MIAMI, FL - JULY 29: Miami Marlins hats and gloves sit on the dugout steps during the game against the Washington Nationals at Marlins Park on July 29, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JULY 29: Miami Marlins hats and gloves sit on the dugout steps during the game against the Washington Nationals at Marlins Park on July 29, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
We have reached the point of the offseason where prospect lists abound. We continue our top 10 prospects for every team with the Miami Marlins!
Our team top 10 prospect lists at Call to the Pen are spearheaded by Benjamin Chase. Today, he gives us the top ten prospects for the Miami Marlins.
This season, we will be going through teams by division, in order of 2017 record. The AL East will be first, followed by the AL Central and AL West. Then the focus will shift to the National League in the same order.
The format will be as it was last season for the same lists, with a system review, which will include last season’s list. The top 10 will follow in reverse order, two players per page in order to give adequate space to each player. Major trades or international signings will lead to an updated top 10!
Finally, don’t go away after #1 is revealed as each list will also contain a player either signed in the 2017 international free agent class or drafted in 2017 that isn’t part of the top 10 and should be tracked. Last season’s mentions in that area made over half of the top 10s this season, so this is a great way to get to know a player who could be making a big splash in the organization.
While Miami Marlins fans are likely going to be very disappointed in their offseason, seeing long-time team stalwarts Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, Dee Gordon, and Giancarlo Stanton traded away, taking a team that finished 2nd in the National League East in 2017 (granted, with 85 losses) to a team destined for a rough 2018 season at the major league level.
However, the bright spot for Miami Marlins fans should be on things like this, as the team finally has a farm system. The Marlins finished 27th in my farm system rankings before the 2017 season, and that was probably a touch generous in retrospect.
With the deals made this offseason, the Marlins have overhauled their farm system, with just 3 players remaining on the top 10 from what would have been the top 10 to open the offseason. On top of just the top 10 type of prospects, the Marlins have added in plenty of depth to the system as well through both their trades this year and a solid 2017 draft class.
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/20/1996 (21) 2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Modesto Nuts, AA Arkansas Travelers 2017 Stats: 25 GS, 127 2/3 IP, 3.45 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 4.2% BB, 23.2% K
Info: The Mariners drafted Neidert out of high school in Georgia in the 2nd round of the 2015 draft. He was noted for his hard fastball in high school, but had some elbow concerns early in his career, and he’s really not seen a lot of growth in velocity in the pitch over his minor leagues.
Neidert doesn’t need the premium velocity to succeed
Neidert doesn’t need the premium velocity to succeed, however. He works well with plus control and tremendous mound presence to get hitters off balance and leave them swinging weakly, and missing plenty for a guy without monster velocity.
Neidert pounds the zone with a fastball that worked 91-93 and can touch 95-96 and looks harder due to his ability to spot the ball well and his extension to the plate. He works with a pair of above-average off speeds in his change and slider and can mix in a curve that’s more of a “show” pitch, but he locates it and keeps batters off (though some scouts believe his curve is truly just him varying the velocity on his slider).
The Marlins will likely put Neidert in AAA, and while he’s not a future ace, he’s the type of smart arm with excellent control that could have a long career as a 3/4 starter in the majors, possibly starting as soon as the second half of 2018.
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/5/1997 (20) 2017 teams/levels played for: low-A Greensboro Grasshoppers 2017 Stats: 4 GS, 15 1/3 IP, 2.93 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 9.2% BB, 24.6% K
Info: The Miami Marlins have simply not had good luck with taking high school pitchers the last few seasons, but they continue to do so with their first pick now the last three years in a row. They selected Garrett with the 7th overall selection in the 2016 draft out of high school in Alabama.
After the Marlins were cautious with Garrett in his draft season, they bumped him all the way up to low-A, where he made just a handful of appearances before his elbow balked and he needed Tommy John surgery, likely sidelining him for all of the 2018 season.
When healthy, Garrett works with a fastball that works in the low-90s, but that he can both control and manipulate. His best pitch is a double-plus curve that has high spin and good depth both, a rare combination. He showed good late movement low in the zone on his change as well, and it could become a third above-average pitch for him.
While he doesn’t rely on his velocity like 2015 top draftee Tyler Kolek, having surgery leave his future in risk, certainly.
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 4/7/1996 (21) 2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Palm Beach Cardinals; AA Springfield Cardinals, MLB St. Louis Cardinals 2017 Stats: Minors: .270/.318/.363, 442 PA, 1 HR, 20 SB, 27/74 BB/K; Majors: .317/.359/.317, 64 PA, 2 SB, 4/14 BB/K 122/ Info: The Cardinals signed Sierra in 2012 out of the Dominican, and in his first stateside season, he really made a big impression, hitting .386/.434/.505 and winning the Cardinals organization player of the year in the Gulf Coast League. The Cardinals pushed him to full-season ball the next year, and that was a failure, which has led to Sierra being more of a one-step guy since.
Due to that one-step process, he started at high-A in the Florida State League, but due to his signing date, the Cardinals protected Sierra on the 40-man before the 2017 season, and he was called up for a quick promotion when the Cardinals faced a host of outfield injuries.
