, but injuries prevented it from being great. After a .247/.330/.468 2011 season in which he finished second only to Giancarlo Stanton in homers with 23, Morrison appeared in just 93 and 85 games over his final two seasons with the Fish. Since then, LoMo has played for four different clubs. His standout campaign came in 2017 when he hit .246/.353/.516 and clubbed 38 homers for the Rays, fifth most in baseball. As his bat and power grew, Morrison was able to maintain his equally large personality while also learning how to keep it in check. If not for injuries, he had a sizable future as a big leaguer. Even still, raw talent has allotted Morrison a decent .239/.324/.426 139 homer, 4.6 WAR tenure in the majors. And it all ran through Jacksonville. 2B Isan Diaz Jacksonville Stats (2018) - .245/.365/.418, 10 HR, 30 XBH, 42 RBI, 95/53 K/BB Before Isan was hitting his first big league shot in front of his parents, he was regularly collecting extra bases in Duval county. A second round pick by the Diamondbacks in 2014, the lefty hitting Diaz — a two sport athlete in high school — came to the pros as the 76th ranked prep athlete in the country. At the time, PerfectGame scouted him this way: “Solid athletic build, good present strength, looks stronger than last observed. Left handed hitter, big pull back load, flows into contact, timing can be impacted but approach develops big bat speed, explosive hands at contact, loose and fluid swing with lift and extension out front, has pull side power, owned mid-level pitching in every at bat and made hit look easy, advanced hitter with tools and feel. 7.22 runner, middle infield actions, stays balanced and works through the ball, plays under control and lows the game down, compact quick release, second base profile and tools. Can be a high level offensive second baseman.” Diaz set out to fulfill that destiny with the D-Backs as a teenager in 2018. A year later, Diaz hit .360/.436/.640/1.076 for the short season Missoula Osprey. Those metrics ranked eighth, seventh and second and second in the Pioneer League. His 13 homers also ranked second circuit wide. That offseason, the ninth ranked prospect in Arizona was dealt to Milwaukee in the trade that sent Jean Segura and Tyler Wagner westward. In his first year with the Brewers’ organization, Diaz embarked upon his first full season of pro ball. Then and there for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Isan hit .264/.358/.469. The 20-year-old’s 20 homers paced the Midwest League, his 75 RBIs placed third and his SLG was good enough for 13th. A year later, Diaz made the jump up to A+ Carolina where the 5’10, 170 pounder continued to exhibit plus power rarely heard of from of a middle infielder as he slammed another 13 homers and 20 doubles albeit at the expense of a lot of swing and miss potential, spelling a career high 27% K rate. On January 25th, the Marlins acquired Diaz as a glorified throw-in piece in the highly-heralded trade that sent Christian Yelich to the Brewers. Despite his struggles at A+ a year previous, the Marlins started Isan out in AA Jacksonville. In 83 games with the Shrimp, his BA rose more than 20 points from a year previous to .245, his OBP rose 30+ points to .365 and he fell just three homers short of his 2017 total in 27 less games. After living out the rest of 2018 feeling out AAA, Diaz returned to New Orleans last year where he absolutely crushed against competition nearly five years older than him. In 102 games, Isan hit .305/.395/.578 with 26 homers. The All-Star Futures Game selection received his MLB call in early August. Diaz made his MLB debut on August 6th, 2019 in the first game of a doubleheader against the Mets at Citi Field. With his family looking on, Isan provided one of the most memorable moments of the entire MLB campaign. A stoutly built middle infielder who comes by easy power via incredible bat speed, Diaz has Marlins fans reminiscing of Dan Uggla. And he’s still just 23. On the precipice of a breakout year, there’s tons to be encouraged about here. And it all ran through Jacksonville. [caption id=attachment_1613" align="alignnone" width="1200] Jazz Chisholm (Photo by Joseph Guzy)[/caption] SS Jazz Chisholm Jacksonville Stats (2019) 23 G, .284/.383/.494, 3 HR, 9 XBH, 24/11 K/BB The next generation cometh. Reminiscent of Albus Percival Wolfrick Brian Dumbledore, Jasrado “Jazz” Hermis Arrington Chisholm was born with a name made for fiction, but he’s beginning to conjure up something magical in real time. Born February 1st, 1998 in Nassau, Jazz credits his grandmother, a Bahamian national softball player, for introducing him to the game. Immediately, he fell in love. Very early on in his scouting period, international scouts saw the special talents Jazz owner, talents that were already polished beyond his teenage years. With an attitude and affinity to match a huge five tool skill set, the Diamondbacks made an easy decision to offer Jazz his first pro contract in 2016. Jazz’s first stop was short season with the Missoula Osprey. There, he hit .281/.333/.446 with the Pioneer League’ eighth most homers, nine. He was the ninth youngest player in the circuit. A season later, Jazz got his first full season assignment with Kane County but that duty was short lived. The 19-year-old tore his meniscus while taking BP mid-way through camp. He was placed on the IL on April 4th and would not return until October 6th. Chisholm got in just 29 games that year, equating to a .242/.325/.358 slash line. Jazz broke back in to the Midwest League ranks in 2018. It was a bit of a slow go for Chisholm getting back into the swing of things full time after suffering a major injury. He hit just .244/.311/.472 in 79 games. But after a career 5-6, two homer, five RBI showing on July 16th in which he came within a double of the cycle, the D-Backs gave him the call the A+. There, in 36 games with the Visalia Rawhide, Jazz exploded, hitting 10 homers including six in his last 18 games and one in each of his last three contests. He closed out the 2018 calendar year by hitting .442/.489/.767 with three homers and seven steals in just 10 Arizona Fall League contests. The third ranked prospect in Arizona’s organization, Jazz began last season in AA with the Jackson Generals. Through the month of July, Chisholm struggled with the big jump up the MiLB ladder. On July 30th, hitting .204/.305/427, he was traded to the Marlins in exchange for top pitching prospect Zac Gallen. Back on his home coast, Jazz showed out huge in 23 games for the Jumbo Shrimp, going 23-81 with three homers and a trio of three hit efforts. After playing eleven games worth of winter ball in Puerto Rico, Jazz reported to Marlins camp where he continued to impress, going 4-13 with two steals and an absolute missile-grade homer off of Cardinals’ top pitching prospect Genesis Cabrera. Just as if not more impressive as his play on the field was Chisholm’s attitude and persona off of it. With an infectious personality and an equally captivating smile which he is rarely seen without, Jazz has already begun to endear himself to fans both at the park and in the community. In just seven short months as a member of the organization, Jazz has shown, said and done everything necessary to become a fan favorite franchise player. A five-tool talent with some of the quickest hands in the game on both sides of the ball, Jazz is a guy who feeds off friendly competition and camaraderie with his teammates, the energy of the fans and most of all a profound love for the game of baseball. He plays the right way and conducts himself just as advantageously off the diamond. Still just 21 and already eyeing his professional debut, he is a major part of the Marlins’ future core. And it all ran through Jacksonville. [caption id=attachment_1614" align="alignnone" width="4608] Brian Anderson[/caption] 3B Brian Anderson Jacksonville Stats (2016-17) - .247/.336/.405, 22 HR, 49 XBH, 95 RBI, 130/72 K/BB Another repeat selection, Anderson, the Marlins’ third rounder out of the University of Arkansas in 2014. Ranked the Marlins’ top prospect in the preseason of 2016, Brian was one of the Florida State League’s top talents, hitting .302/.377/.440 before getting the call to AA. He joined the Suns on May 31st and hit .243/.330/.359 with eight homers and 40 RBIs. Following spring training a year later, Anderson rejoined the newly named Jumbo Shrimp. In 87 games — one more than he competed in at the AA level in 2016 — Anderson’s slash line jumped up to .251/.341/.450. Shedding a bit of timidity, he hit nearly twice as many homers, 14. Anderson rounded out his MiLB career with New Orleans where he absolutely mashed the Pacific Coast League, slashing .339/.416/.602 with another eight homers before receiving his MLB call on September 1st, 2017. Considered a major cornerstone of the Marlins’ rebuild, Brian has hit .267/.349/.425 with 31 homers. Coming off a .261/.342/.468, 20 homer, 1.1 dWAR, +9 dRS season at two different positions, Anderson, who is under club control until 2024 and staring a contract extension directly in the teeth, is a main pillar of Jeter and company’s rebuild. And it all ran through Jacksonville. [caption id=attachment_1615" align="alignnone" width="1024] Christian Yelich (Photo by MiLB.com)[/caption] LF Christian Yelich Jacksonville Stats (2013) - 49 G, .280/.365/.518, 7HR, 26 XBH, 29 RBI, 52/26 K/BB Our third repeat candidate, Yelich, the Marlins’ first rounder in 2010, spent a 49 game tenure in Jacksonville in 2013 leading in to his first MLB call. Yelich earned his mid-season beckoning by posting the Southern League’s fifth best slugging percentage and its eighth best OPS (.883). He was the tenth youngest player on the circuit. In just 292 games, Yelich went from draft pick to Major Leaguer. These days, he’s a three time Silver Slugger, a two time All-Star, a near two time league MVP and the recipient of a lifetime contract from the Brewers. And it all ran through Jacksonville. [caption id=attachment_1616" align="alignnone" width="1364] Juan Encarnacion (Photo by Eliot J. Schecter/Getty Images)[/caption] CF Juan Encarnacion Jacksonville Stats (1997) - 131 G, .323/.394/.560, 26 HR, 61 XBH, 90 RBI, 86/43 K/BB, 17/3 SB/CS Juan De Dios Encarnacion was saint-like in the two of the biggest years in Marlins’ franchise history. But before that, he was tearing it up at the Baseball Grounds. Discovered by the Tigers as an amateur free agent out of the DR at age 17, Encarnacion fast tracked through the minors, jumping a level with each passing season from ‘94-97, hitting at least 15 bombs, collecting an equal 31 doubles and slugging at least .400 at each stop. The last of his visits was to Jacksonville. There, the 21-year-old, playing against competition 3 1/2 years his elder, Encarnacion absolutely exploded. In 131 games, the sixth-ranked Tigers prospect hit .323/.394/.560 with 26 homers, fifth most in the Southern League, 90 RBIs, ninth most on circuit and 17 steals, tenth most. The overly successful campaign came littered with awards including an All-Star selection where he was named the game’s MVP and the titles of Southern League’s best hitting prospect, best outfield arm and most exciting player (Baseball America). A September call up to the bigs, Encarnacion made his big league debut on the 2nd of that month as one of the youngest players in baseball. In 11 games, Juan went 7-33 and smashed his first big league homer. After beginning 1998 in AAA, Encarnacion made it back to the bigs that July. Still amongst the leagues youngest talents, he hit .329/.354/.561 with seven homers. After that showing, he became a mainstay in Detroit’s starting lineup for the next three seasons. Encarnacion’s best campaign in a Tiger uniform came in 1999 when he hit .255/.287/.450 with 19 homers, 55 XBHs and 33 steals in 45 attempts. In 2002, the rebuilding Tigers shipped Encarnacion (along with Luis Pineda) to the Cincinnati Reds for Dmitri Young. At the outset, it looked to be one of the best things that could happen to a pure power hitter like Juan, playing in the bandbox-iest of all bandboxes, Great American Ballpark. Hard as it may be to believe though, Enc actually hit better in a Reds’ away jersey. In four less games (39 vs 43), his average was only two points lower (.276 vs .278), he hit four more dingers (10 vs 6), his SLG was 50 points higher (.450 vs .500) and his wRC+ differed 12 points (114 vs 102). At that year’s trade deadline, Encarnacion would be on the move again as the buying Reds dealt him along with Wilton Guerrero and Ryan Snare to the selling Marlins in exchange for Ryan Dempster. Juan made his Marlins debut on July 12th, 2002 and went 2-7 with a stolen base, his tenth of an eventual 21. Two days later, Enc crushed his first homer for the Fish. He would proceed to hit seven more and ended ‘02 with 24. A season later in his first full year with the Marlins, Encarnacion .270/.313/.446 with 19 bombs. He posted career highs in doubles (37), XBHs (62) and RBIs (94). Some of Juan’s most memorable moments in Florida came during the Marlins’ playoff run where he homered in game two of the NLDS as well as during a two hit effort in the first game of the NLCS. He also went 2-4 and scored the eventual winning run in game one of the World Series. After being sold off (along with many other Marlins assets) at the beginning of the 2004 season in exchange for Travis Ezi, Encarnacion would come back to Florida at the deadline (along with Paul Lo Duca and Guillermo Mota), completing one of the most peculiar timelines in Marlins’ transaction history. A season later, Encarnacion enjoyed a career year, posting lifetime highs in BA (.287), OBP (.349) and wRC+ (112) with 16 homers and 46 XBHs. In a very Larry Beinfest move, the Marlins did not render Encarnacion for 2006 and he signed with St. Louis. He hit .278/.317/.443 with another 19 homers and hit safely in seven of 13 playoff games en route to adding another ring to his collection as the Cardinals toppled the team that brought him to the pros 12 years previous. A two time World Series champion, Encarnacion was a guy that could hurt his opponent in many ways and, based off his .276/.324/.421, 22 HR, 36 SB line in high leverage situations, a guy you prefer having on the field with the game on the line. The owner of 42.2 power speed number (link), eighth highest in Marlins franchise history, and the rightful owner of the “3, 2, Juan!” chant whenever he stepped into the box beginning midway through his career in South Florida, Encarnacion goes down in history as a slightly unheralded but extremely important piece of the Marlins’ success in the early 21st century. And it all ran through Jacksonville. [caption id=attachment_1618" align="alignnone" width="480] Jake Marisnick (Photo by MiLB.com)[/caption] RF Jake Marisnick Jacksonville Stats (2013) - 67 G, .294/.358/.502, 12 HR, 28 XBH, 46 RBI, 68/17 K/BB, 11/6 SB/CS Marisnick is a Blue Jays’ third round pick from 2009 out of Cal Poly High School in Southern California. After hitting .320/.392/.496, marks which ranked seventh, eighth and tenth in the Midwest League in his first full season in the minors in 2011, Marisnick split time between A+ Dunedin and AA New Hampshire in 2012. He hit .249/.321/.399 and parlayed that effort into a .314/.380/.457 showing in the Arizona Fall League. That winter, the 21-year-old 58th best prospect in baseball was dealt to the Marlins as part of the twelve player trade that was also responsible for bringing Adeiny Hechavarria, Henderson Alvarez and Anthony