Miami Marlins prospects: Sean Reynolds continues rise after role change, plus more notes
The career arc for Miami Marlins prospect Sean Reynolds continues to be one of intrigue.
He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 draft as a first baseman, but after struggling to hit for four years was converted to a relief pitcher in 2020 when the minor-league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now entering his third year as a tall, hard-throwing right-handed pitcher, Reynolds has begun to take the next steps in his progression.
The 25-year-old, who stands at 6-8 and is ranked as the No. 25 prospect in the Marlins’ system, has firmly entrenched himself as the closer for Double A Pensacola, a role he also held down the stretch last season when the Blue Wahoos won the Southern League championship. He has seven saves this season, which leads the Southern League, to go along with 30 strikeouts in 23 innings over 19 relief appearances.
Reynolds tossed four shutout innings this week in three outings, striking out seven while giving up just two hits and four walks, and logged a two-inning save on Sunday.
After giving up a combined six earned runs in his first two outings of the season, Reynolds has given up earned runs in just one of his following 17 relief appearances.
His fastball sits between 96-98 mph and can touch 100 with movement up in the zone. He balances it with a low-80s changeup and a mid-80s slider to give him three offerings to attack hitters.
“One of the really exciting things about Sean is just how quickly he improved,” Marlins general manager Kim Ng said this offseason. “It was hard to ignore that. It’s hard to overlook that. I just hope that he continues on that track, with that rate of improvement.”
This and that
▪ Troy Johnston, the Marlins’ No. 29 prospect, has at least one hit in eight of last 10 games and hit home runs in back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday for Double A Pensacola. He has a .316 batting average, .438 on-base percentage and .579 slugging slash line in that span with 11 RBI and 11 runs scored.
MLB Pipeline’s scouting report calls Johnston “one of the better pure hitters in the [Marlins’] system.”
“Johnston has a clean left-handed stroke and makes good swing decisions, allowing him to make consistent contract to all fields,” the scouting report continues. “He has enough bat speed and strength to create average raw power, but his relatively flat swing and his approach are more conducive to line drives to the gaps than flyballs over the fence. He’s making an effort to pull and lift more pitches more often but still may top out at 12-15 homers per season.”
▪ It has been a feast or famine start for outfielder/first baseman Jerar Encarnacion. He leads the Triple A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp roster with 31 RBI and has 17 extra-base hits (nine doubles, eight home runs) to go along with an .855 OPS. But Encarnacion also has a staggering 70 strikeouts in 187 plate appearances — a 37.4-percent strikeout rate.
▪ Since May 7, Marlins 2021 first-round pick Kahlil Watson is hitting .293 (12 for 41) with three doubles, one home run, six RBI, six runs scored and 11 walks against 13 strikeouts to go along with an .885 OPS for the High A Beloit Sky Carp. He has multiple hits in four of 13 games. His .402 on-base percentage is third among regulars for High A Beloit.
In 24 games played overall this season, Watson has five doubles, two home runs and 12 runs scored. He has successfully stolen six in seven attempts.
▪ Speaking of stolen bases, Marlins shortstop prospect Nasim Nunez is up to 20 on the season with Double A Pensacola. That’s the second most in Southern League. He is one of 16 players overall in minors with at least 20 stolen bases so far this season.
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