While the Miami Marlins farm system is ranked one of the worst, in the past they have drafted some prospects who have become breakout stars. In 2023, they drafted Noble Meyer, who made the top 100 prospects list. Despite acquiring Meyer, their farm system is on the weaker side compared to other teams. Their new GM, Peter Bendix, hopes to fix the current situation in the minors. Until then, Marlins fans can only reminisce on some stars that the team drafted. Here are a few of those notable Marlins draft picks.
Top Marlins Draft Picks
Giancarlo Stanton
Arguably one of the best players to have been a part of the Marlins organization, Giancarlo Stanton started his career with the Fish. The then-Florida Marlins drafted him in the second round (76th overall) in the 2007 draft. He made his MLB debut in 2010. Stanton spent eight seasons with the Marlins as a right fielder and would make a huge impact on the team and the community. Stanton is a powerhouse hitter who is known mostly for his monster home runs. He won NL MVP in 2017 and won the 2016 Home Run Derby. The same year he won the MVP, he posted a career-high 59 home runs, just 14 shy of the record set by Barry Bonds.
Prime Marlins Giancarlo Stanton was fun to watch.pic.twitter.com/SzpHbxNWgj
— Thomas Carrieri (@Thomas_Carrieri) June 9, 2023
Sadly, the Marlins eventually decided not to keep the All-Star and traded him in the 2018 offseason to the New York Yankees. In New York, he has had to overcome numerous injuries and a couple of slumps. He has played six seasons in New York, and in 2023 he played in 101 games while posting 24 home runs, .878 OPS, and 60 RBI.
Christian Yelich
Another star player who was drafted by the Marlins was Christian Yelich. He was a part of the Marlins at the same time as Stanton. The Marlins selected Yelich in the first round of the 2010 draft, 23rd overall. He made his MLB debut in 2013 and would go on to spend five seasons in Miami. While with the Fish, he had a .290 average, a .432 slugging percentage, and 59 homers.
Yelich would emerge as a superstar when he joined the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018. Here he would reach his peak in 2018 and 2019. During this time he won the 2018 NL MVP, a Silver Slugger Award, and the 2018 and 2019 Hank Aaron Award. Since he has joined the team, the Brewers have made playoff appearances in the last five of their six seasons. He encountered some trouble after an injury and had career-worst seasons during 2021 and 2022. Luckily, in 2023 he bounced back from this and has been hitting like his old self due at least in part to the ban on shifts. Undoubtedly, since leaving the Marlins, Yelich has evolved to become an All-Star and MVP-caliber star.
J.T. Realmuto
Another notable product of the Marlins farm system is J.T. Realmuto. The Florida Marlins drafted Realmuto in the 3rd round of the 2010 draft. He spent five seasons with the Marlins. During his time with the Fish, he became an All-Star catcher and won his first Silver Slugger Award. Like many of their other top draft picks, the Marlins would trade him. In Realmuto’s case, he went to the Philadelphia Phillies for top pitching prospect Sixto Sanchez and catcher Jorge Alfaro. Now with the Phillies, Realmuto has taken the extra step and become an amazing catcher. In the City of Brotherly Love, he has won multiple Silver Sluggers and went to his first World Series in 2022.
Photo Credit: © Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
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