Fish Stripes - Fish Stripes 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft CoverageCovering the Marlins every day in our own wayhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52814/Screen_Shot_2018-12-07_at_12.32.35_PM..png2013-07-12T13:00:05-04:00http://www.fishstripes.com/rss/stream/40914992013-07-12T13:00:05-04:002013-07-12T13:00:05-04:00Marlins prospects: Colin Moran's path to majors
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<img alt="How quickly will Colin Moran start hitting in the majors?" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/B9KavEurOSXiE_hbEftlNfO_EHM=/0x217:2945x2180/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/16305267/20130611_jel_sg5_226.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>How quickly will Colin Moran start hitting in the majors? | USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Miami Marlins have finally signed first-round pick Colin Moran to a deal, allowing him to start in the minors soon. What is his potential path to the Major Leagues?</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Marlins</a> finally <a href="http://www.fishstripes.com/2013/7/11/4515230/miami-marlins-agree-to-terms-with-first-round-pick-colin-moran-2013-draft">signed first-round pick Colin Moran</a> to a contract, thus eliciting a huge sigh of relief from a cadre of Marlins fans. Even though news outlets had the <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/09/3490899/miami-marlins-expected-to-sign.html">Marlins having plenty of confidence about signing Moran</a>, Marlins fans had to be concerned that the Fish would bail under potential demands, especially after they failed to sign one draft pick (Matt Krook) due to a physical issue and are supposedly unlikely to sign high school pitcher and third-round pick Ben Durozio. Last season, the Marlins took pitching prospect <span>Andrew Heaney</span> down to the wire as well, finally agreeing on a deal right at the signing deadline.</p>
<p>But now that Moran is on board, Marlins fans can begin dreaming about a day when third base may not be filled with the clutter the Fish have thrown out there since 2008. Moran represents the first real third base prospect the team has had since it drafted <span>Matt Dominguez</span> in the first round in 2007. Dominguez never paid off, but he was a high school position player whose bat never developed. The thinking is that Moran's bat is already advanced, given his insane plate discipline numbers in college, so this <i>should</i> not be an issue for him as he makes his way towards the majors.</p>
<p>The question is what that path is going to be. <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130711&content_id=53454436&vkey=news_mia&c_id=mia">Joe Frisaro of MLB.com</a> laid out the likely first step of that pathway.</p>
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<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.1875px;">Moran likely will begin his professional career at low Class A Greensboro, where the Marlins often start off their picks who are coming out of college.</span></p>
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<p>Last year, Heaney began the year in Rookie ball, but quickly got promoted for a short stint in Low-A Greensboro to finish the season. This makes it reasonable that Moran will start in Low-A as well.</p>
<p>What kind of path will that take him on? Let's look at the past few drafts and see how the college hitters picked in the top ten have gotten to the majors.</p>
<h5>Past Drafts</h5>
<p>I looked at the drafts from 2008 on to see just how college draftees from the top ten have reached the big leagues. There were 11 college bats drafted from 2008 to 2012. Not all players reached the big leagues; only eight of the 12 have the majors as their highest level. The following is the table of when they were drafted, at what level they started, and when they reached the majors on a permanent basis. (Note: I did not include <span>Bryce Harper</span>, who was an extremely special case)</p>
<table border="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<th>Player (Draft)</th> <th>Starting Level (Year)</th> <th>Majors (Highest Level)</th>
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<tr>
<td>
<span>Pedro Alvarez</span> (2008)</td>
<td>High-A (2009)</td>
<td>2011</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<span>Yonder Alonso</span> (2008)</td>
<td>High-A (2008)</td>
<td>2011</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<span>Buster Posey</span> (2008)</td>
<td>Rookie/Short-season A (2008)</td>
<td>2010</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<span>Gordon Beckham</span> (2008)</td>
<td>Low-A (2008)</td>
<td>2009</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<span>Jason Castro</span> (2008)</td>
<td>Low-A (2008)</td>
<td>2010</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<span>Dustin Ackley</span> (2009)</td>
<td>Double-A (2010)</td>
<td>2011</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<span>Tony Sanchez</span> (2009)</td>
<td>Short-Season A/Low-A (2009)</td>
<td>--- (Triple-A)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<span>Michael Choice</span> (2010)</td>
<td>Rookie/Short-Season A (2010)</td>
<td>--- (Triple-A)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<span>Christian Colon</span> (2010)</td>
<td>High-A (2010)</td>
<td>--- (Triple-A)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<span>Anthony Rendon</span> (2011)</td>
<td>Rookie/Double-A (2012)</td>
<td>--- (Triple-A)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<span>Mike Zunino</span> (2012)</td>
<td>Short-Season A/Double-A (2012)</td>
<td>2013</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p>The majority of the non-Harper rookies began their seasons somewhere between Short Season A (Batavia is the Marlins' affiliate) and High-A (Jupiter). The players with the fastest paths to the majors made it to Double-A within their first playing year; Ackley, Zunino, and Rendon are the only three players to make Double-A in their first year, and two made the majors within their next year of play. Rendon is blocked at certain positions, which explains his situation. The only other player who has yet to make it to the majors who started relatively high is Christian Colon of the <a href="https://www.royalsreview.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Kansas City Royals</a> organization, who began in High-A but hasn't cracked the big leagues yet.</p>
<p>Among the players who began in Low-A or lower, one made it within the next year, while two took two seasons to get there. The others have not yet made it permanently to the majors, but all are in Triple-A by this time period.</p>
