The word on the Marlins’ top first base and catching prospects. And lingering questions
During the sports hiatus, we’ve been examining the Marlins’ farm system, which is ranked fourth in baseball by MLB.com.
Keep in mind that minor-league baseball reportedly will be canceled this season because of COVID-19, meaning the Marlins prospects might be limited to instructional league games in Jupiter.
Today, in part 4 of a 5-part series, we examine the two areas with the least depth in the system: first base (where there’s one top prospect but not much depth beyond that) and catcher (where there’s no sure-fire hitting prospect).
Examining the top five prospects at those two spots:
FIRST BASEMAN LEWIN DIAZ
▪ Where he stands: Acquired from the Twins in the Sergio Romo trade last July, Diaz finished last season hitting .270 with 27 homers and 76 RBI in 121 games on three minor league teams in Single A and Double A.
But here’s the one concern: After batting .302 for the Twins’ Double A affiliate in 33 games, he hit .200 for the Marlins’ Double A Jacksonville affiliate in 31 games. The Marlins indicated they weren’t worried by the drop in average after the trade.
The power was still there, with eight homers in Jacksonville and 14 in Double A overall, plus 13 home runs in Single A last season. The strikeout percentage wasn’t great but wasn’t horrible (21 percent of his plate appearances).
He impressed everyone this spring, hitting .304 (7 for 23) with a homer and four RBI. The Marlins are fully confident he will be their first baseman of the future.
▪ Ranking: MLB.com ranks him seventh among Marlins prospects.
▪ What they’re saying Part 1: Marlins executive Michael Hill: “We’re happy with the year he’s put on the board [last year], 20-plus home runs, playing Gold Glove defense. The goal is when we see the consistency with the offensive approach, then you’ll see a player who’s ready to help the major league club.”
▪ What they’re saying Part 2: From Fangraphs: “Diaz is a plus athlete, which is incredible for someone his size, and his infield feet, hands, and actions are all plus… Generally has good feel to hit; he can adjust to breaking balls mid-flight.”
▪ The projection: Fangraphs said even though “ideally he’d be a little more selective, we still think he ends up as a good everyday first baseman.”
CATCHER WILL BANFIELD
▪ Where he stands: The former 2018 second-round pick is highly skilled defensively but hit .199 with nine homers and 59 RBI in 101 games at Clinton last season. He also committed 14 errors but caught 43 of 94 would-be base stealers, an exceptional 45.7 percent.
▪ Ranking: MLB.com ranks him 25th among Marlins prospects. Fangraphs ranks him 23rd.
▪ What they’re saying: From Fangraphs: “Great defense, and [possesses] pull power [that] he might sufficiently tap into during games to profile as a low-end regular. More likely, he’s a glove-first backup.”
▪ The projection: One scout told me he believes Banfield will be a better hitter than he’s shown and still has a legitimate chance to become a big-league player. But the batting average must improve dramatically.
FIRST BASEMAN EVAN EDWARDS
▪ Where he stands: Edwards, the Marlins’ fourth-round pick last June out of North Carolina State, hit .285, with eight homers and 48 RBI, in 68 games at Class A Clinton.
▪ What they’re saying: Hill: “We felt he was arguably one of the top seniors available in the draft and he hasn’t disappointed. He’s played solid defense, been a run producer.”
▪ The projection: His solid first three-plus months in the big leagues were encouraging. The system’s second-best first base prospect after Diaz. Has a legitimate chance to become a big-leaguer.
CATCHER NICK FORTES
▪ Where he stands: The Marlins’ fourth-round pick in 2018 (out of Ole Miss) hit .217 with three homers and 29 RBI in 76 games at Jupiter. He made six errors and caught 29 of 108 would-be base stealers.
▪ Ranking: Fangraphs rates Fortes as the Marlins’ 40th best prospect.
▪ The projection, from Fangraphs: “An athletic, catch-and-throw guy with above-average feel for the barrel, Fortes likely has backup ceiling.” His bat has a long way to go.
(TIE) FIRST BASEMEN SEAN REYNOLDS AND LAZARO ALONSO
▪ Where they stand: Reynolds, a left-handed hitter, has 35 homers in 261 games in the low-level minors over four seasons but has hit .181 in his minor-league career, including .173 in 68 games at Clinton last season….
The left-handed hitting Alonso, already 25, raised eyebrows by hitting .336 in 43 games at Greensboro in 2018, and then .294 with 11 homers and 57 RBI in 114 games at Jupiter last season, before a short stint at Double A Jacksonville, where he hit .147 (5 for 34) in 13 games.
▪ What they’re saying: Fangraphs said Reynolds is “freaky,” with great exit velocity but “it’s unlikely he makes enough contact to get to first base-worthy power.” Alonso has “playable power” but can only play first base.
▪ The projection: Odds probably are against both of them, but Alonso’s success in high-level A ball raíses hopes, even though he’s older than teams would prefer for a prospect.
Here’s part 1 of the series with a look at the Marlins’ top left-handed pitching prospects.
Here’s part 2 of the series with a look at the Marlins’ top right-handed pitching prospects.
Here’s part 3 of my series on the top outfield prospects in the Marlins organization.
Coming Friday: Part 5 of the 5-part series, on the top middle infield and third base prospects in the system.