DeSclafani to the east coast of the US. Shortly after the trade, Marisnick was assigned to AA Jacksonville. In 67 games with the Suns, Jake hit .294/.358/.502 with 12 homers and a 36% XBH%. He had the tenth best BA and eighth best SLG in the Southern League, earning the call to the majors in September. Following a trip to AAA and 14 more games with the Marlins in 2014, Marisnick was traded to the Houston Astros in the deal that brought Jarred Cosart and Kike Hernandez eastward. Though he played a grand total of just 25 games in Miami, Marisnick’s growth with the organization prompted a so far solid career off the bench which took off in 2017 when he slugged .496 with 16 homers for the World Champion Astros. Though he didn’t play in the postseason that year, Marisnick did appear in 23 total games in 2015, 2018 and 2019. He went a collective 7-21 and the Astros went a collective 16-7. More so than his bat though, Jake has become known for his defensive skills which are right up there with the best in baseball. Playing all three outfield positions, Marisnick has saved a total of 74 runs with his glove and arm, equating to an 8.9 dWAR. Set to join a Marlins’ divisional rival, the Mets, in 2020, Marisnick is an extremely durable compliment to an MLB bench, capable of deciding a game with both his plus power bat and especially his flashy glove and canon arm. And it all ran through Jacksonville. [caption id=attachment_1620" align="alignnone" width="912] Tom Koehler (Photo by Florida Times-Union)[/caption] SP Tom Koehler Jacksonville Stats (2010) - 28 G, 158.2 IP, 2.61 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 145/46 K/BB If you were a fan of pitching in 2010, TK Day in Jacksonville wasn’t a day you wanted to miss. However, he put in some serious work to grow to that point and didn’t stop grinding until he became a mainstay in an MLB rotation. A native of the Bronx, Tom’s baseball career began in high school at New Rochelle High where he lettered in all three of his varsity campaigns. After being named league Rookie of the Year in 2002, Koehler had an even bigger senior season (58 IP, 0.86 ERA, 108/12 K/BB) which earned him some equally huge accolades such as a Rawlings All-Northest selection, All-Section and All-State honors, and a Section I Pitcher of the Year title. With fastball velo in the 91st percentile in his class and budding breakers, TK committed to playing collegiate ball at Stony Brook Universtiy on Long Island. Koehler’s collegiate years started out pretty rudimentarily as he gave up more hits than innings pitched in each of his first three seasons. However, Koehler finished strong in his senior year, holding down a 4.15 ERA by way of a 1.43 WHIP, each career lows. In 14 starts and 93.1 IP, a conference high, TK’s 111 Ks led the America East Conference and his 10.7 K/9 ratio ranked second. With 17 wins by way of 297 Ks in 294 IP, the two-time second team All-Conference selection was enshrined in the SeaWolves’ Hall of Fame in 2016. Noticing his growing aptitude for filling up and commanding the lower half of zone with improving stuff, the Marlins selected Koehler with the 238th overall pick in the 2008 Draft. Turns out the Marlins scouted Koehler perfectly. Following a 66 IP, 3.68 ERA, 1.44 WHIP 58/29 K/BB performance for short season Jamestown in his inaugural showing against wood bats, TK broke out in his first full season in the minors, starting with a 98.1 IP, 3.20 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 47.7 GB%, 82/39 K/BB tenure with A Greensboro and finishing with a 34.2 IP, 3.37 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 25/9 K/BB, 45.2 GB% visit to A+ Jupiter. Koehler’s stop in Jacksonville came in 2010. It wound up being one of the best single seasons for a pitcher in Suns’ history. In the Southern League’s most starts (28) and second most innings pitched (158.2), TK had the league’s second best ERA (2.61), its best WHIP (0.96) and its second most strikeouts (145). His 8.22 K/9 ranked ninth on circuit. He was an All-Star at midseason and in the postseason, the league’s Most Outstanding Pitcher. After inexplicably waiting out two full seasons in the hitters’ haven Pacific Coast League of the AAA ranks, Koehler finally got his MLB call and made his MLB debut on September 5th, 2012. His best season in Miami came in 2014 when he dealt to a 3.81 ERA (3.84 FIP) via a 1.296 WHIP and 2.15 K/BB ratio in 191.1 IP. Arguably TK’s most memorable career start came on May 7th of that year when he shut the Mets out over eight innings, limiting them to just two hits on one walk and five Ks. Overall as a Marlin, Koehler tossed to a 4.43 ERA via a 1.39 WHIP and 1.85 K/BB in 767.1 IP. Though injuries marred him after his tenure with the Fish came to an end, the late round pick went above and beyond expectations, filling out as a serviceable back end rotational piece. And it all ran through Jacksonville. [caption id=attachment_1622" align="alignnone" width="594] Brad Hand (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)[/caption] RP Brad Hand Jacksonville Stats (2010-2011) - 20 G, 116.1 IP, 3.39 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 75/53 K/BB Let’s close it out by giving the team a Hand. Bradley Richard Hand is a Marlins’ 2008 2nd round pick out of Chaska High in Minnesota. As an amateur, he gathered up 18 wins and 246 Ks, a school record. At one point in his final season, the ace, who also played football and ice hockey, didn’t give up a run in over 20 IP (link). 8-2 with a 0.62 ERA along with a .352 BA and eight homers at the plate, Hand was named Minnesota’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2008. His coaches and area scouts labeled him the most exciting player they had seen since Joe Mauer. The Marlins collected Hand in the second round of the draft, awarding him a signing bonus of $760K. After getting his feet wet in the GCL and Jamestown, Hand went through a staunch learning process in Greensboro in 2009, going 7-13 with a 4.86 ERA. His body held up well against the innings wear though and the strikeout metrics (111 K, 8.6 K%) were solid, giving the Marlins reason to give him the promotion to A+ in 2010. With park factors behind him, Hand gained confidence in his stuff. The Hand changeup took a leap and he was able to limit damage, pitching to a 3.33 ERA via a 134/49 K/BB despite being touched for a .278 BAA. Hand’s final start of the year was his first with Jacksonville. He tossed a six inning quality start. Hand got the full-time promotion to AA when camp broke in 2011. Against upper minors competition three years his elder, hitters put the ball in play more decreasing his K rate. However, Hand’s ability to mix and command four pitches severely limited hard contact. On June 6th, holding down a 3.43 ERA via a 1.27 WHIP, .234 BAA and 45/27 K/BB, the Marlins brought Hand to the Show. That same day, the Marlins drafted Jose Fernandez. A day later, on June 7th, Hand made his MLB debut against the Braves. He threw a six inning quality start on just one hit, a solo homer but still took the loss. Four starts later, Brad picked up his first big league win following a 7 IP, two hit shutout performance against the Astros. For the next two months, Hand skipped back and forth between Jacksonville and Miami until his last call-up when rosters expanded allowed him to end 2011 with the Marlins. 2012 and 2013 followed this same theme as Hand boarded frequent flights from New Orleans to Miami and vica versa. In the latter of those years, the innings started to catch up with Hand as he spent time on the DL with two separate ailments, prompting the Marlins to delegate him to a swing-man role. After struggling in each of 2014 and 2015, Miami designated Hand for assignment. Hand wasn’t unemployed long. Five days after being DFA’d, the Padres claimed him off waivers and assigned him to a late relief role. In that capacity, Hand absolutely flourished and he hasn’t stopped, converting 88 of 111 save ops in the last four years. In his past two seasons as the anchor of the Guardians’ bullpen, Hand has ranked seventh and fifth in saves. Simply put, the guy slams doors. Doors that only opened because... It all ran through Jacksonville.

[caption id=attachment_1587" align="alignleft" width="1140] Alex Vesia (Photo by Jordan McPherson/Miami Herald)[/caption] For Alexander Victor Vesia, baseball wasn’t always a sure thing. His thing could’ve been literally anything. “I had a counselor and he asked me what’s your goal? What do you want to do with your life? And my answer was I don’t really know,” Vesia told Erik Oas last season. “It was my freshman year, I didn’t even know what I was going to do the next day.” That summer, Vesia broke into pitching after school for Steele Canyon High’s JV squad. Quickly, Vesia fell in love. A summer later, he was determined to pitch for his school’s A squad. “My sophomore year I really wanted to make varsity. I felt like I had a good tryout but they put me on JV,” Vesia said. “It wasn’t what I wanted, but I told myself I’d work hard and by the end of the year, I’d be on varsity.” For the first time, but certainly not the last, Vesia’s dedication paid off, serving as a fitting berth and a perfect precursor to his professional career. “The last game of the season, my coach brought me into the office and asked me, “Do you wanna start?” I was like, “Yeah, absolutely,” Vesia recalled. “I ended up going 5, 6, maybe 7 innings. After that, being out there and feeling the small crowd we had which was big for me, I was like, I want to do this. I wanted to help my parents out with paying for college and getting a degree. But also, I wanted to play baseball.” Four years later, Vesia had both: a degree and, via a 313.2 IP, 3.01 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 249/106 K/BB stat line at Cal State East Bay, a future in baseball. The program record holder in strikeouts, wins and innings pitched, Vesia settled on his ultimate passion and entered the 2018 MLB Draft. Thanks to advice imparted on him by his collegiate coach, Vesia knew he wasn’t going to be highly selected, but that he shouldn’t let that decide his future. “Before the draft, Mike Cummins sat me down in his office and he was like, “You’re not gonna make your money out of the draft, but you’re gonna make your money in the big leagues,”” Vesia said last month. “I just wanted the opportunity.“ After being signed in the 17th round and breaking into pro ball with a 1.35 ERA via a 1.14 WHIP and 38/7 K/BB for two affiliates in 2018, the exclusive reliever jumped from A to A+ to AA last season, posting a collective 1.76 ERA by way of a 0.94 WHIP and 100/19 K/BB in 66.2 IP. At seasons end, Vesia was invited to participate in the Arizona Fall League. Partaking in nine contests and 10.1 IP very close to his hometown in the San Diego suburbs, Vesia didn’t allow an earned run and struck out 16 while walking only two. The Marlins took notice of the Vesia’s ability to succeed at multiple levels and against top prospects by inviting him to spring training. Through 6 IP, he hadn’t given up a charged tally. To date, Vesia hasn’t let up an earned run since July 13th, 2019, a streak spanning a total of 35 innings. But don’t tell him about it. As a matter of fact, leave numbers completely out of your conversation because Alex isn’t interested. That disinterest doesn’t stem from any sort of superstition or fear of recourse. Instead, Vesia has always viewed his stats as a distraction and a hindrance against keeping the game as streamlined as possible, the strategy that has always served him well. “In my freshman year of high school my parents would text me telling me you have this ERA, this many strikeouts. Towards the end of that season I was like, don’t tell me that. Because when I’d be out on the mound I’d be thinking about it. So it’s a big thing of mine: I don’t look at any of that stuff.” No matter what his personal stats looked like the day week or month before, Vesia takes the mound every time with the most uncompounded plan of attack, faith in his stuff and his focus one and only one number: the one in his opponent’s runs column. “Being a bulldog out in the mound, grinding through one pitch, one at bat, one inning at a time. I try to simplify it as best as I can. The simpler it is for me, the better. I’m not very complex with my thinking,” Vesia said. “I have one focal point which is the top of the scoreboard at every field. Other than that, the game is the same. That’s been my vision: to get there by trusting my process. Working day in and day out out on the backfields and watching it transfer into games.” From the moment he began garnering professional interest, Vesia made all of those who came out to watch him a solemn promise: “I told every scout, give me the opportunity and I’m gonna run with it,” he recalled. Vesia hasn’t ran with the opportunity the Marlins have given him — he’s absolutely flown with it, mowing through the competition wherever he’s pitched. Last season, the fastball/change up/slider artist began the season in Clinton. Three months later, he was pitching in A+. Eighteen innings on the mound later, he got the call to AA Jacksonville. According to Vesia, that’s when the reality of his accomplishments hit and things got put into perspective. “I told my dad and he was like, “Dude, you’re gonna have to hit now!” That’s where it got more real to me because in AA, AAA and the bigs you gotta do that,” Vesia said. “Pitching in AA in front of bigger crowds, I loved it.” On top of making the jump to AA fluidly holding down a perfect ERA in nine appearances, Vesia provided the Jumbo Shrimp with a walk-off win in his first career plate appearance. Despite having his offseason shortened twice, Vesia met each of those assignments, Arizona and big league camp, with the same overtly-tenacious attitude and the same message to himself that he’s carried with him his entire career. He would not have had any part of the past twelve months any other way. “Going to the Fall League seeing top prospects — I was like, “Bring it.” I just told myself to make the most of the opportunity. Then getting the call to big league camp I told myself the same,” Vesia said. “I can’t complain any day of the week. I love what I do.” The Marlins clearly love what Vesia does, as well. All the way through the suspension of spring training Vesia, who has just barely 100 innings of pro ball under his belt, was still battling for a spot in the Marlins’ bullpen. While the club would have to make a few tough decisions and create room on the 40-man roster in order to get the non-roster invitee into that spot, it is apparently a task Miami is pondering performing. Even if Vesia does begin the year in the minors, barring injury, it’s hard to imagine he will be there long. On the precipice of realizing his big league dream, the newly-turned 24-year-old is rightfully impassioned — impassioned but as confident and as focused as ever. “There isn’t anything I feel like I can’t do. My mom always told me I’m a man on a mission. I truly believe that,” Vesia said holding back a tear. “I get a little emotional about it because this is what I want to do: I want to play on the biggest stage with the guys behind me and we’re competing. Its the coolest feeling in the world and it’s great to see hard work pay off.” If his history has taught us anything, no matter how soon that challenge approaches Vesia, he will stare it down with an unyielding gaze, attack it and put it down. Get ready, baseball. The Bulldog cometh.

