Miami Marlins REVISED Top 10 Prospects For 2017
10. Justin Jacome, LHP
Birthdate: 10/19/93 (23 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: low A
Stats in 2016: 72 2/3 IP, 3.72 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 11.25 BB%
There are a number of possibly-elite relievers coming soon in the system that I could highlight here, but I’m going to stick with a starter, and I’ll readily admit that’s due to my bias against ranking anyone but the absolute most elite relievers.
Jacome is a guy that the Marlins drafted out of UC Santa Barbara in the 5th round in 2015. He was assigned to full-season ball in his first full pro season.
Jacome isn’t a guy who stands out for any particular elite pitch. While he strikes an imposing figure on the mound at 6’6 and 230 athletic pounds, he is not a power pitcher.
Jacome isn’t a guy who stands out for any particular elite pitch
Jacome is very athletic, and looks like he could step off the baseball field into a collegiate basketball game or play some tight end at his build.
His pitches betray his build, however, as his fastball tops out around 94 and sits more in the 88-92 range. In my views on him, Jacome got excellent late glove side life up in the zone and sink lower in the zone with his fastball.
Jacome works with a slider and change that are both average to above-average pitches depending on the game you see him.
What makes Jacome special on the mound is his control and poise on the mound. He does very well setting up hitters within an at bat by changing eye levels and even velocities on the same pitch, varying his slider by as much as 7 MPH in a single at bat I viewed.
While he has the build and pitchability to work as a #4 type of starter that eats a ton of innings, Jacome could work as a dominant multiple-inning pitcher out of bullpen.
He’ll likely work in high-A in 2017 to begin, but with his advanced age and feel for pitching, he could move quickly.
Next: #9