<p>If Moran is most likely to begin the year in Low-A Greensboro, the path to the majors should yield a <i style="font-weight: bold;">2015 start date</i>, likely in midseason as Moran finishes off Double-A. Remember that, unlike in past seasons, it is highly unlikely that a prospect does not start playing for his organization until the following year, as the new collective bargaining agreement shifted the deadline signing date to early July (July 12, today, this season). That almost assures that Moran will get a good amount of playing time starting this year.</p>
<h5>The Path</h5>
<p>Based on what the players above have done, here is a potential path for Moran to the majors.</p>
<p>- He can begin in Low-A and spend either the full season there or get a crack at High-A at some point. Only Anthony Rendon and Buster Posey split their times through Low- and High-A levels among their stops in their first season.</p>
<p>- If Moran does well enough at either Low- or High-A, he can earn a permanent promotion to High-A Jupiter at the start of 2014. That allows him either a full season or, better yet, a half-year at High-A to get ready for the major hurdle to Double-A. It will also see how Moran plays in a mostly pitcher-friendly Florida State League and Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter.</p>
<p>- The ticket to earning an early 2015 promotion is for Moran to do well enough in High-A to springboard himself into Double-A by midseason. This is the same path that <span>Giancarlo Stanton</span> took, as he took a dominant 210 plate appearances in Jupiter in 2009 and vaulted himself into Double-A, where he struggled. Even if Moran struggles in Double-A, he will have a foothold at the level and will have gained more experience at the most important competition level in the minors.</p>
<p>- In 2015, Moran can either start in Double- or Triple-A, depending on his 2014 Double-A performance. If he does not make the jump, he can start in Double-A and get a mostly full season before earning a late promotion to Triple-A and the majors. But if he had 200 plate appearances of Double-A experience in 2014 and he continues to perform well in 2015, you can expect him to get a July call-up, barring some circumstance in which the Marlins actually have a real third baseman.</p>
<p>This pathway gets Moran in the big leagues in two years, as most college hitters do. It also is a relatively acceptable pace for a player who is supposed to be ready at the plate. Moran has to avoid looking mediocre at his lower competition levels, as that has not been a good sign for players like Ackley and the Marlins' own <span>Zack Cox</span>, who is languishing in Triple-A after having a struggle of a second season out of college. The 2014 campaign will be critical to Moran's success, as playing well will almost certainly get him in the majors in 2015 barring injury, whereas being mediocre may force him to repeat the level.</p>
<p>The Marlins have a bright future at third base with Colin Moran, but it is up to him to realize it with a nice path to the big leagues. He will have very few roadblocks along the way, so the only determinant of his path will be his performance. Let's see if he can keep up.</p>
https://www.fishstripes.com/2013/7/12/4517262/miami-marlins-prospects-colin-moran-major-league-pathMichael Jong2013-07-11T16:59:56-04:002013-07-11T16:59:56-04:00Miami Marlins agree to terms with Colin Moran
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Marlins have agreed to terms with first-round pick Colin Moran, according to Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun-Sentinel. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Marlins</a> have agreed to terms with first-round pick Colin Moran, according to this tweet from Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun-Sentinel:</p>
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<p>Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Marlins&src=hash">#Marlins</a> and sixth overall pick Colin Moran have agreed to terms for slot bonus.</p>
— Juan C. Rodriguez (@JCRMarlinsbeat) <a href="https://twitter.com/JCRMarlinsbeat/statuses/355403344648478720">July 11, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
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<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p><br>According to Rodriguez, the deal is believed to be for the assigned slot value of the sixth overall pick at $3,516,500. It marks just the third time in the franchise's history that they have shelled out more than $3 million for a draft pick, with the others being <span>Josh Beckett</span> and <span>Adrian Gonzalez</span>. One can only hope that Moran's career trajectory follows that of Beckett and Gonzalez.</p>
<p>Moran hit .348/.447/.557 for North Carolina last season and had one season of eligibility remaining, though he ultimately decided to sign with Miami before tomorrow's 5 p.m. signing deadline. Moran is likely to be sent to Batavia of the New York Penn League, where he'll begin his career with the Fish alongside several other members of the Marlins' 2013 draft class.</p>
<p>I'd expect the Marlins to keep Moran with the Muckdogs for the remainder of the season, even if he's raking. It'll be all about getting him professional at-bats before they can fully evaluate the speed with which they want to advance Moran through the organization.</p>
https://www.fishstripes.com/2013/7/11/4515230/miami-marlins-agree-to-terms-with-first-round-pick-colin-moran-2013-draftcdorney2013-06-27T15:00:10-04:002013-06-27T15:00:10-04:002013 MLB Draft: CWS recap for Marlins draft picks
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<img alt="Chad Wallach hit .294 for Cal State Fullerton in the 2013 NCAA Division I Tournament. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xRYZU64PjtuD_snXw_lIFkZ7vgk=/0x395:2980x2382/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/15464749/20130608_lbm_ah2_620.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Chad Wallach hit .294 for Cal State Fullerton in the 2013 NCAA Division I Tournament. | USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A quick recap of how all of the Miami Marlins' draft picks performed in the 2013 NCAA Tournament. </p> <h5><b>Colin Moran, University of North Carolina, 1st Round</b></h5>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Miami Marlins</a> fans got to see a lot of Colin Moran during the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-world-series">College World Series</a>. Leading UNC to within a few games of the championship, Moran hit .282 (13-for-46) with two doubes, a triple, and eight walks throughout the tournament. Sure, for a player who hit .345 on the season a batting average of .282 is a little disappointing, but Moran definitely wasn't a let down and he did have a few huge games for the Tar Heels. Hopefully, the Marlins can get a deal done with Moran with plenty of time to spare before the July 12 deadline.</p>
<h5><b>Trevor Williams, RHP, Arizona State University, 2nd Round</b></h5>