[caption id=attachment_1554" align="aligncenter" width="750] Photo by Gary Coronado/Palm Beach Post[/caption] In the darkest of times for baseball (including Marlins baseball) — the times in which the game we love cannot be contested — we will look back on brighter ones, namely the brightest of occasions for each Marlins’ Minor League affiliate. Presenting our All-Time Baby Fish Teams! We begin with the Jupiter Hammerheads, Miami’s A+ affiliate since 2003. The Hammerheads compete in the spring training home of the Marlins, Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium which was erected in the township of Abacoa in 1998. One of the busiest complexes in the sports world, the Marlins share the facility with the St. Louis Cardinals. [caption id=attachment_1555" align="aligncenter" width="1040] J.T. Realmuto (AP Photo)[/caption] C J.T. Realmuto A+ Stats (2012) .256/.319/.345, 8 HR, 24 XBH, 46 RBI, 64/37 K/BB; 71/40 SB/CS (36% CS%) Realmuto was a Marlins’ prep pick in the 2010 Draft out of Carl Albert High in Oklahoma. His single season in Jupiter came in 2012 when he nearly mirrored his numbers from the year previous in the A Greensboro. Though his average and OBP numbers fell, those factors could be blamed on a lower BABIP figure (.279 vs .341) produced by the Florida State League. However, the fact he matched his totals in steals and saw his K rate fall from 20.5% to 12.8% while throwing out 37% of his potential base stealers made Realmuto’s single season in Jupiter an overall success and an important stepping stone. After two full years in AA including a .299/.369/.461, 8 HR, 18 SB, 132 wRC+, 33/21 SB/CS (39 CS%) showing in 97 games in 2014, Realmuto made his MLB debut that September. In 2016, Realmuto hit 303/.343/.408, marks which ranked fourth, 12th and 13th among MLB catchers with at least 200 PAs. His 39% CS% from behind the plate ranked fourth in baseball. Come 2018, by way of a .310/.365/.536 first half, J.T. was selected to his All-Star Game. Overall that year, J.T. hit .277/.340/.484. His 126 wRC+ and 4.9 WAR solidified his position as one of MLB’s premier backstops. Following that season, Realmuto was traded to Philadelphia in return for new MLB catcher Jorge Alfaro, the Marlins’ now top prospect, Sixto Sanchez and another member of the top 30 organizational prospects club Will Stewart. In his inaugural season with the Phillies, Realmuto hit a career high 25 homers, fourth among backstops in baseball. He paced the power with a .275 BA, fifth in MLB. J.T. Was nearly perfect behind the plate, throwing out 43 of 49 potential base stealers. All of this equated to a 5.7 WAR. In other words, he wasn’t just in the equation for it, he was baseball’s best catcher. And it all ran through Jupiter. [caption id=attachment_1556" align="aligncenter" width="1024] Gaby Sanchez (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)[/caption] 1B Gaby Sanchez Jupiter Stats (2006/07) - .269/.364/.422, 10 HR, 57 XBH, 77 RBI, 86/76 K/BB A hometown kid, Sanchez was a Marlins’ fourth round draft pick out of the University Of Miami. In a two year career with the Hurricanes, the Brito High grad hit .322/.386/.493 with 14 homers, 52 XBH and 103 RBI. After a .235/.282/.356, 2 HR, 11 XBH 32 game showing in the Cape, his first action with a wood bat, the Marlins selected Sanchez in the fourth round of the 2005 MLB Draft. A solid collegiate career parlayed right into the beginning of a fantastic minor league career. In his first professional season, Sanchez won the New York Penn Leage batting title by hitting .355 and outhitting the likes of Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Jed Lowrie. His .401 OBP ranked seventh in the league and his .888 OPS placed eighth. He was also the Top Star in the NYPL All-Star Game. While enjoying a(bother) spectacular .317/.447/.603 All-Star campaign at the A level in 2006, Sanchez had his season derailed due to injury, but he was able to make it back in time to pull on a Hammerheads uniform for the first time at the end of the year. Following that 16-game moonlighting performance and a .279/.379/.396 29-game regrouping in the Arizona Fall League, Sanchez spent all of 2007 in Jupiter. Coming off injury he played in 133 of 140 games, second most in the Florida State League and a welcome sight for the organization to see from its fourth-ranked prospect. He slashed .279/.369/.433 and appeared on a multitude of stat leaderboards: His 132 hits were 10th most in the league, his 40 doubles and 89 runs scored were each second most on the circuit, his 52 XBHs were fifth most, his 64 ranked seventh and his 1.16 K/BB ratio was fourth best. A year later, Gaby made the jump to AA, a leap that didn’t hamper his production one bit. In 133 games (tied for third most) as a Carolina Mudcat, he hit .314/.404/.513/.917, marks which ranked ninth, seventh, eighth and sixth in the Southern League while he went up against the likes of Tommy Hanson, James Houser and Wade Davis. He paced the league in doubles with 42 while his 150 hits were third most on circuit, his 245 bases were second most, his career high 17 homers were seventh most and his 92 RBIs ranked second, making him an easy selection for a September call-up to the big leagues. The highly durable and extremely patient and regular XBH threatening corner infielder went on to enjoy a .260/.334/.422, 43 homer, 84 double career as a Marlin which included an All-Star selection in 2010. The hometown kid is still a regular fixture on broadcasts and in charitable community work inside the community, making him a continuous face of the franchise. And it all ran through Jupiter. [caption id=attachment_1557" align="aligncenter" width="825] Austin Nola (Photo by Scott Rovak/USA Today)[/caption] 2B Austin Nola Jupiter Stats (2013) - 124 G, .232/.331/.308, 26 XBH, 40 RBI, 92/54 K/BB Nola is a four-year graduate out of LSU and, by way of a .296/.387/.425, 128/115 K/BB career stat line, the earner of a fifth round selection by the Marlins in the 2005 MLB Draft. Nola spent his second year as a pro in Jupiter in his 2013 where he hit .232/.331/.308. The season served as a lead-in to a trio of solid campaigns in the upper levels of the minors. From 2014-2016, Nola hit .253 with a .334 OBP. He added some power to his game in the last of those years, smacking a career high six homers and 23 doubles for the New Orleans Zephyrs. The .261/.308/.376 campaign placed the middle infielder on the verge of his MLB debut. However with no real future with the club on the middle infield due to being blocked by Dee Gordon and Adeiny Hechavarria with JT Riddle and Derek Dietrich coming behind them, the Marlins chose to hold Nola back and attempt to transition him to one of the thinnest positions in the organization, catcher. The experiment produced positive results as Nola proved his versatility had little boundaries. In 83 games and 629.1 innings behind the plate between AA and AAA in 2018, he threw out 27 of 38 potential base stealers. Nola’s bat struggled a bit through his learning process on the other side of the ball as he slashed just .233/.330/.311, but it came back in 2018 when he put it all together, hitting .279/.370/.376 and tossing out 37% of his runners. At the end of 2018, Nola elected for free agency from the Marlins who had DFA’d and outrighted him earlier that year. A month later, he picked up with the Mariners who invited him to spring training. After just three months with the Tacoma Rainers in which he posted a booming .327/.415/.520 slash line, the super-est of super utility men finally made his MLB debut at age 30. While spending time at literally every position, Nola saw his offensive numbers translate as advantageously as possible to the bigs. In 79 games, he hit .269/.342/.454 with 10 homers, 23 XBH and a 63/23 K/BB. An extremely easy guy to get into games and a catalyst for giving guys days off, the durable 6’, 200 pounder who oozes “team player” heads into 2020 as the primary bench piece for Seattle. And it all ran through Jupiter. [caption id=attachment_1558" align="aligncenter" width="700] Brian Anderson (Photo by Jupiter Hammerheads/MiLB[/caption] 3B Brian Anderson Jupiter Stats (2015/2016) - 173 G, .253/.325/.367, 11 HR, 49 XBH, 87 RBI, 147/62 K/BB Anderson is the Marlins’ 2014 third rounder out of the University of Arkansas where he was a .327/.424/.493 hitter over the course of three seasons. At that time, one sports publication had this to say about him: “He's not an elite talent, which isn't good for a player who projects to be a second baseman, but he has done nothing but perform in the SEC for three years. The 21-year-old hit a stellar .325/.448/.488 as a sophomore in 2013 and has followed that up with a career-high six homers this season. The holes in his game are pronounced, limiting his upside, but he has enough talent to suggest he can turn into a capable middle infielder/utility player in the future.” Five years later, Anderson became one of baseball’s a top five third basemen. Things started pretty primitively for Anderson in his first full big league season in Jupiter in 2015. Just breaking in to wood bat leagues in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League, Andy was humbled by a .235/.304/.340 slash line, made possible by a .287 BABIP and 20.6% K rate. However, it didn’t take Anderson long to adjust and continue developing as the Marlins’ top prospect. Back in a Hammerheads jersey to begin 2016, Brian slashed .302/.377/.440 while shrinking his K rate by more than two full points (18.4%), quickly earning him the call to AA Jacksonville after just 49 games. In 86 games with the newly named Jumbo Shrimp, he hit .243/.330/.359. After hitting .273/.360/.506 and pacing the Arizona Fall League in homers with five, Anderson once again grew into his competition level as he returned to Jacksonville to hit .251/.341/.450 with 14 bombs and a 71/36 K/BB. On July 15, Andy got his call to AAA. Taking his final step towards his big league debut, he absolutely destroyed the hitters league, slashing .339/.416/.602 with eight homers in 33 games. Anderson made his MLB debut on September 1st, 2017 and he has yet to look back. In 307 games, he’s hit .267/.349/.425 with 31 homers. Twenty of those long balls came last season, a .261/.342/.468 campaign. He’s one of eight MLB third basemen to post a WAR of at least 3 in each of his past two seasons, putting him in elite company. Entering his age 27 season with the most talented squad he’s ever had surrounding him, many have the .260+ hitter in each of his first three seasons tabbed to take yet another jump in 2020. With even bigger talent on the way, he is the cornerstone of the Marlins’ rebuild. And it all ran through Jupiter. [caption id=attachment_1560" align="aligncenter" width="738] J.T. Riddle (Photo by Brett Davis/USA Today)[/caption] SS J.T. Riddle Jupiter Stats (2015) - 45 G, .270/.311/.314, 7 XBH, 29/11 K/BB Riddle is one of many University of Kentucky draft selections by the previous regime. Attending from 2011-2013, he enjoyed a .283/.358/.384 career in the SEC. He also added a .232/.278/.344, two homer, 10 XBH showing in the Cape to his draft resume. The Marlins selected the swift-fielding, versatile shortstop in the fifth round of the 2013 Draft. After hitting .252/.296/.356 between Batavia and Greensboro, Riddle joined the Hammerheads to begin 2015. Due to being pushed rather quickly due to age and the thinning of the shortstop position within the organization, Riddle’s stay in Jupiter was short. Short but pretty sweet. In 45 games, J.T. solidified himself as a for-average threatening defensive wizard. He hit .270 and posted a .976 fielding percentage by way of a 4.80 range factor at baseball’s most demanding position. In late June, Riddle made the jump up to Jacksonville. In an equal amount of games (minus one) and nearly an equal amount of ABs, Riddle’s skill set in a more neutral hitting environment earned him a .289/.323/.422 slash line with five homers and 12 XBH. In more than twice as many games with the Suns in 2016, Riddle posted similar results: .278/.332/.368. Following a 31-game matinee showing in AAA at the end of 2016, Riddle cracked the Marlins’ roster in 2017 and his MLB debut on Opening Day. Injuries would mar the rest of Riddle’s career with the Marlins. Due to left biceps tendinitis, his inaugural stint in the bigs lasted just 70 games. A season later, right shoulder tendinitis limited him to 102 MLB games. Last season, Riddle only played 85 total games due to a right forearm strain. Riddle was DFA’d by the Marlins in December and elected free agency. He was signed by the Pirates on January 31st. All of his recent setbacks aside, the versatile infielder with a twitchy bat has a good chance to play a big role for a club in the nascent stages of a rebuild this coming season and beyond. And it all ran through Jupiter. [caption id=attachment_1562" align="aligncenter" width="709] Miguel Cabrera (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)[/caption] LF Miguel Cabrera Jupiter Stats (2002) - 124 G, .274/.333/.421, 9 HR, 52 XBH, 75 RBI, 85/38 K/BB A member of Marlins’ Mount Rushmore and quite possibly the first Fish to enter the Hall Of Fame likely as a first ballot selection, Miguel Cabrera was built for greatness. A Marlins’ international signee at age 17 out of his high school in Venezuela, the man who would come to be affectionately known as ‘Miggy’ had a brief stay in the minor leagues. His longest visit was to Jupiter in 2002 where he hit .274/.333/.421 in 124 games. Playing against competition 3 1/2 years his elder, Cabrera paced the team in doubles with 43. He also placed third on the squad in batting average and fourth in slugging. In 2003, Cabrera was assigned to AA. After 69 games worth of a .365/.429/.609 slash line with 10 homers and 42 XBH, the Marlins had seen enough of Miggy in the minors and called him up to the majors. His career was 368 games old. As the youngest player in all of Major League Baseball, Cabrera hit .268/.325/.468. It’s clear and present: without Miggy, there would’ve been no Marlins 2003 World Series championship. The baby faced infielder turned in a monstrous in the month of September, slashing .308/.370/.505 and provided some of the playoffs’ biggest moments. He went 4-5 in the NLDS series clinching victory against the Giants, he hit a grand slam in the NLCS clincher against the Cubs and he homered in the Marlins’ game four winner against the Yankees helping them tie the series and berthing a three-game title clinching win streak. A two time league MVP, a Triple Crown winner, an eleven time All-Star and a 69.5 WAR figure, Cabrera’s accomplishments and talent measure up with some of the greatest of all time. And it all ran through Jupiter. [caption id=attachment_1570" align="aligncenter" width="835] Christian Yelich (Photo by MiLB.com)[/caption] CF Christian Yelich Jupiter Stats (2012) - 106 G, .330/.404/.519, 12 HR, 46 XBH, 48 RBI, 85/49 K/BB, 20/6 SB/CS Two words describe Christian Stephen Yelich: baseball prodigy. For the .416/.532/.730 prep hitter, playing baseball in Miami was a foregone conclusion. Yelich was first recognized by another the Hurricanes to which he made a verbal commitment for a full-ride scholarship. Then, in the winter of 2010, the Marlins called Yelich’s name in the first round with the 23rd overall pick. Yelich weighed his options for a while until finally on August 17th, just before the amateur signing period ended, the two agreed on an entry level contract to which a $1.7 million bonus was attached. Yelich made the Marlins’ investment pay off almost immediately. Following a 12 game .362/400/.468 preview between the GCL and Greensboro to end his 2010 calendar year, he hit .312/.388/.484 for the 2011 Grasshoppers, placing 17th in the South Atlantic League in BA, 19th in OBP and 29th in slugging. Among his countable stats, Yelich’s 144 total hits ranked third, his 32 doubles ranked seventh, his 77 RBIs ranked 10th and his 15 homers ranked 16th. Yelich spent his single full season with the Hammerheads in 2012. For a 20-year-old playing against guys three years his elder in the Florida State League, he posted an inconceivable .330/.404/.519 slash line. The league’s eight youngest player, those figures placed seventh, seventh and fourth league wide. His 12 homers also placed seventh and his 29 doubles ranked fifth. Yelich rounded out an audacious 2012 season by hitting .301/.343/.387 in the Arizona Fall League. Yelich kicked off 2013 in Jacksonville. He hit .280/.365/.518 and was on pace for 25+ homers before the Marlins gave him his first big league call. The translation couldn’t have been better as Yelich lived out the rest of the year with the Marlins, hitting .288/.370/.396 with his first four big league homers, 17 XBH, 10 steals and 66/31 K/BB, preluding his four-of-five tool skill set. A .290/.369/.432 hitter as a Marlin, an NL MVP in 2018 and an NL Triple Crown hitter last year, Yelich is well on his way to a Hall Of Fame worthy career. And it all ran through Jupiter. [caption id=attachment_1563" align="aligncenter" width="800] Michael Stanton (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)[/caption] RF Giancarlo Stanton Jupiter Stats (2009) - 50 G, .294/.390/.578, 12 HR, 24 XBH, 45/28 K/BB If you didn’t appreciate him at his Michael, you don’t deserve him at his