5. Monte Harrison
Minors (A+, AAA): 251 plate appearances, .270/.351/.441, seven doubles, nine homers, 23 steals, 25 walks, 74 strikeouts
In terms of pure athleticism, Monte Harrison is an elite talent for the Miami Marlins. He just needs that to translate to the diamond.
There is no question about most of his raw tools. Harrison has tremendous power potential, making loud contact when he puts the bat on the ball. With his excellent speed, it is easy to envision a future where he is a 30-30 player, a terror at the batter’s box and on the basepaths. He has an incredible arm and excellent range in the outfield, capable of playing all three positions with aplomb.
The problem is getting Harrison to make contact consistently. He struck out in 29.5% of his at bats last season, which was actually a 12.1% improvement over 2018. Harrison has continued to tinker with his swing, and began to see those results in AAA, despite missing a large chunk of the year due to a fractured wrist and subsequent surgery.
If Monte Harrison can continue to make strides and improve his ability to make contact, he could be a future star. Otherwise, he would be yet another disappointment for the Miami Marlins.