Sierra can play a very good center field, with excellent jumps, and he has a plus arm that allows him to hold runners well as well. If his bat struggles to develop, his glove is good enough that he could be a defense-first bench option.
The bat has taken significant steps forward since that struggle season in 2015, however, with above-average raw power, plus raw speed, and a quick swing that could lead to a solid average guy with both power and speed, though it will require him to certainly improve his pitch recognition, though he did show some solid increases in his zone recognition in 2017.
Sierra will likely open in the high minors, either in AA or AAA, but with the outfield situation in Miami wide open, he could find himself in a major league lineup if he can perform well early in the season.
7. Trevor Rogers, LHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/13/1997 (20) 2017 teams/levels played for: none 2017 Stats: none
Info: Considered the top high school arm in the entire 2017 draft, Rogers has the projectable size (a gangly 6’6″) and stuff that leads to plenty of scouts expecting Rogers to grow into a frontline starter down the road.
plenty of scouts (expect) Rogers to grow into a frontline starter down the road
Rogers, interestingly, is a twin, but no one in his family comes near his height or his wide-shoulder, wide-hip frame. The Miami Marlins were surprised to see Rogers available at 13th overall and nabbed him, but after pitching plenty in the spring chose to let him work with their coaches for the summer on complex rather than go to a league.
Some see a lot of Andrew Miller in Rogers, with a delivery from the left side and height that reminds people of Miller’s current delivery. He does have similar raw stuff with a fastball that can run to mid-90s with a hard-breaking slider.
While old for the draft class, Rogers is still physically immature, and his delivery still has plenty to work out as far as consistency, which is not surprising at his height. He does have a loose arm that should allow for him to move quickly as he matures physically, though the Marlins likely learned from Garrett to let Rogers get his feet wet at a lower level before pushing him to A-ball in 2018.
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 5/27/1996 (21) 2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Carolina Mudcats 2017 Stats: .222/.334/.376, 455 PA, 13 HR, 9 SB, 62/121 BB/K
Info: Born in Puerto Rico, but drafted out of high school in Massachusetts in the 2nd round in 2014, Diaz was a tool shed that has somehow ended up in his third organization now after the Miami Marlins acquired him in the Yelich deal this offseason.
Diaz has seen huge offensive seasons (2015 in the Pioneer League, where he had a 1.076 OPS, 44 XBH, and 12 SB in just 68 games) along with struggles at the plate statistically as well. All along, though, he has shown his balance of power and speed while playing up the middle in the infield.
Well-built with an admirable frame, Diaz does have a load of natural athleticism, but he also struggles with a bit of length to his swing, which is why he’s struck out in roughly 25% of his plate appearances. He’s also got a solid glove up the middle, but his range and inconsistency in his throws from distance make him a better candidate for second base, where he could be an excellent defender.
Diaz did show some tremendous resilience in 2017, reaching July 1st hitting .213/.315/.372, but coming out in the second half and hitting .266/.405/.383 in July before he was injured during August. His struggles could lead to the Miami Marlins opening him in high-A again, but he should be in AA quickly if he isn’t there to begin the season.
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 5/19/1993 (24) 2017 teams/levels played for: AA Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, AAA New Orleans Baby Cakes, MLB Miami Marlins 2017 Stats: Minors: .275/.261/.492, 498 PA, 22 HR, 1 SB, 48/98 BB/K; Majors: .262/.337/.369, 95 PA, 10/28 BB/K
Info: Originally drafted in the 3rd round out of Arkansas in 2014 by the Miami Marlins and has been defensively used all over the field, but has definitely settled into a spot at third base, likely going to be the starter there in Miami in 2018.
Anderson’s developed his offensive game such that he has shown the ability to hit 20 or more home runs
Anderson has a strong frame, but he has the athleticism to play second base without a negative, and he’s a very instinctual base runner that is excellent at taking the extra base and can flash above-average speed, though it takes him a few steps to get there, so he’ll likely not be a base stealer.
Anderson’s developed his offensive game such that he has shown the ability to hit 20 or more home runs while playing excellent defense at the hot corner with a decent average with a line drive swing that can spray the ball with power around the field.
He’s not likely to be among the league’s best, but Anderson could be the type of player who makes a couple of All-Star games as the best player on a rough Miami Marlins team over the next few seasons.
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 1/28/1996 (22) 2017 teams/levels played for: short-season A-ball Staten Island Yankees 2017 Stats: 13 GS, 66 2/3 IP, 2.30 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 6.8% BB, 33.5% K
Info: Blessed with an incredible arm, Guzman was a “late sign”, signing at 18 and starting his career in 2015. Now 22, he’s ready for full season ball after completely dominating the New York-Penn League in 2017.
Guzman’s fastball is definitely one of the most elite in all of minor league baseball
Guzman’s fastball is definitely one of the most elite in all of minor league baseball, as he sits in the upper-90s, touching 102 at his top end. What’s most impressive about his premium velocity is that he needs almost no effort to reach those numbers.