Giancarlo. Drafted out of Notre Dame High School in Southern California in 2007, Giancarlo Cruz Michael Stanton came to the bigs as a tall but lanky 6’5”, 190 pounder. A three sport athlete in high school, there was never any doubt about his natural raw athleticism or the fact that his physical frame would grow to match it. The Marlins were the first suitor to come calling for Stanton’s services, selecting him in the second round of the 2007 Draft, 76th overall. The club saw enough in Stanton’s projection to overwhelm him with a $475,000 bonus, well over slot value. Giancarlo forwent both football and basketball and a commitment to USC and put pen to paper. A year later, Stanton jumped right into his first full pro season as a member of the Greensboro Grasshoppers. In 125 games, he hit .293/.381/.611. His 39 homers not only led the South Atlantic League, the total was one shy of the all-time league record set by Russell Branyan in 1996. Stanton’s average competition was nearly four years his elder. Stanton began 2009 with the Hammerheads but he quickly proved he need not spend any more time in A ball. In 50 games, he hit .294/.390/.578 with 12 homers. On pace for 33 homers with the Florida State League’s second best slugging percentage, tenth best OBP and 22nd highest BA, he was given the call to AA. 132 games worth of .263/.365/.562, 37 HR, 105 RBI ball later, Stanton received his first MLB call. From there, the rest is well-known history. After hitting 22 homers in 100 games in his rookie year, Stanton led the Marlins in homers every year from 2011-2017. In four of those seasons, he hit 30+, including his final season in Miami when he led all of baseball with 59 long balls and won the National League MVP Award and in 2014 when hit 37, most in the NL by way of a league-best .555 SLG (he barely lost the MVP award to Clayton Kershaw). All in all, Stanton smacked 267 career homers for the Marlins, a club record that will be tough to break. Giancarlo also holds Marlins career records in WAR (35.7), slugging percentage (.554), total bases (1983), RBI (672) and runs created (722). As part of the Marlins’ very busy 2018 offseason, Stanton was shipped to the Yankees in exchange for Jose Devers and Jorge Guzman, both of whom are top 30 prospects for Miami. Following another a-typical season (.266/.343/.509, 38 HR, 100 RBI) which helped New York to a 100 win season and an ALDS berth, Stanton fell on hard times last year. Battling a multitude of injuries, he only appeared in 18 games. However, at 100%, Stanton stands tall as one of the most dangerous men in all of baseball and he has done so from a very young age. As long as he can stay on the field, he is well on his way to a Hall Of Fame worthy career. And it all ran through Jupiter. [caption id=attachment_1566" align="aligncenter" width="750] Jose Fernandez (Photo by Gary Coronado/Palm Beach Post)[/caption] SP Jose Fernandez Jupiter Stats (2012) - 11 G, 7-1, 55 IP, 1.96 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 59/17 K/BB Jose Fernandez never played a day in his life against competition younger than himself. However, whenever he was on the mound wherever it was, he dominated. He was king. Jose’s story is the stuff of legend, both on and off the field. From how he saved his mother while defecting from Cuba to how he commanded the high school ranks and led his team to state championships in each his sophomore and senior years (the latter in which he went 13-1 with a 2.35 ERA and threw two no-hitters), Fernandez was a hero in the state of Florida before his career with the Marlins was ever a sure thing. Miami selected Fernandez with their first round pick, 14th overall in the 2011 Draft. After single games with the GCL Marlins and short season Jamestown, Jose was assigned to A Greensboro to begin his first full season in 2012. In 79 innings as a Grasshopper, Fernandez was undefeated going 7-0 with a 1.82 ERA and 0.873 WHIP, marks which ranked second lowest and absolute lowest respectively in the South Atlantic League. Additionally, despite spending just 14 games in Greensboro, Jose’s 99 strikeouts were 22nd most in the league. Jose’s tenure with the Hammerheads came in the second half of that same season. And the results kept coming. In 55 IP: 7-1, 1.96 ERA (eighth in the Florida State League), 1.00 WHIP (10th in the league) and a 3.47 K/BB ratio (13th on the circuit). Having never pitched above A ball, the Marlins saw enough in Jose’s ability to give him the call straight to the pros to begin 2013. As the youngest pitcher in the National League, Jose went 12-6 with a 2.19 ERA second only to Clayton Kershaw. His 0.979 WHIP ranked third in his league and his 187 Ks ranked 14th. At season’s end, Fernandez was resoundingly named the NL Rookie Of The Year. Injury limited the next two years of Jose’s career as he made just 19 starts between 2014 and 2015. Then, Fernandez came back with a vengeance. In 2016, by way of a 107.1 IP, 2.52 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 154/31 K/BB line, José earned his second All-Star selection. On September 20th of that year, Jose mowed straight through the eventual NL East division winning Washington Nationals, allowing just three bass runners (all hits) and striking out 12 in eight innings. Number 16 picked up his 16th victory making him just the seventh pitcher in Marlins history to win as many games. Four days after the aforementioned outing against Washington, Jose, who had thrown 102+ pitches in each of his last six starts, learned that his final start of the season would be pushed back. That night, he ventured out with friends aboard his yacht, the aptly named “Kaught Looking”. During the early morning hours of September 25th, the craft hit a rock jetty just off the coast of Miami Beach. All three people aboard were killed. Set to enter free agency for the first time in his career that offseason with a baby on the way, Jose was flying high. Today, he flies even higher albeit on a different plane of existence. It seems ironically cruel to think that the same waters that brought us the gift of Jose Fernandez, the same ocean that he breathed life into, took his life from his family and from us, his extended family. However, everyone who came to know José can take solace in the fact that in filling every single one of his days in America with as much joy and happiness as possible and making it a point to impart his infectious smile unto others, Jose Fernandez lived a lifetime. In just four short big league seasons, Fernandez — the Marlins’ all-time win/loss percentage leader (.692) via the club’s eighth most total strikeouts (581) — built a legacy that is cemented outside of Marlins Park, a legacy that will live on forever. And it all ran through Jupiter. [caption id=attachment_1568" align="aligncenter" width="1400] AJ Ramos (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)[/caption] RP AJ Ramos Jupiter Stats (2011) - 49 G, 50.2 IP, 25 SV, 1.78 ERA, 1.105 WHIP, 71/19 K/BB There’s gold in that there arm. Alejandro “AJ” Ramos in the MLB ranks wasn’t always a sure thing, especially after he underwent Tommy John in his junior year at Texas Tech in 2008. However, the Marlins looked through the health issue, the 5.53 ERA and the 1.54 WHIP and brought Ramos to the big leagues with their 21st round Draft selection in 2009. Immediately, Miami converted Ramos to a relief role exclusively. With less pressure on both his arm and mind, Ramos fireballed his way through the minor league ranks. Following 92 innings worth of 32 saves via a 3.13 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP and a128/46 K/BB in his first 74 games against wood bats in 2009 and 2010, Ramos made the trip to Jupiter in 2011. There, he posted a 1.78 ERA and ranked third in the Florida State League in saves, successfully turning in 25 of 28 save opportunities. Ramos got a final year in the minor league ranks on on 2012. He transitioned to AA like a champ. In 55 games and 68.2 IP, he posted a 1.44 ERA and converted 21 of 25 via a 89/21 K/BB. His .152 BAA was a career low marker. AJ made his MLB debut as a September call up on the 4th of the month. He struck out all three batters he faced. The perfect inning was an equally perfect precursor to what became a 327.1 IP, 2.78 ERA, 1.228 WHIP, 379/173 K/BB, 92 SV six year career in Miami. He stands as the fourth-best closer in Marlins’ history via appearing in its third most games. And it all ran through Jupiter. — To all who voted: thank you for your participation and assistance in our Twitter polls (@marlinsminors). We will hold our next series of polls in the coming week. The results will make up our All-Jacksonville squad. Stay strong. Together, we will get through this.

In the spring of 2020, the United States as well as most of the rest of the world live in trying times. There is panic and worry. People are drifting further and further apart. Relationships are suffering. Store shelves are running thin and individuals are worrying how long their place of employment will remain operational. The baseball world isn’t exceptional to this set of circumstances. In the past week, players and staff have gone from the anxiety of potential infection to the realization of it, from greeting friends and teammates to quickly saying goodbye and from settling in in their new cities, some permanently to suddenly being forced to go back to their last as games and events have been canceled. After a conference call among owners this afternoon, Major League Baseball is expected to suspend spring training. The league likely will delay the beginning of the regular season as well. At this point, it's a formality that ownership-level sources expect to happen. — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 12, 2020 For minor league players who reported to their respective spring workout sites in either Florida or Arizona just two weeks ago, circumstances are the most desperate. On top of recently greeting friends new and old and starting to (re)acclimate themselves with their teammates only to be forced to disband a couple of weeks later, on top of beginning to prepare their bodies to go full speed only to be approached by a complete halt, there is also tons going on behind the scenes. To the outsider, the phrase “I play professional baseball” probably causes individuals to view players in a different light, leading them to believe they live in lap and luxury. However, for the average player that works just as hard (if not harder) but that has yet to sign his first MLB contract, this couldn’t be further from the truth. In staunch reality, Minor League baseball players are some, if not the biggest victims of the monster that is corporate America. And this crisis serves as a continuation of proof. Picture this: you’re 23 years old. Two years ago, you forwent your final year of college in favor of signing a contract to pursue your boyhood dream. Last year, you got engaged to your high school sweetheart and you rented your first apartment. You play baseball seasonally and you work out daily to stay in shape for it. You dedicate most of your life to your craft, but you are also employed elsewhere for supplementary income. She works a 9-5 Monday-Friday. You rarely see each other due to distance and timing. You struggle through each month but together, you make it happen. Suddenly, the unexpected and seemingly unprecedented happens: a global emergency situation forces you out of work at your primary place of employment for the foreseeable future. Along with all of your preparatory work both mental and physical going for naught, your main source of income is gone. Your employer offers up severance pay and assistance for your superiors but you, the little guy, gets nothing but a trip back to your original place of residence. Due to the panic in the community, food and daily supplies are hard to come by. You’re struggling to pay your bills. You don’t know when you’re going to go back to work. And your rent is due in two weeks. At this hour, this is real life for many young ball players. Right now, there is a 20-something-year-old who was promised a better life and who did everything in order to realize the “American dream” only to find himself on the brink of homelessness and facing the burden of carrying an eviction on his record for the rest of his days. This is the scope of Minor League Baseball’s compensation system. In 2020. “During the season, I’m moving around; I’m going wherever they send me, living out of a suitcase. I moved (here) at the beginning of January to train and got my place. But we’ve gotta move. We’ve gotta go back home now,” one minor leaguer told us. “They are not letting me stay here and work out which was originally the plan. I have to go to the field tomorrow, pack up all my stuff and go home.” Unless you are a very highly touted draft pick who comes out of college and goes within the first three rounds of the MLB draft or unless you are a high-priced international free agent, it’s a long way to the top if you want to play baseball in America. A very long way. Each season starts in Minor League camp. There, in droves of hundreds, players — a lot of which have never met and some of whom do not share a common language — prepare for a future so uncertain it can in some cases carry them to any corner of the country the following month. Accommodations are meager at best. Players are allotted an estimated $40 a day for living expenses (aka “meal money”). If players choose to stay at the team hotel, that figure drops to around $20 a day. And for a minor league player, that’s good! “It’s better than what we get in season,” our source told us. “There’s no direct deposit; it’s cash in our hands in envelope.“ During the regular season, even under a restructured pay system set to go into effect next season, players at many levels of the MiLB ranks will still make less than minimum wage, before taxes. Two weeks in to this month-long process, they are allotted their payment in one lump sum. Not only will MiLBers not be compensated for the rest of camp this year, as of now they will not receive payment. “From what I know right now, no, we will not get paid. I’m sure the same goes for major leaguers, but those guys obviously are doing alright for themselves; they’ll survive,” the same player said. “What hurts the most is that If we went one more day, we would’ve gotten all of our meal money. Now, we won’t.” For comparison’s sake, those much better off MLB players get paid ~$100 a day. MLB and the MLBPA are also promising “those guys doing alright for themselves” $1,100 weekly up until what would’ve been Opening Day, April 9th. MLB players who return home (or go to their franchise home city) — MLB recommends players leave spring camp — will be provided up to a $1,100 weekly allowance by the players union until Aril 9 or MLB begins picking up tab. This applies to MLB players plus qualifying NRI players. — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 16, 2020 Meanwhile: “I will get money for driving home. It’s like a per-mile basis. Driving from (coast to coast) obviously it sucks. They’ll give us pay for my hotel, or for my gas; things like that. That’s the only way we are getting paid right now, though,” the source said. But that’s not all. The west-coast-based player we spoke with is one who chose to live off-property from the team hotel. The terms of his lease were up on April 1. He is uncertain that he will not be penalized for breaking his lease early and if he is, he is equally unsure if his employer will cover that expense. “My lease was up at the end of the month. So we were going to have to leave anyway. But now they’re telling me I have to leave now,”he said. “I’m waiting to see if they will compensate me for my lease, for making me break it. I rented an apartment here and the lease is not cheap. If you’re kicking me out from half a month for my lease, am I getting compensated for that? That’s what I want to know.” As grim as this situation seems, this particular player is in a better situation than many others. And it’s the others he is concerned for. “I have family that is doing alright financially. Plus I’ll be able to get a job at Dominos. So I’ll survive,” he said. “But a lot of guys don’t have resources like I do.” If you thought the laws of corporate America don’t apply to the sports world, they do. If you thought this billion dollar corporation didn’t forget about the little guy while protecting their bigger investments, here’s a reality check. It happens. It’s been happening. It’s happening now. At quite possibly one of the darkest hours in the history of the game, of our nation. Concern for the minor leaguers. Remember, only a tiny few in baseball are making $324M; a vast majority make less than 6 figures, much less 9 @jareddiamond https://t.co/rmXkslS4hD — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 16, 2020 These young players are just as, if not more vulnerable as the rest of us who belong to the workforce. And at the corporate level, their employer has made no promises. This has gone on long enough. These kids deserve better. The future of the game and the desire to enter this profession must be protected. MLB, once and for all, protect their investment as much as you do your own. Do your due dilligence. Pay Minor League players. Get it done.