<p>Trevor Williams only pitched in one game in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness">NCAA Tournament</a> but that's not to say that his one outing wasn't memorable. Facing a University of New Mexico ballclub that was widely considered one of the top lineups in the country, Williams went 7 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits, three earned runs, while walking three and striking out four. By no means did Williams have all of his control on this day. He hit three batters and struggled to pinpoint his fastball location. Nonetheless, Williams led his team to a victory and showed his workhorse potential. One memorable moment from this game was when Williams struck out D.J. Peterson, the 12th overall pick in the draft, swinging to start off the seventh inning. Williams has already signed with the Marlins for $1.2615 Million.</p>
<h5><b>Colby Suggs, RHP, University of Arkansas, 2nd Round Supplemental</b></h5>
<p>Colby Suggs unfortunately only pitched in one game in the NCAA Tournament, recording a save against Wichita State on June 1. In a game started by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Rays</a> first-round pick Ryne Stanek, Suggs came in for a shutout inning, only needing twelve pitches to retire the side. Suggs recently signed with the Marlins for $600K and he was assigned to the GCL Marlins.</p>
<h5><b>Chad Wallach, C, Cal State Fullerton, 5th Round</b></h5>
<p>Chad Wallach, the Marlins fifth round pick who signed for a bargain, went 5-for-17 in the NCAA Tournament with two walks as well. He consistently batted sixth or seventh in the Titans lineup, while teammate Carlos Lopez batted closer to the top.</p>
<h5><b>Carlos Lopez, 1B, Cal State Fullerton, 10th Round</b></h5>
<p>Carlos Lopez, the Titans' consistent senior lefty hitter, went 5-for-19 with four walks in the tournament. Lopez should be a player who could skip rookie ball and head straight to Batavia, due to his age and experience.</p>
<h5><b>Coco Johnson, OF, Louisville University, 11th Round</b></h5>
<p>The speedy Coco Johnson hit .320 (8-for-25) with two home runs and a stolen base in the NCAA Tournament. Johnson, a JuCo transfer, is a player I definitely am going to keeping an eye on assuming he signs with the Marlins. If he can tap into some of his raw power, he could combine that with his outstanding speed to become an assertive presence at the plate.</p>
<h5><b>Scott Schultz, RHP, Oregon State University, 17th Round</b></h5>
<p>Scott Schultz and the Beavers fell just short of winning another ring for Oregon State. In total, Schultz only pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing three hits, one unearned run, and striking out one.</p>
<h5><b>Adam Westmoreland, LHP, University of South Carolina, 26th Round</b></h5>
<p><b></b>Adam Westmoreland saw a lot of work coming out of the South Carolina bullpen in multiple games. In total, Westmoreland pitched nine innings, allowing five hits and four earned runs, striking out five and walking four. It will be interesting to see if the Marlins use Westmoreland as the same type of pitcher the Gamecocks utilized, or if they try to convert him into more of a traditional late inning reliever.</p>
<h5><b>Kevin Williams, SS, UCLA, 29th Round</b></h5>
<p>Playing primarily designated hitter, Kevin Williams is the only 2013 Marlins draft pick that will be starting his professional baseball career with a ring. Williams went 8-for-32 in the tournament with two doubles, a triple, and a stolen base. It would have been nice to see Williams get some time in the field, but I assume that the Bruins coaching staff had his best intentions in mind by keeping him off of the field.</p>
<h5><b>Eric Fisher, 1B, University of Arkansas, 30th Round</b></h5>
<p>Razorback's first baseman Eric Fisher went 4-for-8 with a walk in two games during the NCAA Tournament. Fisher, a lefty redshirt sophomore, only hit .238 during the regular season, making his playoff numbers even more impressive.</p>
https://www.fishstripes.com/2013/6/27/4468100/mlb-draft-2013-miami-marlins-college-world-series-colin-moran-trevor-williamsSamEvans2013-06-26T20:55:38-04:002013-06-26T20:55:38-04:002013 MLB Draft: Marlins fail to sign Matt Krook
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<p>Prep lefty Matt Krook, whom the Marlins selected with the 35th overall pick in this year's draft, has decided to not sign and will instead attend the University of Oregon.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 25.592592239379883px; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif;">It appears that the 2013 draft class of the Miami Marlins just got weaker, according to this tweet from ESPN's Jerry Crasnick:</span></p>
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<p>Pitcher Matt Krook, 35th pick in draft, has decided not to sign with <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23marlins&src=hash">#marlins</a> and will attend University of Oregon.</p>
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) <a href="https://twitter.com/jcrasnick/statuses/350043336494686208">June 27, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 25.592592239379883px; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif;">The selection of Krook was one that was praised widely on draft day, both </span><a href="http://www.fishstripes.com/2013/6/6/4404662/2013-mlb-draft-miami-marlins-draft-matt-krook-35th-overall" target="_blank">by our staff</a> <span style="font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 25.592592239379883px; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif;">here at Fish Stripes, as well as those in the industry. Now, it appears that Krook will not in fact be joining the Marlins' organization after all.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.58333396911621px;">Clearly, there is always risk associated with drafting a high school player with a college commitment. The University of Oregon's baseball program has become a well-recognized, national championship contender, even after just four short years of the program's revival. As is the case with the majority of Oregon athletics, the baseball facilities are world-class and the program is led by a head coach with one national championship and six College World Series appearances in George Horton. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.58333396911621px;">There are numerous reasons we can speculate as to why Krook decided to become a Duck instead of signing with the Marlins. Krook is from northern California and perhaps he wanted to play for a respected program close to home, rather than grinding it out in the depths of professional baseball on the other side of the country. Perhaps the Marlins weren't prepared to offer him the amount of money that it was going to take to sign him away from his commitment, or that Krook's number to sign was higher after being drafted to a team he wasn't expecting to select him.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.58333396911621px;">Regardless, Krook's decision to head to Eugene leaves a huge impact on the evaluation of the Marlins' 2013 draft class. Krook had some of the highest upside of any prep pitcher this year, and even though he is still raw, he had the chance to become one of the club's best selections from this crop of draftees.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.58333396911621px;">Instead, the Marlins will now have to move on and focusing on developing the rest of their new talent, hoping that a more unheralded prospect can rise up to fill Krook's shoes. And in the meantime, keep an eye on Krook with the Ducks, as he could become a top-10 pick when he is next eligible for the draft.</span></p>