Acquired from the Astros in the Brian McCann, the Yankees flipped Guzman as the primary prospect piece in their trade for Stanton with the Miami Marlins. While he was viewed as a reliever when the Yankees acquired him, he has really seen his offspeed stuff take off in the last year as his curve flashes above average, his change flashes plus, and he has shown an ability to control all three.
The Miami Marlins will open Guzman in full-season ball in 2018, and he could finish the year in the Florida State League with a good showing.
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/10/1995 (22) 2017 teams/levels played for: low-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, high-A Carolina Mudcats 2017 Stats: .272/.350/.481, 513 PA, 21 HR, 27 SB, 43/139 BB/K
Info: One of the most elite athletes many could remember coming into the draft out of high school in Missouri when he was drafted by the Brewers in the 2nd round in 2014, Harrison has struggled with injuries throughout his minor league career, never playing more than 80 games in one season before 2018.
Finally healthy, Harrison was able to flash his incredible talent in 2017, combining across both A-ball levels to hit .272/.350/.481 with 21 home runs and 27 stolen bases and absolutely incredible defense no matter where he played.
While his athleticism will allow Harrison to handle center field, he’s likely best suited for right field, where his 80-grade arm is an incredible weapon, already with the reputation such that minor league teams will not run against him. He should be able to be a premium defender in a corner.
Offensively, he’s not had the chance to truly develop his pitch and zone recognition, but the raw talent is obvious, as he hit 5 home runs and stole 5 bases in the Arizona Fall League while hitting .283/.333/.604 against some of the best pitching prospects in baseball.
Harrison should be able to make an impact quickly for the Miami Marlins, likely opening 2018 in AA, but without a lot of fight stopping him from taking a major league job if he really shows out in the upper minors in 2018.
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 9/7/1995 (22) 2017 teams/levels played for: AA Springfield Cardinals, MLB St. Louis Cardinals 2017 Stats: Minors: 25 G, 22 GS, 125 1/3 IP, 4.31 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 9.7% BB, 19.1% K; Majors: 8 G, 8 1/3 IP, 4.32 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 15.4% BB, 25.6% K
Info: Long and lanky, Alcantara has incredible raw stuff that made its way to the major leagues for the first time in 2017 with the Cardinals. He was the prime prospect in the return the Miami Marlins received for Ozuna, and he could find his way to the Marlins rotation by the end of the season.
Alcantara struggles with his command and control due to his length in his limbs, but the pure stuff is incredible with a fastball that can easily eclipse 100 and works in the upper 90s frequently. He pairs that with a hard breaking ball that gets a lot of weak contact.
The 2017 season saw Alcantara’s change take a huge step forward to the point where many labeled it a plus pitch in starts. He certainly could have a future as a starter with a quality 3-pitch mix.
The Miami Marlins will most likely open Alcantara in AAA to start 2018, but he could definitely jump up to the majors in a hurry if he can show consistent command and control of his arsenal.
Info: Brinson has always been considered an incredible athlete, from the time he was a first-round selection of the Texas Rangers in 2012. Like a number of players with more athleticism than baseball skill, Brinson took his time moving up levels, though the Rangers did push him to full-season ball in his first post-draft season.
Brinson is a legit center fielder with easy plus range and an excellent arm in the outfield
After showing well in AAA in 2016 after the Brewers acquired him from the Rangers, he opened the season there in 2017 and was incredibly impressive, hitting .331/.400/.562 with 13 home runs and 11 steals, earning him multiple looks in the majors, though those looks weren’t exactly great.
Brinson is a legit center fielder with easy plus range and an excellent arm in the outfield and should rome the Miami outfield immediately out of spring training in 2018. His defensive skills may need to be on display, however, with likely average to below-average defenders next to him in the outfield.
Brinson took a huge step forward in 2017 in controlling the strike zone, and this will allow him to tap into his power and speed even better offensively. While he struggled in the majors in his stints in 2017, he should be able to showcase himself with the Miami Marlins in 2018.
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 9/20/1995 (22) 2017 teams/levels played for: Gulf Coast League Marlins, high-A Jupiter Hammerheads 2017 Stats: .370/.471/.667, 34 PA, 1 HR, 5/8 BB/K
Info: Dunand got plenty of press during the draft process due to his relation to Alex Rodriguez (he’s A-Rod’s nephew), but he’s got plenty of reason to be an intriguing talent on his own accord.
While he’s likely to end up at third base due to his frame that will still likely fill out some from its current 6’2″, 200+ size, Dunand shows well at shortstop right now with excellent instincts and great hands. Many believe that he would be a plus defender or even better moving over to the hot corner based on his instincts.
With the bat, Dunand has big power, though his power is definitely ahead of his contact ability, and he will need to improve his pitch and zone recognition in order to access that power better.
Dunand has shown excellent work on the defensive side, and showing a similar work ethic offensively would allow him to see his contact skills quickly improve as well.
Many feel that Dunand could be a guy to hit for above-average power as a pro, and he should move up the system quickly, likely opening in full season ball in spite of missing a lot of time due to an injury last year after he was drafted.