After years of broken promises and shattered hearts, regime change has the Marlins and their fans on the brink of the fate they’ve long looked forward to and deserved: a competitive home grown club and a sustainable winning culture. Home to Major League Baseball‘s most improved minor league system, fresh new colors, a new coat of paint on their Little Havana ballpark and enhanced community outreach methods, Miami is well on its way to success both on and off the field. Leading the way in that effort is a wave of youth acquired via the draft and offseason trades almost exclusively over the last two years. Delving into the group of young men who will give the Marlins a more-than-viable shot to end their 17-year playoff drought, we present to you our 2020 Top 20 Prospects list. This year, we asked our followers on Twitter (@marlinsminors) to assist us in our rankings, combining their consensus opinion with our own findings. We thank everyone who participated in our polls. [caption id=attachment_1455" align="aligncenter" width="830] Sixto Sanchez[/caption] 1. RHP Sixto Sanchez 2019 (A+/AA) - 114 IP, 2.76 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 103/21 K/BB Six in his name, ace in his veins. The center return piece in the JT Realmuto swap with Philadelphia, Sanchez is a Dominican native who came to the affiliated ranks in 2015 via a $35,000 signing bonus. A converted shortstop, Sanchez made his pitching debut for the Phillies’ Dominican Summer League squad in 2015. After spending 25.2 innings getting acclimated to the affiliated ranks overseas, a 16-year-old, Sanchez made the stateside transfer in 2017. There, in 11 GCL starts (56 IP) he began to dominate. Among pitchers with at least 50 IP, Sanchez’s audaciously low 0.50 ERA (he gave up just 3 earned runs) far and away led the circuit as did his 0.76 WHIP. His 18.6 K/BB% ranked third. In 2017, Sixto made quick and easy work of his first full-season ball assignment, tossing 61 IP to the tune of a 2.41 ERA via a 0.82 WHIP and a 21.5 K/BB%. Those exports earned him the right to end the season in A+ (27 IP, 1.30 WHIP, 9.3 K/BB%). An A+ resident armed with 95+ MPH heat and more-than-budding breakers at age 19, Sanchez entered 2018 as the Phillies’ top prospect (according to John Sickels). He spent eight starts and 46.2 IP proving himself worthy of that title as he threw to a a 2.51 ERA by way of a 1.07 WHIP and 18.1 K/BB% for the Clearwater Threshers. However, in early June Sanchez’s fiery velo and the Phillies’ feeding him so many innings early in his career paved the way to a season-ending elbow injury. He did not throw for the franchise again. After the offseason trade, Sanchez arrived at Marlins Minor League camp in Jupiter like nothing ever happened. His velo was completely intact and, as Fish Stripes pointed out, it was being backed by polished mechanics. This leads to the belief that the Phillies’ complete shutdown of him a year previous was done mostly out of precaution in order to preserve his arm strength, not rescue it. The Marlins still erred on the side of caution, withholding Sanchez’s organizational debut until early May, but when it was finally time, he didn’t disappoint. In his upper minors debut, Sixto twirled a quality start on just one hit and two walks while striking out seven. It was the precursor to a career year — 103 IP, 2.53 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 97/19 K/BB. Amongst Southern League competition, his ERA and WHIP each ranked fourth and his 19% K/BB% ranked ninth. Once again, this was during a comeback from a lengthy injury while making the often-difficult jump to AA. You don’t have to watch Sixto long in order to realize he’s a next-level talent. He throws his fastball two different ways and both pitches produces different results. His four-seamer sits at 95 MPH and runs to his arm side with late action, inducing a hearty amount of whiffs. When necessary, he can ramp up past triple digits. The Sanchez two-seamer is his anchor when he’s behind in counts due to its late sink induces toms of weak contact and easy ground ball outs. He owns two breaking offerings: a mid-80s slider and an 89-91 MPH changeup. What sets Sixto apart from other top pitching prospects is the fact that his command of all four of his pitches is quickly catching up to his velo. Originally a converted infielder who would get on the mound and simply throw the ball at the glove as hard as he could, Sanchez now has a plan regarding how to attack hitters and can adjust said plan in order to keep them off-balance. He’s garnered that ability in just two and a half short seasons in the minors and he’s still growing. With plus-plus velo, an already solid arsenal and armed with the knack to command inside the zone and still live right around it when he misses, Sanchez lines up as a future ace with a ceiling comparable to Johnny Cueto. He could get his call as early as the second half of this year. [caption id=attachment_1458" align="aligncenter" width="830] JJ Bleday[/caption] 2. OF JJ Bleday 2019 (A+) - .257/.311/.375, 3 HR, 11 XBH, 19 RBI, 29/11 K/BB The first draft pick of the Jeter era is here and he’s perfect. .@GoHammerheads | #Marlins pic.twitter.com/62SOTsKLPe — Fish On The Farm (@marlinsminors) July 20, 2019 A native of Danville, PA, Bleday began his baseball career at nearby Titusville High School where he won back-to-back regional championships before transferring to A. Crawford Moseley High in Panama City Beach, Florida where he won two more regional titles as well as two district crowns. A letterman in all four of his secondary school seasons, Bleday slashed a combined .350/.468/.490. He also held down a 2.99 ERA via a .192 BAA in 68 innings pitched as a hurler. Bleday put his natural athleticism on full display for potential college suitors by setting six school records and lettering seasons in swimming at as well as lettering two seasons in golf at Titusville. He rounded a complete package out in the classroom where he was a 3.9 GPA student. Following his senior year, Bleday played for the Padres scout team. With fastball help in the 92nd percentile with plus command of the zone and a good foundational curveball, Bleday was drafted as a pitcher by San Diego in the 39th round, but he forwent the pros in favor of honoring his verbal commitment to Vanderbilt. Bleday used his three-year career with the Commodores to rise to first-round-pick worthy. As a freshman, Bleday proved he needed to adjust to playing outfield and hitting every day as he averaged just .256 in 164 ABs. However, he also flashed the beginnings of his plus plate vision, walking more than he struck out. In his sophomore year, Bleday was limited by a mid-season oblique injury which kept him out a little over a month, but that didn’t stop his bat from exploding. In 39 games, Bleday slashed .368/.494/.511, leading Vandy in all three categories. He recorded at least one hit 82% of the time he took the field. His fantastic vision persisted as he once again recorded more walks than strikeouts (23/31 K/BB). Last season, a fully-healthy Bleday put it all together and led the Commodores to a national championship and himself to an eventual first round draft selection. He did so by not only leading his squad in batting but by appearing in the top 10 nationally in various stat categories including total bases (192, 1st),runs (82, 4th), hits (95, 5th), walks (61, 6th). He led the Southeastern Conference with 27 homers, a Commodores’ single season program record. Bleday reached base in all but one of his 98 games played, including his last 51 straight in a Vanderbilt uniform and he continued his yearly trend of walking more than he struck out (53/54 K/BB). Overall, he hit .350/.464/.717 and was a six-time first-team All-American and Golden Spikes Award finalist (he was edged in the vote by the first overall pick, Adley Rutschman). Upon being selected by the Marlins 4th overall, the fourth highest picked Commodore in program history after David Price, Dansby Swanson (1st overall) and Pedro Alvarez (2nd overall), Bleday was tasked with making his professional debut in A+ Jupiter. In 38 games in a pitchers’ haven league, he hit a respectable .257/.311/.379 with his first three pro dingers and 19 RBI. Probably most encouraging about Bleday’s tenure in Jupiter: the transition to wood bats didn’t appear to affect him much. Using the same plus-plus knowledge of the zone, the same polished short to the ball approach, the same knack to barrel up and the same ability to create lift via an advantageous upper-cut swing plane that maintains leverage, Bleday’s average exit velo was 88 MPH (right at league average) and reached as high as 109 MPH, according to FanGraphs. On top of his offensive skills both natural and learned, Bleday is also armed with a canon from right field that holds the same plus-plus velo he showed while pitching in high school. Able to line up his throws and ramp up to 95 with good carry after good route running, Bleday rounds out an overall skill set that holds 4/5 tools. With a ceiling comparable to Nicholas Castellanos, Bleday should begin 2020 back in A+ but should be pushed pretty aggressively through the system. It is possible he receives one of two September call-ups later this year, but we foresee his MLB debut coming midsession 2021. 3. - OF Jesus Sanchez 2019 (AA/AAA) - .260/.325/.398, 13 HR, 29 XBH, 63 RBI, 100/39 K/BB One of the Marlins’ newest prospect acquisitions via the Trevor Richards trade with Tampa in late 2019, Sanchez is a 22-year-old outfielder who has absolutely raked since his arrival in pro ball. The 27th-ranked international prize in 2014, the Rays acquired Sanchez via a $400K signing bonus in 2014. At the time, talent evaluators lauded Sanchez’s ability to hit for power without sacrificing average at such a young age. In his first year of affiliation with the Rays, Sanchez put those gifts on full exhibition. In a full slate of DSL games (62), 17-year-old hit .335, tied for 12th on the circuit with a .498 SLG, 8th and a .382 OBP. He drove in 45 runs, tied for 10th in the league. 24 of Sanchez’s 80 hits were of the extra base variety (four homers, 13 doubles, seven triples) equating to a 30% XBH%. In 2016, Sanchez proved that type of prowess wasn’t exclusive to the Caribbean. While making the transition stateside still in his teenaged years, Sanchez first played in 42 games for the GCL Rays where he hit .323/.341/.530 before ending the campaign by collecting 17 hits in 49 ABs (.347) for the short season Princeton Rays. The results kept coming for Sanchez in 2017. Spending the entire year with the full-season A Bowling Green Hot Rods, he became the pitcher-friendly Midwest League’s batting champion by hitting .305 with a .378 OBP, 17th in the league and a .478 SLG, tied for sixth. He belted 15 homers and drove in a league-most 82 runs. Sanchez accomplished all of this as a 19-year-old, over two years’ younger than his average competition and he was named the Rays’ MiLB Player of the Year. Heading into 2018, Sanchez was the third-ranked prospect in the Rays organization. He showed why by hitting .301/.331/.462 in his first 90 games with the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League, another offense limiting circuit. He spent his last 27 games of the ledger getting his feet wet in AA hitting .214/.300/.327 in 27 games. Last season, Sanchez returned to AA as the 9th-ranked outfield prospect in all of Minor League Baseball. Back in Montgomery, Sanchez sloshed .275/.332/.404 with eight homers, 20 XBH and 49 RBI in 78 games earning him the call to AAA. Eighteen games into his tenure with the Durham Bulls, Sanchez was traded to the Marlins. He lived out 2019 in the PCL hitting .246/.338/.446 with the Baby Cakes. Sanchez will come to spring training with Miami this season as a member of a 40-man roster for the first time in his career. Drafted as a tall, wiry teenager out of the DR, Sanchez has advantageously transformed into a 6’3”, 230 pound specimen. He has come by his power numbers both naturally and by way of his plus-plus bat-to-ball skills, stemming from a incredible bat speed. Timing his cuts well via a high front-foot trigger, Sanchez drives into the ball with active hips and wrists which should allow him to continue to hit for both average and power against high velo at the next level. Where Sanchez will need to improve as he polishes off his MiLB career is in being more selective early in counts, especially against MLB-caliber breaking pitches. Sanchez will also struggle with pitches in on his hands, often leading to weak contact and/or whiffs, especially when he’s behind in the count, a trait that lent itself to his high K rate last season, despite pretty good pitch recognition. If Sanchez can learn to be more selective with cuts, limit swings and misses against offspeed stuff, improve his walk rate and learn to shorten up a bit better to cover the inner half protecting his hands all while continuing to mash heat and maintain his elite outer-half plate coverage, he profiles as a special middle of the order corner outfielder (more of a left fielder than a right fielder), capable of both power and average against both sides at the MLB level. A guy who made it to AA at age 20 and to AAA before age 22, the lefty hitter has a Hunter Pence-ish ceiling: .280/.335/.462, 23 HR, 59 XBH, 90 RBI 162-game average. He should start the year in AAA and, given the amount of outfield depth in the organization, end it there before getting his true shot at a starting job next season. [caption id=attachment_1466" align="aligncenter" width="828] Jazz Chisholm[/caption] 4. SS Jazz Chisholm 2019 - .220/.321/.441, 21 HR, 38 XBH, 16 SB, 147/52 K/BB Jazz is a 21-year-old Bahamian native who has the ability to make sweet, sweet music for the Marlins’ franchise for years to come. Jasrado Hermis Arrington Chisholm was a Diamondbacks’ international signee back in 2015. In his first 62 pro games competing against guys nearly three years his elder on average, Jazz hit an impressive .281/.333/.446. One talent evaluator candidly described the 5’11, 165 pounder this way: “When you initially see him, he’s not very big. But I saw him hit a bomb in spring training and I’m like, ‘Damn, he’s got some bat speed,’ and he looks very hitter-ish in the box, very comfortable.” After being limited to just 29 games due to a meniscus injury with the DBacks’ single A affiliate in 2017, a 20-year-old version of Chisholm held his coming out party in 2018. In 76 Midwest League games and 26 California League (A+) contests, Jazz hit a combined .272/.329/.572 with 25 homers and 17 RBI. He also added on 17 steals in 21 attempts. Jazz rounded out his spectacular 2018 calendar year by going 19-43 with three homers in the Arizona Fall League. Headed into 2019, Jazz was regarded as the DBacks’ top prospect and a top-50 prospect in all of baseball. AA ball proved to be a challenge for the aggressive swinger as he hit just .204/.305/.427 with a 123/41 K/BB in 89 games for the Jackson Generals. However, Chisholm ended his season on a positive note. Upon his change of scenery that occurred when he was dealt to the Marlins in the trade that sent Zac Gallen westward, Jazz slashed .284/.383/.494 with a 24/11 K/BB as a Jumbo Shrimp. He kept his craft fresh as he participated in the Puerto Rican Winter League where he hit .286/.333/.457 in 11 games. Jazz Chisholm BP.