https://www.fishstripes.com/2013/6/26/4468612/2013-mlb-draft-matt-krook-spurns-marlins-opts-to-attend-collegecdorney2013-06-12T14:00:08-04:002013-06-12T14:00:08-04:002013 MLB Draft: Five Miami Marlins draft profiles
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<img alt="Adam Westmoreland, the Marlins 26th round pick, projects to be a power left-handed reliever down the line. " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/iqmsqqmj0yYoEQBLGAR4PgzR_TE=/9x637:2618x2376/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/14615813/20130608_mje_bk1_380.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Adam Westmoreland, the Marlins 26th round pick, projects to be a power left-handed reliever down the line. | USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>An in-depth look at five 2013 Marlins draft picks: Chandler Eden, Adam Westmoreland, Kevin Williams, K.J. Woods, and Justin Bohn. </p> <p>Following the 2013 MLB draft can be confusing, and at times scary, as it moves so fast that it's hard to look at some of the individual players. Without trying to concentrate on too many players, I decided to look at five players the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a> drafted.</p>
<p>Chandler Eden is a talented high school pitcher who will be nearly an impossible sign for Miami, Adam Westmoreland is a left-handed power reliever out of South Carolina, and Kevin Williams is a oft-injured athlete from UCLA. K.J. Woods is a strong lefty outfielder with a sweet swing and Justin Bohn is a speedy shortstop who posted monstrous numbers in JuCo.</p>
<p>These five players are all very different athletes, but they're similar in the fact that they all have interesting and unique stories.</p>
<ul>
<li>Right-handed pitcher Chandler Eden was generally considered one of the top 100 or so high school seniors in the 2013 MLB Draft. How he slipped to the Marlins in the 36th round is unbeknownst to me, but it definitely has a lot to do with his commitment to Oregon State University. The Beavers baseball program is thriving right now, as they are currently ranked fifth in the nation, and Eden is expected to help bring them a national championship next year. In the extremely low chance that the Marlins sign Eden, they will have to flash him the kind of money that would normally go to a player drafted about thirty rounds before he was. </li>
<li>Adam Westmoreland, a left-handed pitcher at South Carolina, was drafted in the 26th round by Miami. Westmoreland is 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, and has played a key role coming out of the bullpen for the Gamecocks this season. With a fastball in the lower-90s, Westmoreland can be an intimidating presence on the mound. In 66 innings pitched in 2013, Westmoreland has a 2.32 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 15 walks. Westmoreland and the Gamecocks were recently eliminated from the NCAA tournament by Marlins first-round pick Colin Moran and the University of North Carolina. </li>
<li>Aside from Colin Moran, 29th round pick Kevin Williams, a shortstop at UCLA, will be the only other Marlins draftee heading to the College World Series. Williams is only hitting .232/.324/.304 in 112 AB's this season but I'm guessing that has a lot to do with his shoulder injury he's been nursing. A left-handed hitter, Williams is a very good athlete but he'll definitely be moving from shortstop down the line. He's playing for a talented UCLA team this year that features Pat Valaika, <span>Chris Valaika's</span> brother. Valaika was drafted by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> in the ninth round. </li>
<li>The Marlins fourth-round pick, K.J. Woods, is listed at 6-foot-4, 208 pounds, but he's probably closer to 230 or 235. A talented left-handed hitter, Woods isn't the fastest outfielder, but he does have a fairly strong arm. I'm assuming the Marlins will work very hard to try to turn Woods into a corner outfielder, even though he has played first base in the past. With a career On-Base Percentage of .548 at Fort Mill High School in South Carolina, Woods has proven he can get on base in a variety of different ways. Woods has a swing somewhat similar to <span>Ken Griffey Jr.</span> but his is far, far less refined. Nonetheless, Woods has pretty obvious power potential from the left side of the plate. According to <a href="http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2013/06/07/2744992/fort-mills-kj-woods-drafted-by.html">Woods' interview with the Fort Mill Time</a>s, Woods was eating a turkey sandwhich when he got the great news. The interview really makes it seem that Woods is truly grateful the Marlins drafted him and he is thrilled to start his professional career. He is expected to sign with the Marlins but he had been considering Arizona State, LSU, South Carolina, and Florida, as well as the possibility of attending a junior college in Florida to raise his draft stock, before draft day.</li>
<li>Justin Bohn, the Marlins seventh round selection, is currently a shortstop at Feather River JC in California, the same school that produced Double-A Jacksonville infielder <span>Danny Black</span>. In 201 plate appearances for the Eagles this year, Bohn hit .413/.482/.685 with three home runs and 18 stolen bases. Bohn is currently committed to Oregon State University after two years at Feather River, but the Marlins sound pretty confident that they'll get him signed. When asked about Bohn's abilities, <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130607&content_id=49920178&notebook_id=49930422&vkey=notebook_mia&c_id=mia">Stan Meek told MLB.com</a>, "Bohn is a real solid, plus runner, plus arm, plus defensive guy. We'll see how much the bat comes along." If that quote leaves anything to be said about Bohn's ability at the plate, it's that the Marlins don't think his JuCo inflated numbers show what type of hitter Bohn truly is. </li>
</ul>
https://www.fishstripes.com/2013/6/12/4420380/mlb-draft-2013-miami-marlins-profiles-chandler-eden-adam-westmoreland-kj-woods-justin-bohnSamEvans2013-06-12T11:00:13-04:002013-06-12T11:00:13-04:002013 MLB Draft: The importance of Colin Moran
