With the 137th pick in the 5th round the Miami Marlins have selected Casey Soltis a left-handed high school centerfielder from California. This continued the trend set yesterday of taking projectable high school players with impressive tools. Soltis is an interesting but unknown prospect to casual baseball fans, but he was named to the 2014 Perfect Game all region team for California this season.
Soltis has solid 6 feet 1 inch and 185 pound frame, and is a good athlete who projects as a right-fielder. Soltis has a nice short swing, and his bat is very quick to the ball resulting in a line-drive swing. If his raw power develops those line drives could turn into home runs further enhancing his value. He is regarded as a solid defensive outfielder with decent speed, and a strong throwing arm which would play nicely in right field.
Currently the Marlins outfield depth-chart is crowded, but you can never have too many talented assets in your minor league system. Miami is betting on tools in this draft and Soltis most definitely has tools.