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Miami Marlins: 2018 Minor League Awards

By Benjamin Chase

MIAMI, FL - JUNE 25: Lewis Brinson #9 of the Miami Marlins and Brian Anderson #15 high five at home plate after scoring in the eighth inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park on June 25, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JUNE 25: Lewis Brinson #9 of the Miami Marlins and Brian Anderson #15 high five at home plate after scoring in the eighth inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Marlins Park on June 25, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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Miami Marlins
MIAMI, FL – SEPTEMBER 22: Ausstin Dean #44 of the Miami Marlins reacts as he runs home after hitting a two-run home run against the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth inning at Marlins Park on September 22, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Skipper/Getty Images) /

Miami Marlins Minor League Hitter of the Year: Austin Dean

Level(s): AA Jacksonville, AAA New Orleans, MLB Miami
Stats: Minors: .345/.410/.511/.922, 109 G, 446 PA, 20 2B, 5 3B, 12 HR, 2 SB, 39/56 BB/K; Majors: .221/.279/.363/.642, 34 G, 122 PA, 4 2B, 4 HR, 1 SB, 7/22 BB/K

An athletic high school outfielder out of Texas that the Miami Marlins selected in the 4th round of the 2012 draft, Dean has not developed into the power hitter that the Marlins may have envisioned in those days, but as he’s slowly worked his way up the system, he’s learned to take a professional at bat and become a very solid line drive hitter.

Dean performed well in the upper minors in 2018, spending the majority of his time in AAA. His contact-oriented approach has led to a number of people to compare him to Atlanta Braves outfielder Nick Markakis in his approach, though from the right side.

His final time in the majors wasn’t the best, but he worked with Marlins coaches to coax more of his natural power at the major league level. He could factor into the Miami Marlins 2019 outfield plans.

Runners-up

Possibly one of the best athletes in all of the minor leagues, Monte Harrison has struggled to put it together consistently. The 2018 season was a great example of that. He hit .240/.316/.399 with 215 strikeouts in 583 plate appearances, but he pounded out 19 home runs and stole 28 bases to flash that raw ability.

The Marlins got Davis Bradshaw in the 11th round of the draft this past June out of Meridian Community College in Mississippi, but he certainly didn’t look like he was coming from a small environment with his production once he signed. He hit .354/.418/.427 with 6 doubles and 3 triples in 46 games, but what was incredible was his 20 stolen bases in that time, using his blazing speed to completely disrupt ballgames.

In his second season in the Dominican Summer League, infielder Alvaro Montero showed improved contact ability and elite speed, but he continues to struggle to put together much of anything with legit power. He hit .312/.430/.358 with 30 steals in 64 games.

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