Marlins Minor League Recap: April 30th

Every week we will give a brief recap of each of the past week’s action for each Marlins farm affiliate, focusing on the top prospects (per MLB Pipeline) and whoever else may be making an impact or turning heads.

Beginning this season, Pipeline makes it easy for you to monitor the recent performances of those top prospects.

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Triple-A: New Orleans Baby Cakes (@cakesbaseball)

Record last week: 2-4

Season record: 9-15

Notables:

Magneuris Sierra has been on fire, going 9 for his last 22, including 4 for 5 on Saturday, including a triple, which is highlighted in this excellent feature from MiLB. Being more aggressive and working with hitting coach Tommy Gregg to quicken his hands and having his body be less in the way during his swing. Sierra isn’t much of a power threat, but if he can get on base and use his speed, he can be a prototypical lead off hitter for the big league club.

On a down note, Braxton Lee left Saturday’s game with an apparent leg injury on a slide in the eighth. There have been a few positive signs this week with Marlins pitching prospects making progress.

Shortstop Cristhian Adames and center fielder Isaac Galloway each had 6 hits this week, while Adames also had a home run.

On the bump, Sandy Alcantara had a so-so outing on Sunday, and had issues with spotting his off-speed pitches at times. He struggled to get through five innings, while giving up seven hits and four runs.

Adam Conley had his best outing of the season this past week by throwing six shut-out innings, before giving way to the aptly named Jumbo Diaz who came in to get his fourth save of the season in a Cakes’ 3-0 victory over Nashville on Friday.

Double-A: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (@jaxshrimp)

Record last week: 5-2

Season record: 11-12

Notables:

Though the biggest “news” around the club centered around the arrest of an on-field streaker at a home game, the team had themselves a decidedly more successful week than that inebriated individual did.

Left fielder and power bat Austin Dean has been promoted to New Orleans.

Meanwhile, Monte Harrison hit a line drive solo shot on Sunday with an exit velocity of 114 mph. It was one of two homers for the Marlins No. 2 prospect this weekend.

Mean while, Pablo Lopez, the organization’s 21st ranked prospect, came off the DL on 4/21, and has now made two appearances, giving up no runs over nine innings.

Jeff Brigham, who has been one of the hottest starting Marlins prospects, has been put on the 10-day disabled list with an oblique strain. Brigham has had Tommy John surgery in college, and was shut down with shoulder issues last year, so though this is not an arm related injury, one is easily concerned when the oft-injured RHP goes down.

Isan Diaz is now hitting over .300 in his last 10 games with two homers over this period, including a 4 for 5 effort on Thursday.

Single-A (Advanced): Jupiter Hammerheads (@GoHammerheads)

Record last week: 4-3

Season record: 18-6

Notables:

The Hammerheads continued their winning ways, with two late wins this past week to maintain the best record in the Florida State League.

As featured here earlier in the week, the big surprise from the Hammerheads was the electrifying debut from the 22-year old Jorge Guzman, the biggest piece of the Giancarlo Stanton trade. Guzman fanned seven in four innings, while hitting 100 mph on the gun several times.

Brian Miller, the twenty-two year old UNC product and the Marlins 10th ranked prospect, continues to rake with a .450 average over his last ten games to pace the Jupiter offense.

Single-A: Greensboro Grasshoppers (@GSOHoppers)

Record last week: 3-3

Season record: 13-9

Notables:

The 6’5” righty out of Stanford, Colton Hock, has continued to turn heads. Ranked 24th in the organization, Hock has thrown 17.2 innings this season, while giving up only 3 runs, while walking 3 and striking out 19.

Samuel Castro, the Hoppers second baseman, had seven hits this past week and is hitting .294 with 12 RBIs for the season so far. Not bad for a twenty-year old.