By: Rich Douglas
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The Marlins aren't as stacked as one would believe with all the trades that they've made in the offseason, but they're still considered to be a top 10 minor league system due to their top players' high ceilings.
Top Prospect
Jose Fernandez - I won't consider Nate Eovaldi or Jacob Turner as prospects since they saw a decent amount of time last year in the majors and are both slotted into the rotation of the young Marlins squad. Fernandez at just 20 years old has a ceiling higher than anyone throughout the entire system due to his big frame, workhorse like mentality, and advanced command. He absolutely dominated batters in single A with a 1.75 ERA and 1.93 FIP. HIs FIP was especially low because he only gave up 2 HRs in 134 innings while striking out 10.6 and walking 2.35 men per 9 innings. Fernandez already has 2 plus pitches, a mid to high 90s fastball and an excellent changeup. He also has an above average curveball and slider to fill out his repertoire. He should be considered a top 10 prospect, if not higher and will certainly be in the majors in the next year.
Top Hitter
Christian Yelich - The power hitting Centerfielder is still working on his defense and should develop into a serviceable fielder in the outfield, but his real contribution to the team should be at the plate. The 21 year old put up stellar numbers at the plate in A ball as he had an OBP of .392, a wOBA of .403, while slugging 12 HRs and 35 doubles in 550 plate appearances. He projects as a 20 HR hitter with a .300 average due to his high line drive rate which leads to his high BABIP. He needs to show a bit more plate discipline and better pitch recognition as he struck out 102 times. This will ultimately determine his future as it is something he'll need to shore up during his process through the minors. Expect him to get a shot at a roster spot next season.
Bronze Medal
Marcell Ozuna - The 22 year old slugger still has plenty of work to do, but the Marlins will give him the time to develop as they envision a future outfield of Ozuna-Yelich-Stanton. Assuming Ozuna and Yelich reach their potential, they could form a very dangerous outfield. Ozuna projects as a 5 tool player, but is a couple years away from the majors due to his inability to hit for average and get on base consistently. He has the most power and arguably the best defense in the system, but he possesses a high strike out rate that is hampering his overall development. In all likelihood, Ozuna develops into a Jonny Gomes type hitter with excellent defense, but if he cuts down on the strikeouts, he could turn into something special. That is of course, a big "if."
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