#Marlins | #MarlinsST pic.twitter.com/4YzVxV6QeW — Fish On The Farm (@marlinsminors) February 17, 2020 It’s hard to imagine for someone of his 5’11”, 165 pound build, but Chisholm’s future will be built on his power potential, an ability he comes by via a beautifully violent swing. Like his new organization mate, Sanchez, he comes by his power tool via elite bat speed but, unlike Sanchez, the still physically immature Chisholm shows room for improvement when it comes to bat control and especially when it comes to selecting swings. A slugger trapped in a catalyst’s body, Ks will probably always be part of Chisholm’s game, but if he can grow his pitch recognition and command the barrel better as his frame matures, Jazz, who dazzled on the base paths with 60-grade speed and shows good instincts in the field with a 45-50 grade glove, is capable of a .250/.320/.450+ ceiling. He has the potential to be Didi Gregorious with more speed. [caption id=attachment_1522" align="aligncenter" width="830] Monte Harrison (Photo by Miami Herald)[/caption] 5. OF Monte Harrison 2019 (A+/AAA) - .270/.351/.441, 9 HR, 18 XBH, 74/25 K/BB, 23/2 SB/CS Harrison is the center return piece from the Marlins’ 2018 blockbuster trade with Milwaukee, the one responsible for making Christian Yelich a Brewer. A second-round pick out of his Missouri high school alma matter in 2014, Harrison spent his first three seasons bouncing around between rookie ball and low A before his breakout season in 2017. Spending nearly equal time between A and A+, Monte hit .272/.350/.481 with 21 homers, 51 XBH and 27 steals in 31 attempts. He also hit two bombs in the Midwest League All-Star Game, powering his team to the W and earning MVP honors. Harrison rounded out his calendar year by hitting .290/.383/.348 with five more homers and five more steals in the Arizona Fall League. Following such a star-studded campaign, Harrison arrived in Miami as the organization’s consensus top prospect for 2018. Monte lived out the entire season in AA Jacksonville. Though the transition to the upper minors wasn’t without rigor proven by his 215 strikeouts, most in all of Minor League Baseball, Monte still posted a respectable .240/.316/.399 line. The power and speed tools both persisted as he slammed 19 homers, 42 XBH and stole 28 bags. Harrison ended his first season with the Marlins by taking part in his second Arizona Fall League campaign. There, in 19 games, he hit .290/.383/.348 and was selected to participate in the Fall-Stars Game. Last season, Harrison had appeared to make the adjustments necessary to remedy what ailed him in his initial call to the upper minors by hitting .284/.372/.479 in his first 50 games in AAA, earning him his third career All-Star selection, this time to the MLB Futures Game. However, before the All-Star break, a different sort of ailment befell him. On June 27th, Harrison suffered a wrist injury while diving for a sinking fly ball in the outfield. The injury kept him out of action for two full months. Upon his return and two rehab games in Jupiter, Monte returned to New Orleans. He ended his season on a good note, going 5 for his last 16. This offseason, Monte used the Venezuelan Winter League to recondition and make for lost time. In 16 games, he hit 300/.397/.380. One of #MLB's most tooled-up prospects, Monte Harrison got the #Marlins off to a fast start against the #Mets today with a base hit, two stolen bases and a run scored in the first. Here's a closer look at Harrison and the @Marlins' top prospects: https://t.co/DQdi9qesok pic.twitter.com/mxsIEPt9A4 — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 22, 2020 Standing 6’3”, 220, Monte is a startling physical specimen as he stares down his opposition. From a straight away stance, Monte stands completely vertically, expanding his strike zone but also making the most of the intimidation factor. He loads up via a huge front leg kick that puts all of his weight on his back leg. The kick is both a plus and a minus: the trigger which be begjns pre-pitch allows him to generate maximum power but it also leads to even more whiffs due to him being late getting his front foot planted. Up until last season, Monte’s hit charts had always favor his pull side, but last year, albeit in limited time, he began to show the ability to go oppo. Via better extension, 35% of Monte’s contact was to right field, by far a career high (discounting his first 50 games in affiliated ball). Harrison has always been and will always be a true power hitter who discounts average and strikeouts for power. That being said, his 70-grade muscle stemming from both natural strength, elite bat speed and good upper half mechanics on top of 60-grade speed makes Monte, at his current level of maturation, a 20-20 threat at the MLB level. Also armed with a 60-grade gun in the outfield, Harrison has the ability to stick in right field. As long as he shows no lasting effects from the wrist injury that cost him much of the season last year and as long as he can continue to make modest but important adjustments to his hit tool, the infinitely-athletic Harrison profiles as an annual .250/.340/.460+, 25+ homer, 20+ stolen base threat at the MLB level as early as next season. We place his ceiling somewhere between Jayson Werth and fringe Hall Of Famer Torii Hunter. Despite great depth in the Marlins’ outfield, he should make his debut at Marlins Park sometime this season. [caption id=attachment_1477" align="aligncenter" width="736] Edward Cabrera[/caption] 6. RHP Edward Cabrera 2019 (A+/AA) - 9-4, 96.2 IP, 2.23 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 116/31 K/BB Cabrera is a Marlins’ 2015 international signee via a $100,000 signing bonus out of the DR. Despite some shaky stats in the lower levels of the minors, Miami still had the confidence in Cabrera’s stuff to jump him a level with each passing season. This past season, that confidence paid off. Coming off a 100 IP, 4.22 ERA, 1.465 WHIP season in Greensboro, Cabrera began last season in A+ Jupiter. That’s where Edward started awarding Miami’s belief in the progression of his craft. In 58 innings as a Hammerhead, Cabrera held down a 2.02 ERA via a 0.95 WHIP and a 73/18 K/BB. Among Florida State League pitchers with at least 50 IP, Edward’s ERA ranked 12th, his WHIP ranked 6th and his 24.4 K/BB% ranked sixth. After being named to the FSL All-Star Game, the Marlins gave Cabrera another promotion, RBIs time to AA Jacksonville. Despite the jump in level to a more hirer friendly environment and despite the fact that he was playing against competition nearly four years his elder, Edward continued to dominate. In 38.2 IP, he tossed to a 2.56 ERA by way of a 1.06 WHIP and a 19.2 K/BB%. Here's a look at ALL 13 strikeouts thrown by Edward Cabrera in Wednesday's night victory! He tied the single-game Jupiter Hammerheads record for strikeouts by a pitcher in just 6 2/3 innings. #HammerDown 🎥: @FOXSportsFL pic.twitter.com/ojVd5H7ASJ — Jupiter Hammerheads (@GoHammerheads) May 2, 2019 Looking at Cabrera’s career stats, he seemingly flipped a switch. However, the ability was always there; he was just missing one thing: consistency. As the plus-plus velo became a regular thing that he held late into starts, Cabrera discovered a new comfortable grip and arm angle on what once was a blend-in to his slider without much differentiation, giving it 11-3 curveball action with late dive. The pitch now dips all the way into the high 70s and is the perfect precursor and/or out pitch to his heat. He will still also still use the high-80s slider as a mix-in. In addition, Cabrera also found a better feel for his changeup which showed improved fade. With polish on the repeatability in his release, Cabrera’s command tool rose to at least 55-grade. He is still ironing out his fluidity and is susceptible to flying open at times and missing a spot which will hurt him at the next level, but he has plenty of time to round out. Considered a high risk piece two years ago, Edward has already shed a lot of that worry. A bulldog on the mound, Cabrera comes right at his opposition and dares them to hit, living in and all around the strike zone. This past year, he was almost always the victor in whatever battle approached him. Usually, we would temper expectations after a breakout season, but given the fact that Cabrera accomplished his in the upper minors at just 21, this kid, filled with electricity and emotion on the mound, has us stoked. Like many members of the organization, there is no reason to push Cabrera and the Marlins won’t, likely giving him another full season in the minors. With continued success, Cabrera could battle for a rotation spot next spring. After shedding most of his “high risk” label, Cabrera profiles as a floor back-end starter with the ceiling of an unquestioned four-pitch power ace, ala Stephen Strasburg. [caption id=attachment_1481" align="aligncenter" width="830] Braxton Garrett (Photo by Jupiter Hammerheads/MiLB.com)[/caption] 7. LHP Braxton Garrett 2019 (A+/AA) - 106.2 IP, 3.54 ERA, 1.275 WHIP, 119/40 K/BB Garrett is the Marlins’ 2016 first round pick out of his high school, Foley High, in Alabama. Lauded for his advanced mechanics and repeatability in his delivery, Brax arrived on the professional scene in 2017. However, after just 15.1 IP at the full-season A level, Garrett befell a very unfortunate fate: Tommy John surgery. The second in a group of three straight Marlins’ first round prep picks to fall victim to the procedure due to overuse and overthrowing from immature mechanics at the high school level, Garrett missed the rest of 2017 and all of 2018. 💪 start from #Marlins 2016 1st-rounder Braxton Garrett, who is sporting a 3.10 ERA in his return to the mound after missing nearly two years due to Tommy John: 6 IP (season-high) 0 R 3 H 2 BB 7 K@Marlins prospect stats: https://t.co/RUU0xeJOov pic.twitter.com/IcFuy9QHKa — MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 16, 2019 The 18U National Champion from 2015 and 0.65 ERA, .107 BAA, 266/26 career high schooler made a much anticipated return to the mound last season. Showing no ill effects from his surgery or from the fact that he didn’t pick up a baseball in nearly a year, Garrett was plenty solid. In 105 innings, Garrett struck out 118 batters. His 27% K rate led the circuit. Because he was feeling out his changeup, Garrett also walked batters at a 8.5% rate, third highest in the league but by inducing ground balls at a rate of 53%, Braxton stranded 72% of his runners and held down a respectable 3.34 ERA. The 6’3”, 190 pound Garrett earns high praise from evaluators for his simple yet sound mechanics which he repeats with fluidity and minimal effort. More of a control than command artist with his breakers right now, Garrett isn’t afraid to go out of the zone in order to garner swings and misses, but is forced to come right after hitters with his fairly average 92-94 mph heat when he gets too deep into counts. Garrett’s best pitch is a power 11-3 curve with good depth and hard bite and downward action that generates whiffs in excess. When it’s on, the plus-plus pitch allows him to expand the zone and stay far away from barrels. Garrett’s future projection will hinge on the development of his changeup. Though the pitch flashed plus, it currently lacks consistency and it appears he doesn’t have an overall great feel for it. At its best, the pitch shows good fading action, but it’s more or less a mix-in right now. If Garrett can clean up the spotting and release on the pitch, he profiles as a future ace. Given his peripherals which include his aforementioned fluid mechanics leading into an extremely repeatable wind-up and delivery allowing him to mask well pitch to pitch as well as an overall great knowledge of the craft, we like this still only 22-year-old’s odds of reaching his ceiling as a 2-3 starter at the big league level by 2021. [caption id=attachment_1485" align="aligncenter" width="830] Trevor Rogers (Photo by Danielle Bleau/TwigPics)[/caption] 8. LHP Trevor Rogers 2019 (A+/AA) - 136.1 IP, 3.83 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 150/33 K/BB Rogers is another in the aforementioned trio of high school standouts turned Marlins first round draft picks who succumbed to Tommy John surgery early in the season before bouncing right back a year later. Following a very similar career path as Garrett, Rogers had a ridiculous 0.73 ERA via a .138 BAA and struck out 325 while walking just 52 in 182 prep innings pitched. Much of Rogers’ success occurred during an 11-0, 0.33 ERA, 134/13 K/BB senior year in 2017 after which he was named an All-American for the second time. That season solidified Rogers as the best lefty in that year’s MLB Draft and all but guaranteed him a mid-late first round selection. The Marlins called his name at 13th overall. The day Rogers signed his first professional contract, Garrett underwent his Tommy John procedure and Rogers took over as the top prospect in the Marlins’ organization. Not even a month later, Rogers went under the knife. He missed the rest of 2017 and half of 2018. He finally made his pro debut in Greensboro, 344 days after being drafted. After using 2018 to shake off rust and get acclimated to life in affiliated ball, Rogers came to Jupiter in 2019 and showed his true potential, defending the rapport and the noise he made as a prep despite hailing from a part of the country that is not frequently heard from, especially when it comes to lefty pitchers. In 18 starts as a Hammerhead, Rogers tossed 110.1 IP and held down a 2.53 ERA, third lowest in the Florida State League. That marker came by way of a 1.10 WHIP, also third lowest and via the highest K/BB% in the FSL, 21.5%. As the season winded down, the 21-year-old FSL All-Star cracked AA and recorded his first quality start in the upper minors, a two-hit, 10 K, one walk seven inning shutout performance against Tennessee. This season, Rogers will put the Shrimp uniform back on and try to repeat that day each time out. Infinitely fluid in his mechanics especially for a guy of his 6’6”, 185 pound build, Rogers goes through his simple delivery pitch after pitch and comes home with minimal force and exertion. He uses his long limbs to shorten the distance to the plate while also throwing everything on a downhill plane, messing with the opposition’s vision and creating tons of deception. Rogers won’t blow you away with his velo or stuff (at least not yet) and he’s currently trying to find a third pitch. The Rogers fastball sits in the 90-94 range and holds a bit of arm side run. It’s his most frequently commanded pitch and he’s able to put it on the lower half pretty regularly, inducing weak contact. He could add a few more miles per hour as his body fills out. Rogers’ best secondary is his slurvy slide piece that sits 83-87. Current movement on the pitch varies but Rogers hits his spots with it regularly and it should carry its swing-and-miss potential to the next level as it gains polish. After struggling to gain a feel for the changeup, Rogers set out the blueprints for a cutter, an 86-89 mph offering that plays off his fastball well in that he’s able to work both arm and glove side, adding another layer to his deception. Rogers began using the cutter in place of the changeup regularly late last year. From moving cross country to undergoing major surgery to spending almost a full year outside the game, Rogers has been forced to grow up very quickly mentally since being drafted. While still in the nascent stages of his development on the mound, Rogers has proven he has the strength and to adjust on the fly to whatever comes his way. An extremely heady pitcher with plus-plus body control, advanced mechanics and a young but budding repertoire, Rogers, still 21 and already arguably the best control pitcher in the organization, has more than enough time to reach his ceiling as a mid-rotation starter. [caption id=attachment_1409" align="aligncenter" width="830] Jose Devers[/caption] 9. SS Jose Devers 2019 (Rk-A+) - .322/.391/.390, 17 XBH, 26/14 K/BB The cousin of Red Sox standout Rafael Devers, Jose was a Yankees international signee in 2016. He came to the Marlins as part of the Giancarlo Stanton trade in 2018. Upon joining the organization, Miami tasked the then-18 year old with his first full season, sending him to single A Greensboro out of camp. After hitting a combined .244 in 53 games for two Yankees rookie league affiliates in 2017, Devers hit .273 in 85 games for the Grasshoppers. Last season, Devers appeared to have taken another huge step forward. In his first 33 games of the season in A+, Devers was on track to win the Florida State League batting title (no easy task). However, after his appearance on May 20th, while hitting .325/.385/.366, Devers sustained a groin injury that would cost him nearly three full months. He would not return to the Hammerheads. Instead, he spent 11 games rehabbing with the GCL Marlins. He also appeared in three games in the Midwest League playoffs with the LumberKings (5-11, 2 2B, 2 RBI) before shipping off to Arizona to join the Salt River Rafters. He went 11-42 and stole five bases. Modestly built and wiry, the 6’, 155 pound baby face is as youthful as can be and he just missed a ton of time due to injury. However, Devers has thus far made a career of succeeding against older competition. He’s done so by way of a streamlined splashy singles approach, incredible bat speed and plus speed. A contact-first hitter that lets his natural tools, including plus speed, to go to work for him afterward, Devers is built for a catalytic, average heavy, game disrupting ceiling. Even though he will never be much of a power threat, Devers will need to add physical strength in order to compete against Major League caliber velo, but still just 20, he has plenty of time to fill out. Devers’ best tools are put to use on the other side of the ball. With good reads off the bat and a quick first step to the ball, Devers goes both ways equally well and flashes tons of leather. With quick wrists and even quicker feet, Devers should more than be able to stick at short throughout his career. With a whiff-limiting hack and slash singles approach coupled with good speed and terrific defense, we like Devers to approach a ceiling somewhere near Jose Iglesias, a career .273/.315/.371 bat and annual 1+ dWAR glove. [caption id=attachment_1488" align="aligncenter" width="768] Lewin Diaz (Photo by Tom DiPace)[/caption] 10. 