With spring training approaching, top Miami Marlins prospects go to the batting cages
Dick Scott, the Miami Marlins’ director of player development, had plenty to watch Tuesday as many of the team’s up-and-comers took to the batting cages.
The Marlins had 11 of their top prospects take part in a hitter’s camp at the club’s spring training complex at Jupiter’s Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Among the group is seven of their top picks from the 2018 and 2019 MLB drafts: JJ Bleday, Kameron Misner, and Will Banfield; both Mesa brothers, who are hoping to show improvement in their second full season as part of the Marlins’ organization; two-time minor-league All-Star Jose Devers, just 20 years old and already receiving an invite to major-league camp; and a breakout star in outfielder Jerar Encarnacion, who shined in the Arizona Fall League.
“It’s really exciting,” Scott said. “[The camp is] pretty casual, but I think we’ve really turned the organization into an athletic organization offensively. ... We have a lot of good players coming.”
Scott took his time to watch every player take rounds and rounds of batting practice in the cages just next to the back fields. The players rotated in and out of the four cages, getting feedback after every six or seven swings before the next player took his turn.
“You’re here to help,” Scott said. “You’re here to pass on knowledge that you gained through playing or even previous coaching. The players, they’re just looking for something to sink their teeth into, something they can get better at. ... The guys just want to know where they stand. They want to know what they need to work on.”
It’s also providing a final tune-up for players before spring training begins next month. Ten of the prospects taking part in this camp are among the club’s top 30 prospects. Encarnacion is the only player of the group who was in the organization before the Bruce Sherman and Derek Jeter ownership group took over.
Another group of the Marlins’ top prospects — including outfielder Monte Harrison and shortstop Jazz Chisholm — were on site in Jupiter and spent time with the prospects going through the hitting camp.
“We’ve got a lot of young prospects,” outfield prospect Victor Mesa Jr. said. “We’re going the right way. We have to give 100% of our talent and effort. We are good. The future is here.”
The real action for these hitters begins on Feb. 17 when hitters report to Jupiter for spring training. Pitchers and catchers start five days earlier on Feb. 12.
“Getting down here early is a good start to get you familiar with what you’re about to face,” said Bleday, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft and the top hitting prospect in the Marlins’ organization. “The volume and what the days are going to consist of. It’s great to see familiar faces and finally get prepared because once spring training gets here, it’s just going from there.”
The Marlins as a whole hope spring training will be a jumping point to the season, one in which they will try to show improvement at the major-league level as they begin Year 3 of their rebuild. The farm system has been upgraded, with the Marlins boasting the fourth-best minor-league group in MLB, according to MLB Pipeline.
The team, however, has put up just a 120-203 record during the past two years.
“This is the future,” catching prospect Banfield said. “They’re trying to mold everybody together.”
FanFest information
The Marlins will hold their annual FanFest on Feb. 8 from 3-7 p.m. at Marlins Park. The event is free, but fans must claim their complementary tickets at Marlins.com/FanFest.
This story was originally published January 14, 2020 at 2:41 PM.
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