11 Marlins Prospects To Watch Beyond The Top 30

The Marlins Top 30 prospects rankings are up now for Baseball America subscribers, with full scouting reports, BA grades and tools grade projections for all 30 players.

Through the process of narrowing the list down to a Top 30, there are other intriguing names who didn’t make the cut but are worth monitoring, with the potential to jump into the Top 30 in the future. Some of those are players who might be in the upper levels and could see big league time this year, though likely in a limited role, while others are lower-level players still in the complex leagues with more upside but plenty of risk.

Beyond the Top 30, these are 11 prospects to watch in Miami’s farm system.

Jose Devers, SS. The former top prospect has struggled mightily to stay healthy over the past few seasons and played just 60 games in 2022 while dealing with shoulder injuries. He was designated for assignment in November and cleared waivers. At his best he shows table setter’s skills, but he hasn’t been at his best in a long while. 

Griffin Conine, OF. Conine has the system’s best raw power but also struck out nearly 38% of the time at Double-A in 2022. Still, power like Conine’s will likely get plenty of chances at cutting down on the swing and miss. If everything goes right, he could be an extra outfielder who mashes off the bench. 

Cody Morissette, 2B. Miami’s second-round pick from 2021 has failed to produce much offensively in his time as a pro. Marlins officials saw an improved bat path during the season, but every time his contact improved, his power waned. His defense at second base is only average, so he’ll really need a bounceback in 2023. 

Evan Fitterer, RHP. The Marlins’ 2019 fifth-rounder hasn’t particularly stood out in his time as a professional and hasn’t really found a pitch that generates tons of swings and misses. He can reach 95 mph with his fastball and can land or bury his curveball, but his overall profile is very vanilla and best suited for low-leverage relief.

Jorge Mercedes, LHP. Injuries and the pandemic meant that Mercedes, who signed in 2018, did not make his official pro debut until the 2022 season. He was accordingly rusty and struggled to throw strikes, but it’s difficult to simply dismiss a lefthander who can throw his fastball 100 mph. 

Victor Mesa Jr., OF. Team officials ranked Mesa as the best defensive outfielder in the system, but there’s still plenty to be desired at the plate. He doesn’t strike out at an overly alarming clip, but scouts see a player with a hacker’s approach that won’t permit him to be more than a defensive extra in the big leagues. 

Ronald Hernandez, C. The Marlins were high on Hernandez as an amateur, when he showed projection and defensive skills behind the plate, including excellent pop times. He didn’t knock the cover off the ball in 2022, but internal evaluators praise his barrel adjustability and knack for staying on time with fastballs. 

Lester Nin, RHP. Signed for $25,000 as a 19-year-old in June 2022, Nin dominated the DSL and earned a spot in its all-star game. His fastball sits in the low 90s and has clipped 95 with above-average cut-ride action. He backs it up with a high-spin curveball in the mid 70s. 

Janero Miller, OF/LHP. Miller received the largest signing bonus in Miami’s most recent international class and boasts an interesting profile as a two-way player who will play the outfield and pitch in relief in his pro debut this summer. The Bahamian Miller is loose and athletic and already brings his fastball into the low 90s with cut-ride action. He pairs the fastball with a developing slider. He shows power from the left side and is a strong defender in the outfield. Whether he sticks in center field or moves to a corner will depend on the way his body develops. 

Fabian Lopez, SS. Lopez is an outstanding defender at shortstop and should stick at the position. Both his glovework and arm strength stand out as potential plus tools. The 2023 international signee is lean and wiry with loose actions and sneaky power. The key to his future will hinge on the amount of strength he can develop in the coming years. 

Andres Valor, OF. Another 2023 international signee, Valor is a big, physical outfielder with tight, powerful swing mechanics who didn’t show a ton of swing-and-miss tendencies as an amateur. He’s a plus runner who will have a chance to stick in center field.