1B Lewin Diaz 2019 (A+/AA) - .270/.321/.530, 27 HR, 60 XBH, 76 RBI, 91/33 K/BB The 10th-ranked international prospect in 2013, Diaz was signed by the Twins for $1.4 mil. After a breakout .310/.353/.575, 26 XBH campaign in rookie ball in 2016 and subsequent .292/.329/.444, 56 XBH fill-season debut in 2017, Diaz was dealt to the Rays. After being limited to just 72 A+ games due to a broken right thumb in 2018, Lewin returned to the Florida State League last season and wreaked his revenge. In 57 games with the Fort Myers Miracle, he slashed .290/.333/.533 with 13 homers and 24 XBH. At the halfway point, the 22-year-old was promoted to AA where, despite the jump, his success persisted as he hit .302/341/.587 with 23 more XBH, including six more bombs. On July 28, just before the trade deadline, the Marlins acquired Diaz in return for the expiring contract of reliever Sergio Romo. In 31 games for the Jumbo Shrimp, Diaz hit eight more homers, bringing his season total to 27. Diaz made up for his lost time in 2018 by spending this offseason in the Dominican Winter League. Competing against players who were on average nearly five years his elder, Lewin slashed .275/.331/.422 with three homers and 20 RBI. Across all levels last year, Diaz hit .271/323/.508 with an even 30 dingers and 96 RBI.A sizable 6’4”, 225 pound specimen, the 23-year-old carries an offensive acumen capable of both average and power. From a straight-away stance, Lewin remains completely upright without much weight on his back leg while performing a middle-high leg kick in which his front knee nearly touches his left elbow. From there, Diaz reaches back and strides with long limbs into an explosive uppercut swing. What Lewin lacks in a polished power-loaded lower half approach he makes up for with great raw strength and plus-plus bat speed. In addition to good mechanics in his arms and elbows which he uses to reach back for the most advantageous leverage, Lewin also exhibits great plate vision and strike zone knowledge and management. With the ability foul off tough breakers, wait for his pitch, wherever it’s located and drive it due to great plate coverage and equal parts extension and shortening, Lewin has the ability to go to all fields via barrel contact and plus exit velo rates. Despite being limited to only first base defensively (though he’s shown plenty of athleticism around the bag, including a good stretch and the ability to play at a replacement level pace) Lewin is a guy who limits Ks, contacts nearly everything, and is beginning to tap into his 60-grade power tool. Accordingly, there are plenty of reasons to rally behind Lewin as the Marlins’ first baseman of the future. Due to his ability to limit whiffs, promote hard contact and reach any area of the park, we place the lefty-hitting Diaz’s ceiling pretty high; around former Marlin, Kevin Millar, a .274/.358/.452, 19 HR yearly threat. [caption id=attachment_1193" align="aligncenter" width="830] Nick Neidert[/caption] 11. RHP Nick Neidert 2019 (A-AAA): 54 IP, 4.67 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 46/27 K/BB Neidert was a second round pick by the Mariners out of his high school in Suwanne, Georgia in 2015. Following two years with Seattle in which he fatefully spent time with the now Marlins’ affiliated Clinton LumberKings, Neidert joined Miami in 2018 in the trade that sent Dee Gordon westward. Coming off a ridiculous 104.1 IP, 2.76 ERA (league low), 1.073 WHIP (another league low), 109/17 K/BB (no typo, league best 22.1 K/BB%) showing in the California League, Neidert joined the Shrimp to begin his Marlins career. There, organization’s eighth-ranked prospect put together a 152.2 IP, 3.24 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 154/31 K/BB campaign against AA hitters who were on average over three years older than him. An organizational All-Star, Neidert headed into 2019 as a favorite to make a huge impact on the big league club sooner rather than later and was viewed by many as the club’s best pitching prospect not named Sixto Sanchez. This past season, Nediert’s development hit a snag in the road when he was stricken by a meniscus injury that would wind up costing him three months of the 2019 season. After a nearly month long rehab stint in Jupiter with the GCL squad and the Hammerheads, Neidert returned to New Orleans in time to turn in three straight quality starts, including a six inning, four hit, 10 K shutout on August 20. Though he may have been hopped in pitcher prospect rankings by the likes of Cabrera, Garrett and Rogers, Neidert has quite possibly the most complete arsenal in the organization. He won’t light up the gun or wow you with his breakers, but with the ability to locate and command four pitches and with the IQ to mix them fortuitously, Neidert is the most mature pitcher amongst the Marlins’ core. The Neidert two-seamer ranges between 92-95. What he lacks in velocity he makes up for in location, living exclusively on the lower half and inducing ground balls via late tailing action to both corners. Because of his free-and-easy low effort repeatable wind and release, he masks the pitch well and earns high grades for deception. Neidert’s best and most often used second pitch is his changeup. The velo (86-89) doesn’t differ much from the fastball and, with good shape and equally good location down in the zone, plays extremely well as a partnership piece which he will use in tandem. Despite being a distant third pitch, Neidert’s 11-5 slurvy low-80s slider still has a 50-grade ceiling and he will throw it in any count. Unlike his other two offerings, there’s more control than command here and he will get hurt when he leaves it up, but when he’s spotting it, the pitch plays up and is a 50-grade tool. Neidert’s stuff isn’t the story here and it likely never will be. Instead, his confidence and his ability to mix, attack and especially locate are what set him apart. Neidert knows himself and his stuff very well and doesn’t attempt to do any more or less. A guy you will never catch overthrowing, Neidert is extremely coachable. A heady, crafty and impressionable hurler who is short on words and high on focus, he limits pitch counts and just gets outs. There should be no issue with him sticking as a starter at the next level. If his breaking ball makes the jump from average to plus, we are looking at 2-3 starter potential. More realistically, he will be a back end rotational piece who could get the call as early as this season. [caption id=attachment_1491" align="aligncenter" width="830] Kameron Misner (Photo by Joseph Guzy)[/caption] 12. OF Kameron Misner 2019 (Rk-A) - 42 G, .270/.388/.362, 2 HR, 11 XBH, 24 RBI, 42/30 K/BB, 11 SB Misner is the second overall pick of the Jeter era, selected 35th overall in the competitive balance portion of last year’s draft. A .422, eight homer, nine triple, eight double, 29 steal monster in his senior year of high school, the All-American honorable mention, All-Central second team player and number three prospect in the state of Missouri was drafted by his hometown MLB squad, the Royals at the end of the 2016 Draft. Instead, Mizner fulfilled a childhood dream to play for the University of Missouri. In his first season at Mizzou, Misner honored his commitment to the black and gold’s baseball program by becoming the best freshman player it had ever seen. His .282 BA was the highest by a freshman ‘15, his seven homers were most by a first-year player since ‘07 and his 34 RBI were most by a one since ‘10. Overall, Misner hit .282/.360/.446 with 20 XBH and 17 steals. Misner’s sophomore calendar year didn’t end at earning Freshman All-American honors. At the summation of the collegiate season, he took part in 38 games in the New England Collegiate League where he hit .378/.479/.652 with eight more homers, 13 more doubles and 17 more steals. All signs pointed to Misner blowing up in 2018. And he did — for 34 games. However, hitting .360/.497/.576 and leading the nation in walks 125 ABs in, a foot injury forced him to miss the final six weeks of the season. Misner used the injury and missed time as fuel to come back stronger than ever last season and have a career year, parlaying his first round selection. In 57 games, he hit .286/.440/.481 with double-digit homers, 32 RBI and 20 steals. All in all, Misner was a .301/.424/.489, 21 HR and 56 XBH hitter with a 139/109 K/BB and a 50/13 SB/CS in three seasons in the prestigious SEC. That work was honored when Misner’s name was called by the Marlins on June 3rd. That announcement eventually came with a $2.1 million signing bonus. Misner made his pro ball debut on July 21st. He spent nine games in the GCL before reporting to A Clinton. In 34 games with the LumberKings, he hit .270/.368/.362 with two homers, a 42/30 K/BB and 11 steals. As Misner’s stats have perpetuated his entire career, he’s a patience-first, contact-inducing lefty hitter capable of both average and power. Approaching from a wide semi-split stance with his front foot angled toward first base, Misner steps toward contact with a toe tap trigger before executing a leveraged swing with great speed and median uppercut action. Able to cover the plate and adjust his swing to promote line drive contact depending on pitch location, Misner’s elite plate vision takes over and is the catalyst that makes him a 60-grade hit tool. On top of plus-plus mechanics built for both power and on-base potential, Misner is a plus runner. With an excellent first step towards first and equally superb acceleration speed, Misner has shown the ability to beat out fairly routine plays and turn hits that don’t get past outfielders into extra bases. If he is limited to a single, opposing pitchers would be ill-advised to discount Misner, despite his 6’4” 215 pound build. Arguably his best overall tool at Missouri, Kam used his jets to steal 50 bases. He was only caught 13 times. Due to the foot injury, the Marlins limited Misner to light duty on the base paths last season (he still stole 11 bags and shut opposing catchers out, not getting caught a single tome). That leash should be removed this coming season. A pitcher in high school who flashed 80+ mph velo, Misner’s aforementioned speed and good reads off the bat give him another plus tool: defense. He is of playing all three spots but he is a natural center fielder and that is most likely where he will stay as he grows and comes to fruition. There are very little knocks on Misner’s skill set and potential. If anything, the only negative here is that he can sometimes be TOO patient with the stick, a very rare trait. However, Misner is a very rare five-tool talent. If he can be coached to be slightly more aggressive without discounting the use of his vision as he progresses through the minors, there is beastly potential here as 30 homers and 30 steals are not out of the question. Add in plus range, a good overall feel for all three outfield positions and an above average arm, Misner’s ceiling is sky high. Health and aggressiveness permitting, Misner is a guy who could one day be the second coming of Christian Yelich, a fellow lefty and of a very similar physique. Misner will set his sights on fulfilling that potential this coming season most likely for the Hammerheads, but he shouldn’t get too comfortable in Jupiter. At 23, he should be pushed pretty aggressively and could be packing his bags for Jacksonville as early as the start of the second half. [caption id=attachment_1493" align="aligncenter" width="830] Jerar Encarnacion (Photo by Joseph Guzy)[/caption] 13. Jerar Encarnacion 2019 (A/A+) - .276/.331/.425, 16 HR, 43 XBH, 71 RBI, 140/40 K/BB Encarnacion is a Marlins’ 2015 international signed out of Bayaguana, DR, a 339 square mile province on the east side of the island. Including Jerar, it has only berthed 10 affiliated ball players, none of which have made the majors and only one of which has played above A ball. That is all about to change. Not a hugely overhyped international prospect at the time of his plucking from DR, Jerar signed with the Marlins for $78K. After participating in 14 games in the DSL back home (.218/.232/.345), he was brought stateside. In his first year in America, Encarnacion hit .266/.323/.448 and led the GCL Marlins in homers with five. A year later, Jerar took his talents to short season Batavia. There, he showed the ability to make more consistent contact even if it wasn’t the over-the-fence type and hit for a plus average (.284). This past season, Encarnacion put everything together in a huge first half with Clinton. As a LumberKing, he hit .298/.363/.478. Among hitters with at least 200 plate appearances, his BA ranked 10th and his slugging percentage ninth. His 143 wRC+ also placed 10th. After putting a cherry on top of his breakout performance in Clinton by home ring in the Midwest League All-Star Game, Jerar was promoted to Jupiter. There, he hit .253/.298/.372 with six more homers, a plenty respectable line for a one-unheralded prospect playing against competition a year and a half older than him in the offense-limiting Florida State League. Encarnacion ended his calendar year of 2019 by earning a second All-Star nod this time in the Arizona Fall League. The .269/.315/.433 hitter provided some of the most exciting moments of the Salt River Rafters’ championship season including hitting a grand slam in the league title game. Jerar BP. The sound off his bat. Listen and marvel. 🔈#Marlins | #MarlinsST pic.twitter.com/9JeMBzKUDK — Fish On The Farm (@marlinsminors) February 24, 2020 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Despite being hampered by a few minor injuries that cost him valuable playing time early on in his development, Jerar has been able to fight through, staying consistent and growing advantageously into what is now a 6’4”, 219 pound frame. Still just 22, he has room to grow into even more raw power as he fills out, giving him the potential for a ridiculously high power ceiling. A 70+ grade primary tool ceiling is entirely possible here. Clearly, there is unquestioned power potential here. When Jerar barrels up, you hear a sound very rarely heard in the baseball world, a tone limited to a few very special players. The biggest query surrounding Jerar is how consistently will he be able to make contact. This past regular season, Jerar answered that in the positive as his K rate fell to 25%, down from a collective 39% in his earlier showings. There are also a few mechanical fixes Jerar could use to make, namely getting his lower half more involved leading to a better power load and better plate coverage via a better stride into contact. Another issue Jerar will need to rectify as he fills out has been noticed by Don Mattingly this spring: his ability to go opposite field. “Jerar is off the charts. When he hits ‘em, they stay hit,” Mattingly said “His thing is the oppo power. He’s got middle of the field and right field which is always a great place to start. Mattingly sees an easy fix to the holes in Encarnacion’s game: more reps. “He’s coming quick,” Mattingly said. “Just let him play.” In his debut spring training game, Encarnacion provided encouragement regarding his ability to go oppo by doing this, with the wind blowing straight in: Jerar Encarnación showed big league pop in his first big league Spring Training game 🤩 pic.twitter.com/Gxj1mC3WbM — Fish Stripes (@fishstripes) February 22, 2020 Watching Encarnacion mash in BP sessions both live and paced, it is very easy to rally around the potential for 30-40 homers on top of a plus outfield arm that will be able to stick in right field. Given the current state of the Marlins’ outfield situation though, Jerar could also be taught to play first base. This 22-year-old still has a bit to prove and some adjustments to make if he hopes to reach his full potential but after last year, he holds a high ceiling as a low-average, power-heavy corner outfielder and/or corner infielder with a floor similar to Wil Myers, (.252/.320/.422, 24 HR annually) and a ceiling Giancarlo Stanton lite. With a huge developmental year approaching him this season, he will be extremely fun to follow. [caption id=attachment_1497" align="aligncenter" width="830] Jorge Guzman[/caption] 14. RHP Jorge Guzman 2019 (AA) - 138.2 IP, 3.50 ERA, 1.204 WHIP, 127/71 K/BB Jorge (pronounced George) is an Astros 2014 international signee out of the Dominican. He got his feet wet in affiliated ball for two different Houston squads in his home country before making the move stateside full time in 2016. After splitting time almost evenly laccruing a 4.02 ERA via a 1.15 WHIP and 54/17 K/BB for two different rookie league affiliates in the GCL and App State League, Guzman joined the Yankees as part of the trade that sent Brian McCann to Houston. In a single season with New York, Guzman enjoyed a 66.2 IP, 2.30 ERA, 1.035 WHIP, 88/18 K/BB coming out party in short season ball. On December 9th, 2017, Guzman, a top 50 organizational prospect, came to the Marlins as the centerpiece of the Giancarlo Stanton trade. In his first season with his third organization in under three years, Guzman managed a 4.03 ERA by way of a 1.54 WHIP and 101/64 K/BB with the Hammerheads. Last season, the 23-year old joined AA. In his most extensive season, Guzman held down a 3.50 ERA with a 1.2 WHIP and 127/71 K/BB. A member of the 40 man, he will likely jump up to AAA this coming year. Guzman’s calling card is explosive velocity that sits 96-98 but which he can pump up as high as 102. Even when he isn’t reaching all the way back and going full bore, there is a lot of effort to his wind and release. Though he is able to hold velo late into starts, there is little to no command here and it is a complete blow-it-by-you power pitch that plays perfectly to a late relief role. Further leading to the belief that Guzman is destined for a bullpen role at the next level is the fact that he only has one other pitch: a 60-grade power curveball that sits in the 84-88 MPH range and plays off his fiery heat very well. Guzman throws the pitch with similar arm speed as the fastball and the ability to bury the 11-5 hook but much like his heat, struggles to locate it consistently. What sets Guzman apart is his velocity, his quickness to the plate and his fearlessness to challenge his opposition. What will limit his ceiling is his very inconsistent command and lack of a third pitch. A max-effort thrower more than a crafty hurler, Guzman’s MLB ceiling should be limited to late relief/closing duties. That said, he could play very well in that role. [caption id=attachment_1503" align="aligncenter" width="830] Connor Scott (Photo by Miami Herald)[/caption] 15. OF Connor Scott 2019 (A/A+) - .248/.310/.359, 5 HR, 38 XBH, 41 RBI, 117/42 K/BB, 23/10 SB/CS Scott is the Marlins’ first round pick, 13th overall from 2018 out of Plant High in Tampa, the same alma matter that produced the likes of Hall of Famer Wade Boggs. A .526/.640/.929 hitter in his senior year of high school with 91 MPH velocity from the mound, Scott signed his entry level contract with the Marlins for over $4 million. After breaking into pro ball by hitting .218/.309/.296 for two Marlins affiliates, Connor made his full-season debut with the LunberKings out of camp last season. There, in 95 games, the 12th youngest player in the league hit .251/.311/.368 with 24 doubles, 32 XBH and 21 steals in 30 attempts. Scott ended the year by participating in 27 games for the Hammerheads as third youngest player in the Florida State League. There, he hit .235/.306/.327. Scott should return to Jupiter to start 2020. