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Offseason Fish—10/22/19

The final week of the Arizona Fall League is coming up and the Dominican Winter League action is heating up.

By Ely Sussman
@TorosdelEste/Twitter

For many players within the Marlins organization, baseball never stops. Just like last year, Fish Stripes will be consistently updating the whereabouts of your favorite Fish during the offseason. At FishStripes.com/offseason, you can find updates on them, including stats, highlights and (small sample size) analysis.

Arizona Fall League

Encarnación has been more or less the same hitter during the AFL that he was for the Clinton LumberKings and Jupiter Hammerheads. That is encouraging considering that his ascent up Marlins Top 30 prospect lists was driven by his run production potential.

Meanwhile, it’s hard to wrap one’s mind around his defensive performance. Low-A, High-A and AFL combined, Encarnación has played the equivalent of a full major league season in 2019, racking up 20 outfield assists while committing 20 outfield errors. For some perspective, no MLB player in the past 50 years has reached both of those totals simultaneously.

Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

On Friday, Devers made his return to action after missing the first half of the month with a sore hand. The 19-year-old’s contributions since then include an extra-base hit and a pair of stolen bases.

Neidert seemingly had his latest scheduled start scratched, though he remains on the Salt River Rafters roster. He hasn’t taken the mound since the Fall Stars Game, mildly disappointing given how determined the Marlins were to build up his innings count in preparation for a busy 2020.

The Rafters are reigning AFL East division champions and on the verge of defending that title! Their magic number to clinch is down to one. A matchup with the Surprise Saguaros (Orioles, Royals, Yankees, Nationals and Rangers prospects) awaits in Saturday’s Championship Game.

Dominican Winter League

  • C Wilkin Castillo—.222/.222/.222, 1 RBI, 3 K in 9 AB
  • 1B Lewin Díaz—.300/.333/.567, 1 HR, 6 RBI 4 K in 30 AB
  • 3B/SS Joe Dunand—.083/.083/.083, 1 RBI, 3 K in 12 AB
  • RHP Tayron Guerrero—0.00 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 2 K in 2.1 IP
  • RHP Kolton Mahoney—0.00 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 9 K in 8.0 IP
  • 1B/OF Peter O’Brien—.280/.441/.440, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 7 K in 25 AB
  • RHP Cody Poteet—8.44 ERA, 2.06 WHIP, 3 K in 5.1 IP

Even before he clobbered his first Dominican Winter League home run on Saturday, I loved what I was seeing from Lewin Díaz. He is willingly using all fields and noticeably more athletic than any other Marlins first baseman in recent memory.

Speaking of clutch long balls...

True to his reputation, O’Brien is already piling up the “three true outcomes” (strikeouts, walks and home runs). Toros del Este have him installed as their everyday cleanup hitter. The league regularly hands out a Player of the Week award; this past week, O’Brien finished runner-up to Gigantes del Cibao outfielder Moises Sierra.

Guerrero is receiving the kind of high-leverage opportunities that he doesn’t get with the Marlins. Adequate results so far.

Third base is a relatively new position for Joe Dunand, and unfortunately, his manager doesn’t have much trust in him there. Dunand is frequently getting subbed out in the later innings of games for a defensive replacement.

Mexican Pacific League

Kickham has quietly spent the past three seasons in the Marlins organization, carrying a 3.84 ERA and 3.95 FIP in 274.0 IP. He got his feet wet in the majors for the Giants way back in 2013 and 2014, but I can’t remember him ever being mentioned as a legitimate call-up candidate while with the Fish.

By maintaining this winter ball production, the pending free agent ought to be able to secure another minor league deal for next season (whether it’s with the Marlins or elsewhere).

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