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Miami Marlins Top Ten Prospects For 2017

By Benjamin Chase

Jul 22, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of the Miami Marlins logo on a batting helmet in the dugout against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 22, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of the Miami Marlins logo on a batting helmet in the dugout against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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3. Tyler Kolek, RHP

Birthdate: 12/15/95 (20 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: none
Stats in 2016: none

A premier example of the unadulterated search for velocity in the major leagues, Kolek was the #2 overall selection in 2014. He was pretty much a guarantee to the Marlins at #2 the entire draft process, so it was no surprise when they made their selection.

It’s also been no surprise that a guy who can throw 100 without a lot more to add to his repertoire has struggled as a pro and is not recovering from Tommy John surgery.

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Kolek had taken some steps back in the views of those around the industry due to his performance in 2015 regardless of his injury.

While he can run his fastball to upper-90s consistently and touch 100+, he sits more in the 92-95 range with heavy sinking action on the pitch. He generated a lot of ground ball outs in his 2015 season with his fastball due to that action.

His secondary offerings are so far behind, however, that hitters are able to simply sit on the fastball. His slider flashed some positive strides, but overall is still a below-average pitch, and his change is even farther behind.

He’ll return from surgery in early- to mid-2017, but he’ll have a year of getting his velocity back before he can start really working on command that he never really had in the first place along with developing secondary stuff he had.

That will put his time line in the 2020 late-season call up range with his first real chance to compete for a big league job, if all goes well, at 2021, when he’ll already be 25 entering the season.

It wouldn’t surprise me if the Marlins scrap the change and develop Kolek as a power closer, but that would hurt to do so soon after taking him ahead of such players as Carlos Rodon, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Aaron Nola, and many more that have established themselves already either in the high minors or in the major leagues from the 2014 draft class.

Next: #2

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