The Miami Marlins are coming off a successful season and, in addition to a strong current lineup, they have promising prospects. Even though their farm system is ranked 29th only in front of the Los Angeles Angels by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, there are notable rising stars in their organization. The Marlins have been in the rebuilding process for years and hopefully, these recent draft picks can lead them to make a push on the playoffs.
“It doesn’t matter what our payroll is,” Marlins GM Peter Bendix said. “Our farm system is really important. It’s the lifeblood of what we do.”
The following are some of the top Miami Marlins prospects.
The Top Prospects for the Miami Marlins
1. RHP Noble Meyer
The Marlins picked Noble Meyer, 19, 10th overall in the 2023 draft. He is the Marlins’ top prospect and is now playing in Single-A Jupiter. He started with the Rookie-level Marlins and then got promoted to Jupiter. In Jupiter, he has played three regular season games and another two (5 2/3 scoreless innings) in the postseason. He posted a 3.86 ERA in only 7 innings pitched.
In his time at Jesuit High School, he led them to a 6-A state final while posting a 0.51 ERA with 142 strikeouts in 70 innings. His fastball velocity increased during his final two years in high school. In his senior year, he was throwing 94-97 MPH even occasionally hitting 100. He mostly uses his fastball, breaking ball, and changeup. He is projected to eventually be a top-of-the-rotation starter.
2. LHP Thomas White
In 2023, the Marlins drafted Thomas White, 19, 35th overall. Like Noble Meyer, he is currently playing in Single-A Jupiter. He has a fastball that sits between 92-95 MPH and showcases a high-spin curveball that is about 80 MPH. Occasionally he will throw a change-up, although he didn’t use it much during his time in high school.
As with Meyer, White was drafted straight out of high school, where he won Gatorade Massachusetts Player of the Year in his junior and senior years. He ended his high school career posting a 0.60 ERA and 125 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings pitched.
3. RHP Max Meyer
In the 2020 draft, Max Meyer, 24, was picked 3rd overall. He started in Double-A where he won Double-A South Pitcher of the Year honors and ranked fifth in the minors in ERA (2.27). During his time in the minors, he posted a 2.27 ERA and 199 strikeouts in 172 innings. He made his major league debut in 2022. In his two appearances, he pitched six innings, posting a 7.50 ERA with 6 strikeouts. He subsequently blew his elbow out, causing him to undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the entirety of the 2023 season.
He is working his way back to the majors and is confident to be back by 2024. Marlins manager Skip Schumaker is also looking forward to seeing him back as a reliever.
Spoke to Max Meyer today after his 1st bullpen of the spring. He threw a few of those back home in Minnesota, but this was his first in a Marlins uniform since his TJS
Said he’s a full participant this spring with no limitations or restrictions pic.twitter.com/5QJbUMi1ng
— Alex Krutchik (@AlexKrutchikFOF) February 15, 2024
4. 1B/3B Jacob Berry
The Miami Marlins chose Jacob Berry, 22, sixth overall in the 2022 draft and he currently is playing for the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos. For college, he attended Louisiana State, where he posted a 1.094 OPS with 15 homers in 53 games. Although he was a standout during his time in college, he has encountered some roadblocks in the minors posting a .682 OPS with 12 home runs in 144 games. Berry is a switch hitter who has a quality swing and has been compared to Andrew Vaughn of the Chicago White Sox. Defensively he has played multiple positions such as 1B, 3B, and outfield, and he has also DHed. There is still some question on what positions he could potentially play in the majors.
5. SS Jacob Amaya
In 2017, the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted Jacob Amaya, 25, in the 11th round straight out of his Los Angeles high school. The Marlins acquired him from the Dodgers for SS Miguel Rojas. During his 2022 season in the minors, he managed 17 HR, 71 RBI, and a .795 OPS in 133 games played. In 2023, he made his MLB debut with the Marlins, only playing in four games while posting two hits and two RBI. As for his defense, he has a good arm and a high baseball IQ. Although the Marlins have just signed free agent Tim Anderson, who will most likely take over the position of shortstop, Amaya could still potentially be the backup for Anderson.
The Future of the Fish
Despite these rising stars, the Marlins still have a lot of work to do to help improve their farm system. They only have one prospect included in the top-100 prospect list, Noble Meyer. Also, 11 of their top 30 prospects have not even played above High-A ball and eight were from the 2023 draft.
“To have sustainable success is to have a farm system that is constantly giving you another wave of players to add to your roster,” Bendix said, “and I don’t think we’re at that point yet.”
The new GM for the Marlins has even himself noticed the underwhelming farm system. Hopefully, these top Miami Marlins prospects make it to the majors and help the Marlins become consistent postseason contenders.
Photo Credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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