Justin Wayne

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #31 prospect in 2004
  After coming to spring training with an outside shot at Florida's No. 5 starter slot, Wayne was hit hard and sent back to Triple-A. Summoned to make two starts on what turned out to be Jeff Torborg's final road trip as manager, Wayne got rocked in both, failing to record a single out in Houston. Despite being a personal favorite of Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, who owned the Expos when they made Wayne the fifth overall pick in 2000, he was exiled to Triple-A for the rest of the year. Pitching in the altitude at Albuquerque wasn't easy for Wayne, who has an 87-90 mph fastball and doesn't get many strikeouts. His forte is keeping hitters off balance with pinpoint control and an advanced ability to use all four quadrants of the strike zone. He has a solid slider and curveball, as well as a changeup that just a year ago was considered the best in the Marlins system. A perfectionist, Wayne tends to nibble at times and can be guilty of overanalyzing himself. Though he's a workout fiend, endurance can be a concern. Because he lacks overpowering stuff, he probably has to make the rotation to stick in the majors this year.
• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #7 prospect in 2003
  Wayne is a favorite of Jeffrey Loria, whose Expos drafted him fifth overall in 2000 and gave him a Montreal-record $2.95 million bonus. After being reunited with Loria in the Cliff Floyd trade, Wayne struggled in Triple-A before showing flashes in a five-start September audition in the majors. Wayne pitches at 87-90 mph and keeps hitters off-balance with pinpoint control and an intelligent approach. He throws four pitches for strikes, including a plus curveball, a plus slider and a changeup that's the best in the system. His velocity climbed to 92-93 mph in the majors. His slider sometimes gets flat, and Wayne will go for long stretches without trusting his curve. Though he's a fitness nut, he missed a few starts with shoulder tendinitis and needs to get stronger. A perfectionist, he tends to nibble and overanalyze his performance. After getting his first taste of the majors, Wayne will get a legitimate shot at making the Florida rotation this spring.
• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #6 prospect in 2002
  Wayne pitched well enough at Jupiter to earn a promotion to Double- A after seven starts. The fifth overall selection in the 2000 draft then reeled off eight wins in his final nine decisions. Wayne has good command of four pitches. His two main weapons are an 88-91 mph two-seam fastball that sinks down and in on righthanders, and a deceptive change that does an outstanding job of decelerating bats. He has an average slider with fair tilt and break. Wayne does a good job of using both sides of the plate and getting in on hitters with his fastball. Wayne has a 71-75 mph curveball that he seldom uses. It still needs work because it lacks bite and depth, and he has a tendency to drift and cut it off at times. His four-seam fastball generates fringe-average velocity without much effort but lacks movement. The Expos planned for Wayne to pitch in the Arizona Fall league, but they decided against it after he came down with a tired arm. Though he doesn't have overwhelming stuff, he has won everywhere he has pitched. That should continue at Triple-A Ottawa in 2002.
• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #5 prospect in 2001
  Wayne became the first native Hawaiian selected in the first round of the draft when the Expos grabbed him fifth overall. An All-American at Stanford, where he set school records for single-season victories and career strikeouts, he lost the College World Series championship game in relief against Louisiana State. Wayne, whose brother Hawkeye pitches in the Mariners system, signed for a team-record $2.95 million bonus. Wayne is a polished pitcher with a smooth delivery and four solid pitches. His fastball is more notable for its movement than its 88-92 mph velocity, and his slider is his best pitch. He has a plus changeup and solid curveball, and he can command all of his pitches. The Expos can't say enough about his intelligence and makeup. Wayne has a deep repertoire but doesn't have a go-to pitch that strikes fear in the heart of batters. His margin for error isn't as great as that of Donnie Bridges or Josh Girdley. Though the Expos gave Wayne some time off after his long college season, he's definitely on the fast track. He should get to Double-A this season and could be in Montreal by early 2002.