Jumbo Stats for Marlins prospects at Triple-A Jacksonville
Lewin Diaz is ready for the big leagues, Jesus Sanchez is scorching hot, and Monte Harrison is flashing his overall skillset. MO2 breaks down the Marlins Triple-A affiliate
By Joe Frisaro @ManOn2nd
Almost a week into the Minor League season, and already several highly regarded Miami Marlins prospects are tearing it up at Triple-A Jacksonville.
Monte Harrison, Jesus Sanchez and Lewin Diaz are the Big Three in the lineup right now, with each showing why the Marlins should show plenty of patience when it comes to evaluating and developing their prospects.
According to MO2 sources, Diaz right now is big league ready. Sanchez is off to a blistering start (hitting .556 in his first five games), and Harrison is right there with Jazz Chisholm Jr. as being the most overall dynamic position player prospect in the organization.
With Monte, it’s just a matter of making consistent contact at the plate.
On the pitching side, right-hander Cody Poteet has been a pleasant surprise. In his first start, the organization’s fourth-round pick in 2015, struck out 10 in 5 2/3 innings.
Here’s a quick summary on prospects singled out to MO2.
1B Lewin Diaz: “He’s ready,” is the immediate response MO2 heard about the left-handed hitting first baseman.
The 24-year-old Diaz projects as the first baseman of the future, and he’s making a case that his time is really getting close. This creates a bigger question for the organization. Jesus Aguilar is anchoring first base for the Marlins, and as long as the team stays in contention, which they have been doing, he projects to stay at first.
Now, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing for the Marlins. On the contrary, it puts the organization in a great position.
Diaz is at Triple-A for the first time, and as much seasoning as he can get at that level, the better for his overall development.
Also remember, there was no Minor League season in 2020, so however long he is at Triple-A, it continues to get him valuable reps.
Diaz had 39 at-bats in the big leagues last year, and hit .154. So, he’s already had a taste of being on an MLB roster.
What you’d like is for him to be ready to play every day, and not have to be rushed in any way.
Off to a fast start at Jacksonville, Diaz is batting .308 with a 1.110 OPS. Additionally, he has two doubles, three homers, 10 RBIs and seven runs scored.
Defensively, he’s the best first baseman they have in the system.
OF Jesus Sanchez: Through six games, Sanchez is posting video-game-like numbers — .556 batting average, 1.646 OPS, one double, two triples, three homers and 12 RBIs. He’s also making contact, with just strikeouts in 27 at-bats.
Playing with plenty of flare, Sanchez is letting his talents take over. He’s looking to do big time damage, and from what we’ve been told, he isn’t getting cheated out of his swings.
Sanchez saw limited big league time in 2020, striking out at a 37.9 percent clip in 29 plate appearances.
Clearly, if he keeps this up, Sanchez is a candidate to be promoted. There definitely could be a need, especially with center fielder Starling Marte (rib) on the injured list. Adam Duvall and Garrett Cooper have been getting most of the work in right field.
OF Monte Harrison: Just let Monte play, and let his game develop at its own pace.
Harrison had a brief big league callup, and was 1-for-6 in three games. While he was upset about being optioned out after a few days, the timing wasn’t right for Harrison to be in the lineup with the MLB club.
Getting the reps at Jacksonville will be beneficial, as he can continue to work on the parts of his game to put him in position to be a big league regular.
Harrison is hitting .304 with a double and home run in five games. He also has nine strikeouts in 24 plate appearances. There’s still a bit of all or nothing in his overall game.
But he has so much ability that you give him every opportunity to figure it out.
RHP Cody Poteet: The Marlins are stocked with quality starters from their big league team on down through each of their four Minor League affiliates. A name that doesn’t get much attention is Cody Poteet, a fourth rounder from the UCLA in 2015.
Poteet has appeared in 99 Minor League games, and has a career 3.84 ERA in 510 2/3 innings.
The 26-year-old opened eyes in his first start at Jacksonville. In 5 2/3 innings, he gave up one run on three hits with 10 strikeouts.
What had evaluators doing doubletakes is his fastball topped at 97 mph. His fastball ranged from 92-97 mph, and he sat in the 95-96 mph range.
Mixing in a curveball and slider, Poteet could be a candidate to make big league starts, especially if they are managing the innings of pitchers currently on the MLB roster.
RHP Nick Neidert: Neidert made three big league starts this year, and was optioned to Triple-A after posting a 6.75 ERA.
In his first Triple-A starter, Neidert was fine. Nothing to get overly excited about or any reason to be too concerned either. He gave up three unearned runs in five innings.
If Neidert can elevate his game, it would be big for the organization, because the Marlins remain unsettled with their fourth and fifth starters.
LHP Braxton Garrett: The Marlins’ first-round pick in 2016, Garrett has made two starts, and has a 6.23 ERA in 8 2/3 innings. More than the numbers it’s how the left-hander has been throwing. His curveball, which was his best pitch when he was drafted, hasn’t been as sharp as in the past.
Garrett’s fastball velocity was 90-93 mph, with mostly 90-91s in his last start. He had mostly been a fastball, curveball, changeup pitcher. Garrett has added a slider this year, which at times, has looked better than his curveball.
One thought on “Jumbo Stats for Marlins prospects at Triple-A Jacksonville”
Monte striking out at a 40% clip. No good
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