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Miami Marlins drafted Colin Moran in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft, and his selection was perfect in more than one way.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Marlins</a> were slotted to pick sixth in the 2013 MLB Draft, and at their position, they were expected to take a player who was toolsy but perhaps not as developed as some of his peers. Before the draft, a lot of prognosticators had the Fish picking either a high school outfielder like Clint Frazier or Austin Meadows or Braden Shipley, a college starter from the University of Nevada who was playing a light dual role as both the Wolfpack's shortstop and a bullpen pitcher on the side.</p>
<p>But it was no secret that the Marlins desired a college player, and they were lucky to find one when they finally did make their draft selection. The Marlins selected Colin Moran of the University of North Carolina, and instantly Marlins fans rejoiced. The majority of prognosticators expected Moran to be gone within the top five picks, leaving the Marlins out in the cold and forced to draft either a more raw player or reach on a polished but lower-upside college bat like D.J. Peterson. Instead, the Marlins got the player most considered one of the elite players in the draft; Perfect Game's Allan Simspon, over at Baseball Prospectus, ranked him the <a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=20829">sixth-best prospect in the draft</a>.</p>
<p>The MLB draft is all about picking the best player available, if only because there is no guarantee that players will fill the slots that you are expecting when you select by need. But as Fish Stripes prospect maven Eric Weston mentioned in his <a href="http://www.fishstripes.com/2013/6/7/4404810/2013-mlb-draft-2013-marlins-day-1-results-and-recap">MLB draft day one recap</a>, the Moran selection happens to coincide not only with the "best pick" portion, but also with the "need" issues the Marlins face.</p>
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<p><span style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.59375px;">Detractors will label this selection as a safe, low-upside pick. There may be a grain of truth to that notion, but I firmly believe that Colin Moran was the best player available on the board. It is merely incidental that Moran projects to reach the majors quickly, and fills a strong organizational need for corner infielders.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Moran not only represents the latest nice Marlins prospect, but he also is expected to fill a crucial role in the major leagues quickly. The Miami Marlins have been bereft of third basemen for a very long time, and before the Moran selection, the future at the position was quite murky. <span>Zack Cox</span> figured to play a role at the position, but for a college bat, he was not close to ready for the majors last season and appears to be heading to Triple-A next year after repeating Double-A this year. <span>Derek Dietrich</span> could have been slotted at third base, but Dietrich himself had some questions and may have also been needed at second base, where the Marlins also lack significant options for the future.</p>
<div class="sidebar">
<a href="http://www.fishstripes.com/2013/6/11/4418324/mlb-draft-2013-miami-marlins-grades-colin-moran-matt-krook-kj-woods">
<h2>2013 MLB Draft: Grading the Marlins' draft class</h2>
<img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/14580779/20130601_lbm_bk1_227.0_standard_709.0.jpg"></a> <span>The 2013 Amateur Draft has come and gone, but how did the Marlins fare with their selections who are likely to have a huge impact on the franchise going forward?</span>
</div>
<p>Now the team can breathe knowing they have a <i>plan</i> for third base after this season. Colin Moran is as polished a college bat as they come. He was well regarded for his advanced plate approach, as he hit the peak of his abilities this season with 55 walks in 301 plate appearances along with just 20 (!) strikeouts. That is an impressive 0.36 strikeout-to-walk ratio, especially for a corner infield bat. Moran's ability to avoid strikeouts will leave him less prone to fluctuations in BABIP, making him a more consistent hitter.</p>
<p>This concept that he is polished has extended to making him seem "low-upside," but that does not seem proper for a 20-year-old top draft prospect. Moran has increased his power at the plate this season, and while he does not profile as any more than 15 to 20 homer guy in the big leagues, that might be more than acceptable given the rest of his skills. The concerns have been about whether he may not improve much, but the important thing is that he is already playing at a high level <i>now</i> and needs very little additional seasoning.</p>
<p>That plays into the other part of the benefit of Colin Moran: he should be ready <i>soon</i>. The Marlins attempted to draft a player who would be major-league ready fast last season, as <span>Andrew Heaney's</span> selection was <a href="http://www.fishstripes.com/2012/6/5/3065105/miami-marlins-andrew-heaney-2012-mlb-draft-pick-unorthodox">unorthodox for the Marlins</a>. It was unorthodox because the Fish are used to drafting prep players and allowing them to stew in the minors, but Heaney was a selection who would be ready for some major league play as early as 2014. Heaney is on track right now to get a late 2014 cup of coffee with the off chance that he dominates Double-A and sees midseason play.</p>
<p>Moran has the same advantage, as he is a polished college player who is almost ready to enter the big leagues. Moran's readiness appeals to the Marlins exactly because they lacked options at the position. The Fish have a year to test out guys like Cox, but they can be fairly certain that their future third baseman will be ready for a possible 2015 call-up to take over the position. That timetable coincides nicely with the rest of the flood of talent the Marlins have coming up from the minors, as guys like Heaney, <span>Justin Nicolino</span>, <span>Jake Marisnick</span>, and <span>Adam Conley</span> might all be on their way at around the same time. If a number of these prospects pan out, the Marlins could have the makings of a competitive team almost ready.</p>
