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Some key excerpts: "A system thick with major-league quality talent, with a thinner impact layer up top (Heaney, Moran) but good depth, especially at the lower levels of the system."
LHP Andrew Heaney
"Best left-handed starter in the minors"
Overall Future Potential: High 6; no. 2 starter
Realistic Role: 6; no. 3 starter
Risk Factor/Injury History: Low risk; limited Double-A experience; arsenal and pitchability for major-league level
3B Colin Moran
"should position himself for a role on the 25-man by 2015"
Overall Future Potential: 6; first-division player
Realistic Role: 5; major-league regular
Risk Factor/Injury History: Moderate risk; hit tool is legit; questions about power and defensive profile
CF Jake Marisnick
"learning to fail and recover at the highest level will be a necessary part of the developmental process"
Overall Future Potential: 6; first-division player
Realistic Role: 5; major-league regular
Risk Factor/Injury History: Low risk; achieved major-league level
RHP Trevor Williams
"could compete for a rotation spot at some point in 2015"
Overall Future Potential: 6; no. 3 starter
Realistic Role: 5; no. 4 starter
Risk Factor/Injury History: Moderate risk; limited professional record; mature arsenal
RHP Nick Wittgren
"should be pitching in games that count at some point over the summer"
Overall Future Potential: High 5; late-innings reliever (closer)
Realistic Role: 5; late-innings reliever (setup)
Risk Factor/Injury History: Low risk; mature arsenal; limited exposure to upper-minors.
RHP Jose Urena
"The fastball is a major-league pitch, so he’s going to find success in some role at the end of the day"
Overall Future Potential: 6; no. 3 starter
Realistic Role: 5; late-innings reliever (setup)
Risk Factor/Injury History: Moderate risk; arm for late-innings work; yet to pitch at Double-A level.
LHP Justin Nicolino
"Nicolino is a classic overrated prospect in the minors, a command/control profile with very good changeup who can dominate the lower levels but lacks the punch to miss more advanced bats."
Overall Future Potential: High 5; no. 3 starter
Realistic Role: Low 5; no. 5 starter/middle relief
Risk Factor/Injury History: Moderate risk; 9 Double-A starts
RHP Anthony DeSclafani
"DeSclafani is going to be a major-league arm, but the ultimate role still seems to be up in the air"
Overall Future Potential: 5; no. 4 starter
Realistic Role: 5; late-innings reliever (7th inning)
Risk Factor/Injury History: Moderate risk; achieved Double-A level; FB/SL for bullpen.
LHP Brian Flynn
"Should be able to... chew some innings in back of the rotation role"
Overall Future Potential: 5; no. 4 starter
Realistic Role: Low 5; no. 5 starter/long relief
Risk Factor/Injury History: Low risk; achieved major-league level
OF Jesus Solorzano
"sources seem to like the tools but fear the ability to adjust and the approach, so 2014 will be a big test"
Overall Future Potential: 6; first-division player
Realistic Role: High 4; below-average regular/bench outfielder
Risk Factor/Injury History: High risk; questionable hit tool; yet to play in upper minors.
Prospects on the Rise:
1. LHP Jarlin Garcia: One of the better young arms I saw in short-season ball in 2013, Garcia has a chance to really step forward in full-season ball. The 21-year-old lefty has a good feel for pitching, with a clean and athletic delivery, and a crisp fastball, and as he adds strength and refines his secondary arsenal, he should blossom into a top 10 prospect in this system. I like this arm.
2. 3B J.T. Riddle: Thirteenth round pick in 2013, Riddle didn’t look the part in his professional debut, but reports from instructional league were glowing, as the 22-year-old can spray the ball all over the field and can play on the left side of the infield. Because of his maturity, the Marlins could get aggressive with his development and push him to the Florida State League to start the season, where Riddle might just surprise people with his solid-average skills.
3. SS Javier Lopez: Six-figure talent from the Dominican Republic, Lopez has impact projections, but a long way to go before he starts to actualize on the field. Having watched Lopez several times in 2013, I can see the tools; flashy glove and arm at short and legit bat speed at the plate. The defensive skills need a lot of refinement, and the bat wasn’t ready for the college-heavy New York-Penn League, but as he matures, this is a player to keep tabs on. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lopez is an “On the Rise” type for a few years before he really emerges as a top talent. But I like it.
Top 10 Talents 25 and Under (born 4/1/88 or later)
Jose Fernandez
Giancarlo Stanton
Christian Yelich
Andrew Heaney
Nathan Eovaldi
Henderson Alvarez
Marcell Ozuna
Colin Moran
Adeiny Hechavarria
Jacob Turner
The Marlins' current Top 10 Prospects list lacks the sparkle of years past having graduated four members off the 2013 list. The Marlins U25 however, may be one of the most talented in baseball. One of the most impressive things about this list is that every single member of it will be eligible for it next year and seven of 10 will be eligible for two more years. The difference is that come next year they will all likely be starters on the major-league lineup or in the rotation.
