Marlins 2014 Draft Rounds 1-3 Prospects Update

First Round: Tyler Kolek, RHP

Level: GCL

Tyler Kolek has had six starts in the GCL so far and his stats don't jump out in any way. His ERA is fairly high (4.76) and while he has struck out more hitters than innings he's pitched, shouldn't that be expected from a pitcher throwing 100 MPH in rookie ball? Anyways, GCL stats are meaningless by all accounts so the only thing that we can take from this is the fact that Kolek's getting innings and the chance to improve against professional competition.

Second Round: Blake Anderson, C

Level: GCL

Blake Anderson, the Mississippi high school catcher that the Marlins took with the 36th overall pick, is playing on the same team as Kolek down in the Gulf Coast League. In 67 plate appearances, Anderson is hitting .184/.285/.130 with only one extra-base hit. However, that doesn't worry or bother me.

Still, the fact that Anderson has thrown out only 29% of base stealers jumps out. The more that I looked into this number the more I discovered that it's actually far from a cause for concern. First of all, when Brian McCann was 18 and playing in the GCL, he threw out only 30% of runners. But perhaps more important is the fact that he is catching GCL pitchers, who can be far from adept at knowing how to hold runners on first. Blake Anderson's 2014 stats are practically meaningless, so I can't wait to see what he will be able to do in Batavia next season.

Second Round: Justin Twine, SS

Level: GCL

Texas high school athlete Justin Twine has started 33 games for the GCL Marlins at shortstop. The Marlins have expressed interest in developing him as a pitcher, not surprisingly considering he has been clocked as high as 92 MPH. This GCL team is filled with high school superstars who were always the best athletes in their town, so it's got to be interesting to see how this team will mesh over the remainder of their season.

Third Round: Brian Anderson, 2B

Level: Low Class A

The earlier signing deadline instituted a couple years ago has really benefitted college players like Anderson who now get around a month's more games than they would have in the past. Anderson, the Arkansas second baseman, has split time pretty evenly between Batavia and Greensboro in 2014. What's interesting to me is that he has started more games for Greensboro at second base than third. While this might just be a product of the players surrounding him, you have to wonder if the Marlins see a future for him at third. Across the two levels, Anderson has hit .290/.351/.503 with 8 home runs. Pretty impressive from a player who only hit seven HR's in his Junior year as a Razorback.

Third Round: Michael Mader, LHP

Level: Short-Season

In ten starts for Batavia of the NY-Penn League, Mader has been nothing but dominant. The Chipola Junior College product has a 1.54 ERA in 35 innings pitched. While Mader has certainly had some great luck (.208 BABIP), his numbers are impressive nonetheless.