<p>Of course, this is all dependent on Moran staying at third base for the foreseeable future, and there have been some questions about that. As far as I have seen, however, it appears as though he has improved enough to be able to stick at the position. Eric thinks he will stick at third, and here's Simpson on the matter:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Moran has put to rest any notion that he lacks the quick-twitch actions to remain at third base in the long run. He has committed just four errors this spring, while posting an impressive .983 fielding average, and his hands and release have become much more sure. While he continues to get to considerably more balls in both directions than he once did, he still needs to refine his actions laterally.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>While that review is not glowing, it is good enough to keep him at the position, assuring the Marlins that they did not draft a first baseman by accident.</p>
<p>Many of Moran's perceived weaknesses turn out to be actual strengths for the Fish as they went for a second straight season of "safe" first-round picks. Moran may have a lower upside than others, but his floor is that of perhaps the safest selection of this year's draft. That selection just happens to also be at a major position of need for the Marlins and allows them to confidently fill that gap for the future. The Marlins also ended up with a college player who figures to move fast through the organization, giving them less time for bad stopgaps like <span>Placido Polanco</span> or questionable options like Cox.</p>
<p>In short, the selection of Colin Moran could not have gone better, as the Marlins may have found the perfect fit for them in terms of best player available, need, and readiness for the majors. Expect big things from this Tar Heel prospect.</p>
https://www.fishstripes.com/2013/6/12/4422268/mlb-draft-2013-miami-marlins-colin-moran-prospect-importanceMichael Jong2013-06-11T09:00:16-04:002013-06-11T09:00:16-04:002013 MLB Draft: Grading the Marlins draft class
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The 2013 Amateur Draft has come and gone, but how did the Marlins fare with their selections that are likely to have a huge impact on the franchise going forward?</p> <p><span style="line-height: 25.600000381469727px; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: medium;">The 2013 MLB Draft represented an important stepping stone in the rebuilding of the<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Miami Marlins</a>. Holding the sixth overall selection after the much-publicized disaster of the 2012 season, the Fish hoped to make the most out of their crop of new talent in hopes of forming the foundation of the organization going forward.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif;" class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph2"><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Due to a rather unsurprising top five picks (though the order was a little off than what was expected), the Marlins nabbed North Carolina third basemen Colin Moran with their first-round selection. Moran was widely viewed as the best pure hitter in the draft, and there's a chance that he may move through the organization quickly.</span></font></p>
<p style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 25.592592239379883px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph1"><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Moran wasn't the only pick that could pay huge dividends for the club in the future, though. Here is a breakdown of the best, most head-scratching, and potential sleeper picks from the Fish's 2013 draft class.</span></p>
<p style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 25.592592239379883px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;"><b>Best Picks</b></span></p>
<p style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 25.592592239379883px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph1"><font size="3" face="Mercury SSm A, Mercury SSm B, Georgia, Georgia, serif" color="#292929"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;"><i>Matt Krook, LHP, St. Ignatius HS (CA) - Competitive Balance Round A, 35th overall</i></span></font></p>
<p style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15.555556297302246px; line-height: 25.592592239379883px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph2"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Krook, currently committed to the University of Oregon, is a 6-foot-2 lefty with advanced secondary stuff that could become one of the best picks from this draft class. I wrote a recap of Krook's selection <a href="http://www.fishstripes.com/2013/6/6/4404662/2013-mlb-draft-miami-marlins-draft-matt-krook-35th-overall" target="_blank">here</a>, but in case you missed it, Krook's fastball sits in the low-90's and he has a sharp, biting curveball. Krook shows an advanced feel for pitching for being a prep lefty.</span></p>
<p style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Krook may be a difficult sign, but according to </span></font><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130606&content_id=49836634&notebook_id=49885698&vkey=notebook_mia&c_id=mia" target="_blank">this article</a><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 25.600000381469727px;"> from MLB.com, Krook is represented by the same agent, Matt Sosnick, as current Marlins pitcher <span>Ricky Nolasco</span>, and he offered this quote that sounds pretty promising:</span></font></p>
<blockquote>
<p style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; background-color: #ffffff;">"I love Oregon, I love the coaches up there," he said. "But I think at this point I'm ready to play pro ball. I just want to get my career started."</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="line-height: 25.600000381469727px; font-size: medium; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif;">The organization will take it's time with Krook's development, but the lefty could soon find himself as the best southpaw prospect in the organization if all goes according to plan.</span></p>
<p style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><i style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Colin Moran, 3B, Univ. of North Carolina - 1st round, 6th overall</i></p>
<p style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Though I voiced my opinion on not being completely sold on Moran in our Live Draft Thread, it's undeniable that he has one of the highest floors of any first-rounder. Moran possesses great plate discipline and is one of those "pure hitters" that often signify that a player is pretty close to being ready to face big league pitching.</span></p>
<p style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">There are some that aren't sold on Moran's defense at third, but if he's able to prove he isn't a complete liability in the field, his bat should allow him to advance quickly through the Marlins' system. He won't be the prototypical, mashing, third basemen with huge power like the second overall pick, Kris Bryant, but it's completely reasonable to believe Moran could be a .280/.390/.470 hitter in the big leagues.</span></p>
