Marlins Minor League Report: June 3-9

Each week, Fish Stripes will be recapping the past week’s performances throughout the Marlins minor league system. Highlighting the players who either had an outstanding week, or one they would like to put behind them.

All stats updated entering June 10.

Triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes (3-3, 35-29 overall)

This past week was very uncharacteristic from what we’ve seen from the New Orleans Baby Cakes so far this season. Through the first two months of the season, their pitching staff has been the reason for the majority of this team’s success. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case through the Baby Cakes six-games this past week.

The Baby Cakes’ pitching staff was pounded this past week for a total of 32 runs in six games. Which averages to 5.3 runs/game for a staff that coming into the week, held the 2nd-best team ERA throughout the PCL. This is also the first-time since mid-April that this pitching staff has surrendered double-digits in multiple games in the same week.

Outstanding Player: Isan Díaz

Despite the poor pitching that the Baby Cakes received this past week, MLB Pipeline’s No. 6 Marlins prospect Isan Díaz was able to carry his team offensively this past week. The 23-year-old went seven-for-21 (.333), along with three home runs and five RBI.

With the three home runs this past week, Díaz is now tied with Luis Urias of the El Paso Chihuahuas for the most home runs among second basemen in the PCL.

Honorable Mention: Zac Gallen

The dominant right-hander earned Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week honors for the third time in 2019. Nobody has ever done that before!

Double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (1-5, 24-38 overall)

Inconsistency was the narrative once again for the Jackson Jumbo Shrimp this past week. Their offense was unable to produce in consecutive games the entire week—it was boom or bust. They were able to record 17 runs in three of their six games, but then recorded a total of just three runs in the other contests combined.

The Jumbo Shrimp’s pitching staff was able to put its team in a position to win in four of their six games this past week. They held their opponents to three runs or fewer in those four games. But they also gave up a total of 18 runs in the two remaining games.

Outstanding Player: Cody Poteet

The former fourth-round draft selection by the Marlins back in 2015 pitched his best game of the season last time out against the Montgomery Biscuits. Cody Poteet pitched eight innings and surrendered just one run on three hits along with allowing just a pair of walks. While Poteet was only able to strikeout four batters in this start, he was able to lower his opponents’ batting average to an impressive .231.

May 6 looks to have been a critical turning point in his season. Poteet owned a 4.00 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and .302 BA after starting that day. Following this latest start, he’s down to a 2.49 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, ranking among the top qualified pitchers in the Southern League.

High-A Jupiter Hammerheads (2-4, 19-40 overall)

Unfortunately, the Jupiter Hammerheads reverted back to their losing ways this past week. Their offense was the primary source for the disappointment—they were held to two runs or fewer in four of their six games this past week. Their offense has now been held to two runs or fewer in six of their last 10 games.

Outstanding Player: Trevor Rogers

The No. 15 Marlins prospect Trevor Rogers was one of the lone bright spots this past week from the Hammerheads. Rogers went six innings and gave up just one hit and a pair of walks, along with setting down nine batters on strikes.

Miami’s first-rounder from the 2017 draft has ups and down so far this season. But pitching effectively once again in his next start would enable him to lower his ERA below 3.00 once again.

Low-A Clinton LumberKings (2-5, 30-32 overall)

The Clinton LumberKings were unable to turn around from their disappointing week, sinking below the .500 mark. Their offense was unable to provide much support to their pitching staff this past week, held to two runs or fewer in four of their seven games. That included one shutout, their first since May 24.

Thankfully, the LumberKings pitching staff showed promise. Their staff surrendered an average of 2.5 runs in six of their seven games this past week.

Disappointing Player: Jerar Encarnación

Encarnación’s impressive season came to a halt this past week. The 21-year-old struggled mightily at the plate, which is something we haven’t seen at all. He hit just 4-for-24 (.170), along with six strikeouts and just a pair of walks in seven games.

Encarnacion will be able to shoot up the Marlins system if he’s able to reduce the amount of times that he’s set down on strikes. He is scheduled to represent Clinton at both the Midwest League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby.

Dominican Summer League Marlins (4-3 overall)