Live updates: Miami Marlins continue up-the-middle approach on Day 2 of MLB Draft
The Miami Marlins made a splash on the first day of the MLB Draft, getting arguably the steal of the first round when they took prep shortstop Kahlil Watson at No. 16 and then closing out their night by drafting prep catcher Joe Mack at No. 31.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel said the Marlins drafting Kahlil Watson at No. 16 “was a case of highway robbery” while also noting “it’s borderline personnel malpractice for [Watson] to sail through the seven to 15 area without any team snapping him up.”
Baseball America’s Carlos Collazo, meanwhile, wrote that “While Watson falling to the Marlins was decided just as much by the teams in front of Miami, it’s hard to not think the Marlins scouting department just walked away with the best pick of the draft after day one.”
How will the Marlins follow up on Day 2?
Rounds 2-10 of the three-day, 20-round draft are underway. A live stream of the draft will be available on MLB.com.
The Marlins pick in the middle of each round — they have the 16th pick in the second round (No. 52 overall) and then have the No. 17 selection in each subsequent round.
Follow along for quick updates on each player the Marlins draft as it happens. A full recap with more detailed analysis will follow later in the day. Colleague David Wilson is also running a live blog keeping tabs on South Florida draft prospects as the second day of the draft unfolds.
Round 2: Boston College shortstop Cody Morissette
The Marlins continue their up-the-middle approach with Morissette at No. 52.
Morissette, a left-handed hitter, hit .337 in 114 games at Boston College with 85 RBI, 70 runs scored and a .907 OPS.
Collegiate Baseball News named Morissette a first-team All-American in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season after he hit .448 with a 1.177 OPS in 15 games. A thumb injury hampered him as a junior in 2021.
MLB Pipeline ranks him as the No. 59 player this draft cycle. Baseball America had him at No. 46.
“He should fill into his 6-foot frame and add more to what is already solid strength,” reads MLB Pipeline’s scouting report. “That should help him add power, though just how much remains to be seen, with him looking more like the type who’ll hit a ton of doubles if he’s locked in. He’s more than willing to draw walks and has shown excellent contact skills in the past, but really struggled to impact the ball when teams stopped throwing him fastballs this spring. He’s not a burner, but he runs well enough and is smart and aggressive on the base paths.
“Defensively, Morissette has shown he can play multiple positions well, manning second as a freshman and handling third base a year ago. With a good internal clock, soft hands and enough arm, he could even play shortstop, a spot he’d play if it weren’t for the presence of Brian Dempsey at BC. A team that thinks he can play short might be the one to take him, knowing he could slide over to second with the ceiling of developing into a Chase Utley type of player if he can rediscover his groove at the plate.”
Third round: Pensacola Catholic High shortstop Jordan McCants
Another left-handed hitter (all four picks so far). Another shortstop (three picks so far). Another high school selection (three picks so far).
MLB Pipeline has McCants, a Mississippi State commit, as the No. 133 overall prospect in the draft class and its scouting report notes he “has the chance to be a table-setting type of middle infielder at the next level” who is a “plus runner who likes taking the extra base.”
“That speed helps McCants defensively,” reads Pipeline’s scouting report, “with enough range and excellent hands to make him a good shortstop. His arm might end up being a tick shy for the position long-term, with a move to second or perhaps center field in his future.”
McCants hit .450 with 10 doubles, 24 RBI, 31 runs scored and 13 stolen bases (in 18 attempts) in 108 plate appearances as a senior at Pensacola Catholic.
Fourth round: Mississippi State outfielder Tanner Allen
Another left-handed hitter for the Marlins. Allen, the 2021 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, had a .621 slugging with 11 HR, 66 RBI and 72 runs scored in 2021 for the College World Series champion Bulldogs.
MLB Network’s Jim Callis called Allen the draft’s “top discount hitter.”
Allen played first bases as a freshman and sophomore and then moved to right field the last two seasons.
“Allen’s hitting ability from the left side of the plate stands out in what has been a down year for college position players,” reads Allen’s scouting report from MLB Pipeline, which ranked him as the No. 139 prospect in this draft class. “He has a quick, compact stroke and makes consistent line-drive contact, controls the strike zone and uses the whole field. He focuses on smashing balls from gap to gap but has the bat speed and strength for average power if he turns on more pitches and launches them in the air more often.”
Fifth round: South Carolina outfielder Brady Allen
Bats right-handed. Throws left-handed. Career .255 hitter with 23 home runs, 80 RBI and 98 runs scored in 129 games with the Gamecocks. Set career-best marks in home runs (13), RBI (42), doubles (13) and runs scored (50) as a junior.
MLB Pipeline ranks Allen as the No. 193 prospect in the draft class.
His MLB Pipeline scouting report: “Allen should be able to hit for average with his swing, feel for hitting and ability to handle both velocity and breaking balls. He hasn’t done so consistently in college, however, because he makes too much groundball contact and struggles against changeups. His plus raw power translates into average home run production, and it’s playing better to all fields in 2021.
“Allen has average speed but plays faster than that on the bases and in center field because of his quick first step and his instincts. He’s an average defender in center field and solid in right field, where he has just enough arm strength. He might be more of a platoon player or a fourth outfielder, though he has the makeup to exceed expectations.”
Sixth round: Alabama catcher Sam Praytor
Third consecutive SEC player the Marlins drafted and the second catcher among their first seven selections. Praytor hit .285 in 126 games over four seasons at Alabama with 25 home runs, 19 doubles, 85 RBI and 78 runs scored.
He had a .906 OPS over 58 games as a redshirt junior in 2021 with career-best marks in doubles (12), home runs (14), RBI (48) and runs scored (35) en route to being named first-team All-SEC as a catcher.
Praytor played just six games as a sophomore in 2019 before undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Seventh round: Indiana RHP Gabe Bierman
Bierman is the first pitcher Miami drafted this year.
He posted a 2.94 career ERA over 36 games (21 starts) with 150 strikeouts against 57 walks in 144 innings. In 2021, Bierman went 5-4 in 12 starts with a 2.68 ERA while tallying 80 strikeouts over 74 innings. Opponents hit .179 against Bierman in his final season.
His fastball sits around 89-91 mph and touches 94. Has a plus changeup that plays off his fastball as well.
Eighth round: Texas Tech LHP Patrick Monteverde
The second consecutive pitcher Miami has selected after going with position players with their first seven picks.
Monteverde is a fifth-year senior, pointing toward an underslot with the signing bonus.
The 6-2, 190-pounder started 16 games in 2021 for Texas Tech, striking out 101 batters and putting up a 3.75 ERA in 86 1/3 innings.
He missed two years at Seton Hall due to Tommy John surgery before transferring to Texas Tech for his final year of eligibility.
His fastball sits around 87-91 mph and he also has a changeup and low 80s slider. Succeeds more because of control than pure stuff.
Ninth round: Wright State University RHP Jake Schrand
A third consecutive college pitcher for the Marlins.
Schrand moved to the starting rotation in 2021, making 14 starts and compiling a 4.61 ERA with 92 strikeouts against 20 walks over 68 1/3 innings.
In the two years prior to that, Schrand allowed just three earned runs over 25 1/3 innings in 18 relief appearances.
His fastball sits in the low 90s. Needs to improve his secondary pitches.
10th round: Florida State RHP Hunter Perdue
The Marlins draft their fourth consecutive college pitcher to close out Day 2 of the draft.
Perdue, a reliever for FSU in 2021, made 20 appearances out of the bullpen with a 3.27 ERA and 28 strikeouts against 10 walks over 22 innings.
This story was originally published July 12, 2021 at 12:00 PM.
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