<p style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">The Marlins didn't expect Moran to be available with the sixth overall pick, but he was, and the organization scooped up a guy who fills a huge positional need, and one we could be seeing at Marlins Park sooner rather than later.</span></font></p>
<p style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><b style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Not-So-Best Pick</b></p>
<p style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><i style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Chad Wallach, C, Cal State Fullerton - 5th round, 142nd overall</i></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Wallach was the starting catcher for perennial <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-baseball">college baseball</a> juggernaut Cal State Fullerton, and the son of former major leaguer Tim Wallach, but his ceiling likely doesn't project to him to be more than perhaps a backup catcher in the major leagues.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Wallach has some decent power in his bat, but it's unlikely that he'll be able to hit enough to justify being a starting catcher at the big league level. Defensively, he has sound fundamentals, but only average arm strength.</span></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">The Marlins have gone through their share of catching disappointments as of late, so we can only hope that Wallach can prove his detractors wrong. If not, spending a fifth-round pick on a player of his type doesn't add up for me.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><b style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Sleeper Picks</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><i style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">K.J. Woods, RF, Ft. Mill HS (SC) - 4th round, 112th overall</i></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, 17-year-old prep outfielder K.J. Woods is a physical specimen that has the potential for huge power down the road. Though Woods is still extremely raw in terms of plate discipline and his overall hit tool, if he's able to fully develop his power, he could very well become a middle-of-the-order bat.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Even though he's played most of his career at first base, the Marlins selected him as an outfielder, though it's unsure whether he has enough quickness to play there. He won't be a guy that you'll see in the big leagues any time soon, but with enough refinement of his plate discipline, Woods could be one of the steals of this draft class.</span></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><i style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Ryan Aper, CF, Lincoln Land CC - 6th round, 172nd overall</i></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Even though Lincoln Land Community College sounds like a mystical land comprised of wood building blocks, it's still home to Marlins' sixth-round pick Ryan Aper.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Aper has absolutely annihilated Division II junior college pitching while at Lincoln Land, to the tune of 17 home runs and 51 stolen bases this season alone. He's got the physical tools to play at the next level, but there are obviously questions about whether his insane numbers will translate against better competition.</span></font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Luckily for Marlins fans, we won't have to long to see how Aper fares against said better competition, as he's already signed his contract with the Fish.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><b style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Honorable Mention</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><i style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">Scott Carcaise, 1B, Cal State Fullerton - 14th round, 412th overall</i></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">In the 14th round, the Marlins selected first basemen Scott Carcaise, a first baseman from Florida Tech. I don't have all that much to add in terms of analysis, but he is now my favorite prospect in the Fish's system because of this photo from his Florida Tech bio page:</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1654241/13CarcaiseFB.jpg"><img alt="13carcaisefb_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1654241/13CarcaiseFB_medium.jpg"></a></p>
<p>via <a href="http://www.floridatechsports.com/media/2012-13/baseball/fullbody/13CarcaiseFB.jpg">www.floridatechsports.com</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">There. Now you have absolutely no reason to not have Scott Carcaise as your favorite Marlins farmhand.</span></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><b style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;"><br>Final Grade - </b><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;"><i>B+</i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%;" class="pgh-paragraph"><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 25.600000381469727px;">If Moran can prove my doubts wrong, which I certainly hope he does, the Marlins' 2013 class could be instrumental in building the foundation for the future of the organization. With a good mix of college players who should be able to advance quickly, and prepsters with big upside, the 2013 Marlins' draft class could make Miami baseball a whole lot more bearable to watch than fans are used to.</span></p>
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https://www.fishstripes.com/2013/6/11/4418324/mlb-draft-2013-miami-marlins-grades-colin-moran-matt-krook-kj-woodscdorney2013-06-08T22:53:51-04:002013-06-08T22:53:51-04:002013 MLB Draft: Marlins Day 2 Results and Recap
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<p>The Miami Marlins drafted eight additional players on the second day of the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft. Curiously, not a single one of them was a pitcher. </p> <p>Scouting Director Stan Meek certainly made his feelings clear about the weaknesses in the Miami farm system, selecting eight consecutive position players yesterday. The Marlins largely avoided outfield prospects, where the team owns a surplus of talent. Instead, they loaded up on infield players.</p>
<p><b>3. Ben Deluzio, SS</b></p>
<p>After targeting a polished college hitter and three pitchers on Thursday, Meek finally went for the toolsy prep bat that he loves to draft so much.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://wapc.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=27704427&width=400&height=224&property=mlb" width="400" height="224" frameborder="0">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe></p>
<p>The 6-foot-2, 185-pound high school football star stands as by far the best athlete drafted by the Marlins. He boasts plus speed and a fair amount of raw power. Deluzio committed to Florida State solely to play baseball, so I expect that he will sign with Miami.</p>
