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Florida Marlins Top 20 Prospects for 2011
1) Matt Dominguez, 3B, Grade B: Love the glove. . .if he can hit .250 with 15 homers the glove is good enough that he'll play.
2) Christian Yelich, OF-1B, Grade B-: Grade is conservative until we get more data, but the "high school first baseman who might develop more power" motif makes me uncomfortable. Word is that he'll move to the outfield.
3) Chad James, LHP, Grade B-: Has a very good arm, but showed lack of polish in the Sally League which makes me concerned. Could do better in friendlier FSL.
4) Michael Dunn, LHP, Grade B-: Power arm over from Braves system in Uggla trade can help in relief immediately.
5) Brad Hand, LHP, Grade B-: I seem to like him more than other people do, maybe it is Midwestern bias. He took a step forward this year and I expect another.
6) Rob Rasmussen, LHP, Grade B-: Good mix of pitches, college success track record should help him move through system quickly.
7) Osvaldo Martinez, SS, Grade C+: A good year, I can see him as a steady contributor, don't be deceived by small sample size success in the majors. He's more of a .250-.270 hitter with a fair OBP.
8) Scott Cousins, OF, Grade C+: Perfect fourth outfielder who does a little of everything.
9) Jose Ceda, RHP, Grade C+: Throws really hard. The Marlins have several live arms vying for bullpen spots who have question marks.
10) Jhan Marinez, RHP, Grade C+: Another fireball guy to fill out the pen.
11) Marcell Ozuna, OF, Grade C+: Amazing power in the New York-Penn League, with an amazing strikeout rate to go with it.
12) Tom Koehler, RHP, Grade C+: All he ever does is throw strikes and win games. Stuff isn't bad either, he isn't a total finesse artist. Underrate him at your own peril.
13) Kyle Skipworth, C, Grade C: Hard to rank him any higher. Power is getting better, but swing is still very long, defense still needs work, can't hit for average.
14) Arquimedes Caminero, RHP, Grade C: Another hard-throwing reliever with some command issues.
15) Edgar Olmos, LHP, Grade C: Very projectable lefty, has a chance to break through in friendly Florida State League.
16) Evan Reed, RHP, Grade C: Another potentially solid relief arm, acquired from Rangers in Cantu deal.
17) Sandy Rosario, RHP, Grade C: Always threw strikes, but vaulted to majors after relief conversion added 5 MPH to his fastball. Needs consolidation period.
18) Mark Canha, OF, Grade C: Overlooked bat from 2010 draft has good power potential.
19) Bryan Petersen OF, Grade C: Can he overcome blah year in Triple-A to reinstate status as possible fourth outfielder?
20) J.T. Realmuto, C, Grade C: 2010 draftee moving from shortstop to catcher, hit great in high school, will have to see how fast defense comes around.
OTHERS OF NOTE: Ramon Benjamin, LHP; Austin Brice, RHP; Steve Cishek, RHP; Isaac Galloway, OF; Dan Jennings, LHP; Matt Montgomery, RHP; Robert Morey, RHP; Zach Neal, RHP; Alan Oaks, RHP; Omar Poveda, RHP; Jake Smolinski, 3B; Rett Varner, RHP; Elih Villanueva, RHP (a sleeper!)
This system has seen better days, thanks to the graduations of other players in 2010. The top level of talent has been sheared off, and there are literally no sure-fire position player stars on the horizon. Dominguez should be a good player due to his glove, and Yelich should at least hit for average, but things get very thing after that.
There is more on the pitching side, with a trio of lefties (James, Hand, Rasmussen) standing out as future rotation candidates, plus a huge batch of bullpen arms. But even here, the top guys have some questions. Watch out for Tom Koehler, who could end up having a better career than several of the more heralded arms.
1) Matt Dominguez, 3B, Grade B: Love the glove. . .if he can hit .250 with 15 homers the glove is good enough that he'll play.
2) Christian Yelich, OF-1B, Grade B-: Grade is conservative until we get more data, but the "high school first baseman who might develop more power" motif makes me uncomfortable. Word is that he'll move to the outfield.
3) Chad James, LHP, Grade B-: Has a very good arm, but showed lack of polish in the Sally League which makes me concerned. Could do better in friendlier FSL.
4) Michael Dunn, LHP, Grade B-: Power arm over from Braves system in Uggla trade can help in relief immediately.
5) Brad Hand, LHP, Grade B-: I seem to like him more than other people do, maybe it is Midwestern bias. He took a step forward this year and I expect another.
6) Rob Rasmussen, LHP, Grade B-: Good mix of pitches, college success track record should help him move through system quickly.
7) Osvaldo Martinez, SS, Grade C+: A good year, I can see him as a steady contributor, don't be deceived by small sample size success in the majors. He's more of a .250-.270 hitter with a fair OBP.
8) Scott Cousins, OF, Grade C+: Perfect fourth outfielder who does a little of everything.
9) Jose Ceda, RHP, Grade C+: Throws really hard. The Marlins have several live arms vying for bullpen spots who have question marks.
10) Jhan Marinez, RHP, Grade C+: Another fireball guy to fill out the pen.
11) Marcell Ozuna, OF, Grade C+: Amazing power in the New York-Penn League, with an amazing strikeout rate to go with it.
12) Tom Koehler, RHP, Grade C+: All he ever does is throw strikes and win games. Stuff isn't bad either, he isn't a total finesse artist. Underrate him at your own peril.
13) Kyle Skipworth, C, Grade C: Hard to rank him any higher. Power is getting better, but swing is still very long, defense still needs work, can't hit for average.
14) Arquimedes Caminero, RHP, Grade C: Another hard-throwing reliever with some command issues.
15) Edgar Olmos, LHP, Grade C: Very projectable lefty, has a chance to break through in friendly Florida State League.
16) Evan Reed, RHP, Grade C: Another potentially solid relief arm, acquired from Rangers in Cantu deal.
17) Sandy Rosario, RHP, Grade C: Always threw strikes, but vaulted to majors after relief conversion added 5 MPH to his fastball. Needs consolidation period.
18) Mark Canha, OF, Grade C: Overlooked bat from 2010 draft has good power potential.
19) Bryan Petersen OF, Grade C: Can he overcome blah year in Triple-A to reinstate status as possible fourth outfielder?
20) J.T. Realmuto, C, Grade C: 2010 draftee moving from shortstop to catcher, hit great in high school, will have to see how fast defense comes around.
OTHERS OF NOTE: Ramon Benjamin, LHP; Austin Brice, RHP; Steve Cishek, RHP; Isaac Galloway, OF; Dan Jennings, LHP; Matt Montgomery, RHP; Robert Morey, RHP; Zach Neal, RHP; Alan Oaks, RHP; Omar Poveda, RHP; Jake Smolinski, 3B; Rett Varner, RHP; Elih Villanueva, RHP (a sleeper!)
This system has seen better days, thanks to the graduations of other players in 2010. The top level of talent has been sheared off, and there are literally no sure-fire position player stars on the horizon. Dominguez should be a good player due to his glove, and Yelich should at least hit for average, but things get very thing after that.
There is more on the pitching side, with a trio of lefties (James, Hand, Rasmussen) standing out as future rotation candidates, plus a huge batch of bullpen arms. But even here, the top guys have some questions. Watch out for Tom Koehler, who could end up having a better career than several of the more heralded arms.
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Michael Dunn seems high. Olmos much too low.
Overall, John Sickels' is consistently one of the better prospect analysts, so this list is very solid.
His remarks on Koehler are really interesting.
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