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Miami Marlins UPDATED top 10 prospects for 2019

By Benjamin Chase

Billy the Marlin waves a marlins flag after the team beats the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at Marlins Park in Miami, Fla. (Sam Navarro/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images)
Billy the Marlin waves a marlins flag after the team beats the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at Marlins Park in Miami, Fla. (Sam Navarro/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images) /
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Miami Marlins
WEST PALM BEACH, FL – MARCH 07: Nick Neidert #87 of the Miami Marlins in action against the Houston Astros during a spring training game at Fitteam Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on March 7, 2018 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Marlins defeated the Astros 7-6. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

4. Nick Neidert, RHP

Birthday: 11/20/1996 (22)
Acquired: Trade with Seattle Mariners, December 2017
Level(s): AA Jacksonville
Statistics: 12-7, 26 GS, 152 2/3 IP, 3.24 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 5.1% BB, 25.2% K

Typically a high school arm from the Atlanta metro area is going to be highly regarded and tracked, but even though Nick Neidert was a 2nd round pick in 2015 by the Mariners, he’s flown under prospect radars.

This has not been due to poor performance by any means. In his draft season, Neidert posted a 1.53 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over 35 1/3 innings in rookie ball. He opened the 2016 season in extended spring, but jumped straight to low-A once he began the year, posting a 2.57 ERA and 0.97 WHIP over 91 innings.

In 2017, Neidert showed very well at high-A, handling the difficult Cal League. He struggled with an end-of-season promotion to AA, but even with that, he posted a 3.45 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over the season with an impressive 22/122 BB/K over 127 2/3 innings.

Neidert was a key part of the first deal of the Miami Marlins tear down over the winter last offseason, as he was part of the return for Dee Gordon. He had an impressive year in his first year with the Marlins.

The pitch mix Neidert offers won’t blow anyone away, using a fastball that sits upper-80s and touches 93, but he has excellent movement and control of the pitch. Neidert mixes in a plus to double-plus change along with an above-average curve that has taken a big step forward over the last year. His ceiling isn’t tremendously high, but Neidert’s as close to a lock to be a major league starter as a minor league pitcher can be at this point, barring injury that is always a risk for a pitcher.

Neidert should get a chance to open 2019 in the rotation, but, failing that, he’ll open the year in AAA.

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