<p>Meek said that he doesn't envision Deluzio as a shortstop in professional baseball, indicating a move to second base or center field may be in order.</p>
<p><b>4. K.J. Woods, 1B/OF </b></p>
<p>Now that <span>Marcell Ozuna</span> has lost his prospect status, the Marlins actually have a shortage of power bats in the minor leagues. K.J. Woods will help alleviate this drought, bringing a potent power tool to the system. Should he sign, he will immediately become the top first base prospect in the system.</p>
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<p>I know a scout put a 70 on Woods' raw power when he was at Team USA 16U trials. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23mlbdraft">#mlbdraft</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Marlins">#Marlins</a></p>
— Nathan Rode (@NathanRode) <a href="https://twitter.com/NathanRode/status/343065588651937792">June 7, 2013</a>
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<p>I like the Woods pick a lot, and part of that is his age. Whereas Ben Deluzio is one of the oldest players in his high school draft class, Woods is one of the youngest. He won't turn 18 years old for another month. I'm a member of the camp that believes relative age serves as a principal measure of prospect evaluation.</p>
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<p>The Marlins will need to work with Woods to help eliminate his tendency to swing-and-miss, but he should be able to adjust. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound body and enormous power potential are too enticing to pass up on.</p>
<p><b>5. Chad Wallach, C</b></p>
<p>Perhaps the least inspiring pick of the day, Chad Wallach doesn't offer much upside for the Marlins. He hit well for Cal State Fullerton, and plays well behind the plate. Unfortunately, none of his tools grade as above-average. I envision him as a future back-up.</p>
<p>I'm pleased that Wallach should sign easily, but I can't help but feel that the Marlins could have drafted a much better player here.</p>
<p>Chad is the son of All-Star third basemen Tim Wallach, who hit .257/.316/.416 during a 17-year career.</p>
<p><b>6. Ryan Aper, CF</b></p>
<p>The first of three junior college picks yesterday, Ryan Aper crushed the Division II junior college ranks this year, batting .462/.540/.904 with 17 home runs and 53 stolen bases.</p>
<p>Aper possesses legitimate tools to go along with his statistical performance. His solid bat speed, plus speed, and good arm strength should enable him to transition well to minor league baseball.</p>
<p>Despite a commitment to Middle Tennessee State, Ryan Aper agreed to terms with the <a href="https://www.fishstripes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Miami Marlins</a> today, signing after less than 24 hours.</p>
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<p>huge thank u to the @<a href="https://twitter.com/marlins">marlins</a> organization for giving me the opportunity to live out my dream! <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23GOFISH">#GOFISH</a> <a title="http://twitter.com/aperCF3/status/343163462807060483/photo/1" href="http://t.co/4AWlRxaRVJ">twitter.com/aperCF3/status…</a></p>
— Ryan Aper (@aperCF3) <a href="https://twitter.com/aperCF3/status/343163462807060483">June 8, 2013</a>
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<p><b>7. Justin Bohn, SS</b></p>
<p>Justin Bohn is tough to evaluate properly because of the lack of information available on him. Playing for Feather River College up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, it's unlikely that many teams scouted Bohn. He did bat .314/.482/.645 against junior college competition this year.</p>
<p><b>8. Iramis Olivencia, 2B</b></p>
<p>The Marlins took a local kid in Iramis Olivencia out of Arlington Country Day School. He's small at 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, but he's an athletic high school bat. The Fish have a good track record at developing these type of players, and I imagine they have seen him play quite a lot, so I'll trust their judgment here.</p>
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<p>Listed as a second basemen, the Marlins probably like his bat a lot, as amateur shortstops tend to get the most attention.</p>
<address><b><span style="font-style: normal;">9.</span> <span style="font-style: normal;">Aaron Blanton, SS</span></b></address> <address><br></address> <address><span style="font-style: normal;">I view Aaron Blanton mostly as a money saving pick for the Marlins. By signing the Richland Junior College product cheaply, the team's overall bonus pool remains intact, and they can work to sign more exciting high school players after the 10th round. </span></address> <address><br></address> <address><span style="font-style: normal;">I don't mean to suggest that Blanton is completely void of talent. According to scouting reports, he plays shortstop well and has plus speed on the base-paths. He just probably won't hit enough against tougher competition to survive.</span></address>
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<address><b style="font-style: normal;">10. Carlos Lopez, 1B</b></address>
<address> <address><br></address> <address><span style="font-style: normal;">Carlos Lopez represents another signability pick for the Marlins. At nearly 24 years old, Lopez would be old even for Triple-A baseball. </span></address> <address><br></address> <address><span style="font-style: normal;">Like Chad Wallach, Lopez was a solid performer for Cal State Fullerton. He bat .338/.415/.463 for the Titans this year.</span></address>
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<address><b style="font-style: normal;">Final Thoughts</b></address> <address><br></address> <address><span style="font-style: normal;">On the one hand, I was glad to see the Marlins target players with some exciting tools. I am hopeful that the team can mold some of them into major league baseball players. On the other hand, I believe the front office reached on some of these picks.</span></address>
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<address><span style="font-style: normal;">The Marlins likely could have drafted Ben Deluzio in the fourth round and K.J. Woods in the fifth round without trouble. This would have enabled them to take another college pitcher in the third round - perhaps someone like Andrew Mitchell out of TCU.</span></address> <address><br></address> <address><span style="font-style: normal;">Yesterday was just a small slice of the draft, however, and not worth rushing to judgment over. When we learn who signs and who doesn't, then we'll have a fuller picture to look at. </span></address> </address>
https://www.fishstripes.com/2013/6/8/4406920/2013-mlb-draft-2013-marlins-day-two-results-and-recapEricW