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3hjay1bMVY There’s no question about it: Scott has clear and present potential five tool talent. 6’4”, 180, Scott approaches from a straight away stance that leads with his front leg halfway through the box. In his young career, Scott has shown the ability to drive pitches in the middle of the zone and to shorten up on pitches on his hands, allowing him to at least make contact. However, he struggles to cover his outer half, and doesn’t make the most of his extension potential. Another knock against Scott’s career so far is that a lot of his success has been BABIP-reliant. He has never posted a BABIP under .300. That said, all of those caveats should be taken with a grain of salt. Still physically immature, still growing into the game and already showing plus plate vision, a flashy swing, an approach in which he is extremely short to the ball, 70-grade speed and good defensive instincts, there are plenty of peripherals in place that point to Scott becoming at least a four, potential five-tool talent. While he will need to tweak his approach a bit and get both his lower and upper extremities more involved in order for that to happen, the recently turned 20-year-old has time on his side. While there is still a high level of uncertainty surrounding a player of Scott’s upbringing, the fact he is seeing the ball, limiting K rates, using his understanding of sequencing in order to lay off tough pitches and get good jumps on the base paths as well as utilizing his speed to both steal bags and cover advantageous ground in center field, Scott has already conquered many of the most difficult aspects of the game. With pro coaching, training staffs and facilities at his disposal, Connor should be able to grow his body advantageously and naturally turn into a guy that can take over games as a plus WAR, multi-tool talent. Accordingly, the ceiling here is very high. By way of body growth leading into harder contact and mechanical adjustments leading to better zone coverage, we like Scott to approach a ceiling near Nick Markakis, a .288/.358/.424 lefty threat. [caption id=attachment_1506" align="aligncenter" width="830] Jordan Holloway[/caption] 16. RHP Jordan Holloway 2019 (A+) - 95 IP, 4.45 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 93/66 K/BB Another prep pitching draft pick by the previous regime, Holloway was selected in the 20th round of the 2014 Draft out of Ralston Valley High in Colorado. A massive physical presence even then, Holloway used his size to deceive, shortening length to his opposition via a long stride to the plate and exhibiting 96 mph velo on a downward plane. Along with the blueprint for a plus primary secondary pitch, a 86-88 power curve, Holloway had scouts flocking to his starts as early as the mid-way point of his senior year. In addition to splitting time between the diamond and the gridiron, Holloway also split time between the mound and third base in his final prep season, He tossed to a 2.6 ERA via allowing just 41 hits in 43 IP and managed a 50/26 K/BB. In addition, Jordan also hit .419/.532/.806, solidifying himself as an all-around top prep prospect. That year, the Marlins gave Holloway’s name a call in the late rounds of the MLB Draft. Due to the Marlins overwhelming him with a very well over-slot bonus, Holloway forwent his commitment to the University Of Nebraska and signed with Miami. Admittedly, Holloway didn’t even think he was going to be selected, let alone sign his first pro contract as a teenager. “It was really encouraging. At that point in the draft, I didn’t even think I’d be drafted and kind of accepted I’d go to college and try my best to make it from there,” Holloway told Fish Stripes last year. “Then my agent called. I think it was a Sunday, and I was just watching a movie with my family and he said the Marlins were going to go ahead and draft me in the 20th for money that only me and him talked about. I was going to live out my dream at 17, and not many people get to experience that.” Upon joining Miami, Holloway quickly began pitching far beyond his level of experience. After finishing 2014 by breaking into pro ball with 26.2 IP in the Gulf Coast League, the-19-year-old tossed to a fairly high 1.41 WHIP but was able to keep runners off the plate leading to an impressive 2.91 ERA. Seemingly primed for a breakout year in 2016, the still physically immature Holloway began suffering from elbow discomfort 11 games into his first year in full-season ball. Not long after, it was revealed he would require Tommy John. He missed the rest of 2017 and nearly all of 2018. After the Marlins made some tough decisions but ultimately chose to protect Holloway from rule 5 eligibility, Jordan returned to the mound as a member of the Jupiter Hammerheads last season. There, he enjoyed a fantastic first half, tossing to a 2.62 ERA by way of a 1.23 WHIP and 51/30 K/BB in 44.2 IP, earning himself a FSL All-Star Game selection. Rough months of June and July hampered Holloway’s second half stats, but he was able to finish the year strong with a 2.25 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 20/4 K/BB August. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glQQxymIb-4 Even after his surgery, Holloway is still being prized for his huge velo which sits 96-98 but has the potential for triple digits when he’s going full bore. A downhill thrower, Holloway is able to naturally change the eye level of his opposition. His best offspeed pitch is a curveball which drops off at least 15 mph, sitting low 80s, capable of 83-84. When it is on, the pitch has a tight arc and hard biting downward action to his spot. There is no doubt Holloway is capable of a big MLB ceiling as a starter. However, there are currently two huge things hampering it: consistency and lack of a third pitch. Inasmuch as he’s shown flashes of dominance, Hollloway has also shown extended bouts of wildness and inability to repeat his release. Jordan also lacks much of a third pitch. The closest he has is a changeup that ranges between 89-91 but it is very much in the nascent stages and is currently nothing more than a waste pitch. At 23 with a stuff tool that is still pretty raw, with spotty control that limits his feel for the zone and with tons of competition following him, Holloway could be destined for a bullpen role. With the reigns taken off of his heat, Holloway could become a dominant mid-late reliever. We place his high-risk ceiling at that of a four-five starter. He owns a more realistic floor of a primary pen option. [caption id=attachment_1511" align="aligncenter" width="830] Sterling Sharp[/caption] 17. RHP Sterling Sharp 2019 (Rk-AA): 58.2 IP, 3.68 ERA, 1.295 WHIP, 52/15 K/BB Sharp is the Marlins’ Rule 5 pick from the Major League portion of this year’s draft. A 14-2, sub-1.8 ERA starter in his final two years of high school, Sharp earned All-District, All-County and All-Area honors before being recruited by Eastern Michigan. After a 56.1 IP single season in the MAC, Sharp transferred to Drury University. After another single season at another college, Sharp was on the move again, this time to the pros as the Nationals, recognizing that great coachability and minimal effort finesse peripherals trumped rawness, selected him in the 22nd round. Sharp is the second player in Drury program history to ever have his name called by an MLB team. The first, Sharp’s ex-staff mate Trevor Richards made this same list two years ago. If nothing else, Sharp definitely racked up some serious frequent flier miles as a member of the Nationals. In his career with Washington, Sharp never stuck with one team for an entire season. Given his age at the time of his selection, the Nats understandably pushed Sharp hard. While the overall results were mixed, the level-hopping hurler turned in his best campaign last year, holding down a 3.53 ERA across three levels, including a 3.99 ERA via a 45/14 K/BB in AA. Sharp completed his calendar year by participating in the Arizona Fall League. In six starts and 24 IP, he managed a 1.50 ERA by way of a sub-1 WHIP (0.917) and 24/11 K/BB. Despite all of his success on the field though, arguably Sharp’s most exciting moment came in the offseason when he heard the Marlins call his name at the rule 5 draft, bringing him into the employment of his childhood hero Derek Jeter and ensuring his MLB debut in 2020. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYxFEeoyFck A starter most of his way through the minors, Sharp will likely transition to a swingman role in the majors with most of his innings coming in relief. Sharp’s delivery is far from crisp as it has a ton of moving parts but he repeats it well, aiding in his ability to deceive. After a high leg kick, Sharp stretches high and wide before coming home on a downward plane and releasing from a low 3/4 slot. He hides his grip well and mixes his exclusively offspeed fastball, changeup, curveball arsenal that rarely reaches above 90 advantageously. He will occasionally miss up which is where he runs into trouble, but on the more regular occasion that he is commanding the lower half of the zone, he is very tough to barrel up. In place of a high K rate, Sharp has racked up audacious ground ball rates throughout his years at every level of the minors. His ability to limit his pitches and get quick outs makes him an innings-eating, jam-ending first man out of the pen. [caption id=attachment_1513" align="aligncenter" width="830] Jose Salas (Photo by Danis Sosa)[/caption] 18. SS Jose Salas 2019 - Did not play One of the youngest players to ever don a Marlins’ uniform, Salas, 16, was an international pick out of Venezuela last year. The 12th-ranked overseas prospect signed with Miami for $2.8 million. While Salas has yet to hit the field despite being assigned to the DSL Marlins last year, he’s shown plenty of promise during workouts, including one at Marlins Park last season. Despite his immature build, the switch hitter is already showing plenty of pop from both sides of the plate stemming from plus barrel speed. Scouts currently cap Salas’ power ceiling at a 50 grade but that could easily increase once Salas makes his affiliated ball debut. Overseas reports on Salas also laud him for strike zone recognition and patience beyond his years. Viewed as the best hitter in his draft class (again, at 16), Salas could grow into double-plus hit tool. Now we get to Salas’ highest graded tool at the time of his selection, his speed. Via good instincts, a good first step out of the box and quick acceleration, evaluators already place his speed ceiling at 55. Again, expect that to rise as he gets into games. Salas rounds out his skill set in the field where he flashes good hands, a quick glove and a 55-grade arm. He is plenty equipped to stick at shortstop but could also play either second base or center field. There is a obviously very long way to go for the Caracas native and there are questions for him to answer. However, the pedigree is certainly there for there for this already 5’11”, 165 pound third-generation player to accomplish big things. Salas compares his game and style of play to Francisco Lindor. That kind of potential is alive here. [caption id=attachment_1390" align="aligncenter" width="830] Peyton Burdick (Photo by MiLB.com)[/caption] 19. OF Peyton Burdick 2019 (A-/A) - .308/.407/.538, 15 HR, 35 XBH, 72/34 K/BB, 7/7 SB/CS Burdick is the Marlins’ third round pick out of Wright State University where he will one day undoubtedly have his jersey retired. One of the most advanced players in program history, the 6’, 210 pounder hit .349/.465/.585 with 28 homers and a 41/9 SB/CS and recorded more walks than strikeouts over an elite three year collegiate career. A .407/.538/.729, 15 homer, 72 RBI, 35/60 K/BB redshirt junior campaign in which he had the seventh highest BA in the country (four points off of 1/1 Adley Rutschman) the fourth highest OBP (one point off of 1/3 Andrew Vaughn) and the 11th highest SLG (two points off Adley) and in which led his team to a league title earned Burdick some prestigious decorations: second-team All American and Horizon League MVP. If not for the injury that cost him his entire 2017 season, Burdick would’ve undoubtedly been a first round pick. He fell to the Marlins at 82 overall. He only cost the Marlins $397,500 to sign, nearly a $350,000 discount off his slot value. Burdick arrived in the professional ranks on June 14th of last year. Relocation? Wood bats? Tougher competition? No problem. After going 2-2 in his debut, hitting his first homer in his third game and going 7-22 with Batavia, Burdick joined the LumberKings. There, he went 10 for his first 27 with his second career homer. Days passed, scouting reports came out and Burdick just kept hitting. He finished the year by hitting .337/.458/.632 with six homers in a gargantuan month of August. Overall in Clinton, he hit .306/.408/.542 with 10 bombs. Burdick is already in camp with the Marlins in Jupiter. He can probably unpack all of his bags and settle in as he should begin 2020 with the Hammerheads. It was time for some new @Pburd88 BP #Marlins @Prospects365 pic.twitter.com/hK3wl0Rr4D — Ian Smith (@FlaSmitty) February 27, 2020 Burdick stands a stout 6’ even but weighs 210 pounds. By exhibiting Herculean raw strength, he proves most of his weight is muscle. On top of his natural clout, Burdick owns plus-plus bat speed and barrel control, leading to 60-grade power potential. Peyton negates his limited reach by standing in on top of the plate, allowing him to extend and cover the plate. Via a split stance, he steps toward the ball and into contact with a compact front-foot trigger and sprays the ball all over the field. He also exhibits good patience, making him a great mix of pesky and dangerous. He can also do damage on the base paths where he owns above-average speed. In the field, Burdick owns an at least average arm with room to grow. He can potentially play either corner but profiles best as a left fielder, especially in a crowded Marlins’ organizational outfield. While talent scouts limited Burdick’s ceiling because of a run-of-the-mill showing in the Cape in 2018, his first wood bat experience, Burdick, one of the first players to show up to Marlins camp this season, is clearly out to make the most of his opportunity. With a great pedigree, solid peripherals and a fantastic disposition all while exhibiting an approach and swing built for a good mix of average and power, Burdick is building towards a skill set that could approach the five-tool label. At 23, he will be challenged and pushed fairly aggressively. He will start 2020 in Jupiter where he will face older competition for the first time in his career. With positive results, he should end it in Jacksonville. Response pending, Burdick holds a contact happy, gap finding, wall hopping, plus dWAR ceiling, ala Andrew McCutchen, a .286/.378/.480, 24 HR, 19 SB annual presence. [caption id=attachment_1517" align="aligncenter" width="777] Nasim Nunez (Photo by Five Reasons Sports Network)[/caption] 20. SS Nasim Nunez 2019 (Rk/A-): .200/.327/.238, 6 XBH, 48/35 K/BB, 28/2 SB/CS Nunez is the Marlins’ second round pick out of Collins High in Suwanne, Georgia. The third ranked overall prep prospect in his state and the 18th ranked high schooler nationwide, Nunez forwent a verbal commitment with Clemson to sign with the Marlins for $2.2 mil, $600,000 over his slot value. After signing and working out at Marlins Park for the first time (as a member of the organization), Nunez, who said he had hoped the Marlins were the team to select and ink him, spent his entire first pro season (save three games) in the GCL. There, Nunez proved his hit tool is still rather raw (.211 BA) but he also proved his patience is mature beyond his years as he posted a 34/43 K/BB. Nunez also showcased his plus-plus speed, stealing 28 bags in 30 attempts. The teenager’s hands and glove are just as quick if not quicker than his feet and he uses all three in tandem to wow on the defensive side of the ball. With tremendous range to both sides and good vision off the bat, he has a big league future at short. The only question is how often will Nunez see the field? Because of his limited size, evaluators limit Nunez’s offensive ceiling, leading them to believe his most likely MLB role will come as a pinch runner/defensive replacement. However, if Nunez grows with his body and if his patience and plate presence persist as he graduates up the MiLB ladder, we like this switch hitter to approach a well-balanced ceiling reminiscent of Andrelton Simmons, a .268/.316/.380, 27.3 dWAR career fixture.