Marlins make second wave of minor league releases

While most MLB organizations made minor league cuts at the end of May, the Marlins earned goodwill across the industry by keeping their farm system intact and extending weekly stipends through the end of August. However, they did not take the extra step and guarantee employment for all players in 2020 (as the Royals and Twins have).

We previously learned of 31 names who were removed from the organization following the MLB Draft. Ten more minor leaguers have since been officially released:

• LHP Dakota Bennett (would’ve been entering age 20 season)
• 2B Raul Campos (age 18)
• C Jonathan Chinchilla (age 19)
• 2B Walner Espinal (age 20)
• RHP Jairo García
• C Gunner Pollman (age 25)
• RHP Zaquiel Puentes (age 19)
• OF Milton Smith II (age 22)

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• SS Jack Strunc (age 24)
• RHP Luis Tejeda (age 22)

Smith is the most intriguing name here, a .326 career hitter in the minors who was drafted under the current Marlins front office in 2018. He was selected as a NY-Penn League All-Star last summer while playing for the Batavia Muckdogs. On the other hand, he doesn’t have any home runs in 96 games, and as we often emphasize here on the website, this organization has excellent outfield depth.

Espinal earned the Marlins’ “Student of the Year” award in 2018. However, his slash line dipped to .191/.236/.322 in 2019 when repeating the Gulf Coast League.

A league source anticipates that additional Marlins players from the upper MiLB levels will also lose their jobs this weekend. Fish Stripes will update this article once those individuals are confirmed.