LHP Andrew Heaney
"Best left-handed starter in the minors"
Overall Future Potential: High 6; no. 2 starter
Realistic Role: 6; no. 3 starter
Risk Factor/Injury History: Low risk; limited Double-A experience; arsenal and pitchability for major-league level
3B Colin Moran
"should position himself for a role on the 25-man by 2015"
Overall Future Potential: 6; first-division player
Realistic Role: 5; major-league regular
Risk Factor/Injury History: Moderate risk; hit tool is legit; questions about power and defensive profile
CF Jake Marisnick
"learning to fail and recover at the highest level will be a necessary part of the developmental process"
Overall Future Potential: 6; first-division player
Realistic Role: 5; major-league regular
Risk Factor/Injury History: Low risk; achieved major-league level
RHP Trevor Williams
"could compete for a rotation spot at some point in 2015"
Overall Future Potential: 6; no. 3 starter
Realistic Role: 5; no. 4 starter
Risk Factor/Injury History: Moderate risk; limited professional record; mature arsenal
RHP Nick Wittgren
"should be pitching in games that count at some point over the summer"
Overall Future Potential: High 5; late-innings reliever (closer)
Realistic Role: 5; late-innings reliever (setup)
Risk Factor/Injury History: Low risk; mature arsenal; limited exposure to upper-minors.
RHP Jose Urena
"The fastball is a major-league pitch, so he’s going to find success in some role at the end of the day"
Overall Future Potential: 6; no. 3 starter
Realistic Role: 5; late-innings reliever (setup)
Risk Factor/Injury History: Moderate risk; arm for late-innings work; yet to pitch at Double-A level.
LHP Justin Nicolino
"Nicolino is a classic overrated prospect in the minors, a command/control profile with very good changeup who can dominate the lower levels but lacks the punch to miss more advanced bats."
Overall Future Potential: High 5; no. 3 starter
Realistic Role: Low 5; no. 5 starter/middle relief
Risk Factor/Injury History: Moderate risk; 9 Double-A starts
RHP Anthony DeSclafani
"DeSclafani is going to be a major-league arm, but the ultimate role still seems to be up in the air"
Overall Future Potential: 5; no. 4 starter
Realistic Role: 5; late-innings reliever (7th inning)
Risk Factor/Injury History: Moderate risk; achieved Double-A level; FB/SL for bullpen.
LHP Brian Flynn
"Should be able to... chew some innings in back of the rotation role"
Overall Future Potential: 5; no. 4 starter
Realistic Role: Low 5; no. 5 starter/long relief
Risk Factor/Injury History: Low risk; achieved major-league level
OF Jesus Solorzano
"sources seem to like the tools but fear the ability to adjust and the approach, so 2014 will be a big test"
Overall Future Potential: 6; first-division player
Realistic Role: High 4; below-average regular/bench outfielder
Risk Factor/Injury History: High risk; questionable hit tool; yet to play in upper minors.
Prospects on the Rise:
1. LHP Jarlin Garcia: One of the better young arms I saw in short-season ball in 2013, Garcia has a chance to really step forward in full-season ball. The 21-year-old lefty has a good feel for pitching, with a clean and athletic delivery, and a crisp fastball, and as he adds strength and refines his secondary arsenal, he should blossom into a top 10 prospect in this system. I like this arm.
2. 3B J.T. Riddle: Thirteenth round pick in 2013, Riddle didn’t look the part in his professional debut, but reports from instructional league were glowing, as the 22-year-old can spray the ball all over the field and can play on the left side of the infield. Because of his maturity, the Marlins could get aggressive with his development and push him to the Florida State League to start the season, where Riddle might just surprise people with his solid-average skills.
3. SS Javier Lopez: Six-figure talent from the Dominican Republic, Lopez has impact projections, but a long way to go before he starts to actualize on the field. Having watched Lopez several times in 2013, I can see the tools; flashy glove and arm at short and legit bat speed at the plate. The defensive skills need a lot of refinement, and the bat wasn’t ready for the college-heavy New York-Penn League, but as he matures, this is a player to keep tabs on. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lopez is an “On the Rise” type for a few years before he really emerges as a top talent. But I like it.
Top 10 Talents 25 and Under (born 4/1/88 or later)
Jose Fernandez
Giancarlo Stanton
Christian Yelich
Andrew Heaney
Nathan Eovaldi
Henderson Alvarez
Marcell Ozuna
Colin Moran
Adeiny Hechavarria
Jacob Turner
The Marlins' current Top 10 Prospects list lacks the sparkle of years past having graduated four members off the 2013 list. The Marlins U25 however, may be one of the most talented in baseball. One of the most impressive things about this list is that every single member of it will be eligible for it next year and seven of 10 will be eligible for two more years. The difference is that come next year they will all likely be starters on the major-league lineup or in the rotation.
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