Miami Marlins Breakout MLB Prospects Entering 2024

Entering 2024, we’re examining multiple Marlins prospects on the verge of a breakout season. To qualify as a breakout prospect for this exercise, a player must rank outside the Top 10 Prospects in his organization entering the year.

You can find all of our preseason prospect rankings here and a link to breakouts for all 30 teams here.

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Breakout Prospects

Andres Valor, OF

Preseason rank: 12
BA Grade: 50. Risk: Extreme.

TRACK RECORD: Valor was a part of the Marlins’ 2023 international free agent class and signed for $520,000. He had a strong first professional season in the Dominican Summer League in which he hit .294/.360/.466 with 16 doubles, five home runs, 25 RBIs and 21 stolen bases in 51 games.

SCOUTING REPORT: Valor has a great body at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds. He has an incredibly athletic build with plenty of present strength, but he still has room to add more mass and impact potential. Valor stands almost completely upright in the box with a medium-high handset. He has a twitchy, compact operation with a small load, hardly any stride and scissor action in his back leg with lightning-fast hands. At just 17 years old, Valor has already posted a max exit velocity of 108 mph. His bat-to-ball skills at this point are solid, with an in-zone contact rate of 80%. Valor’s approach should only get better as he continues to get acclimated to professional baseball. He is a great athlete in the outfield with a quick first step and strong throwing arm. Valor covers plenty of ground to either gap and he has the defensive chops to stick in center long term. He oozes upside and is one of the most exciting prospects in the organization.

THE FUTURE: Valor this year figures to get his first taste of stateside baseball and is likely to start the year in the Florida Complex League. There is no reason to rush him, but there’s a chance he’s able to earn a promotion to Jupiter by season’s end. Valor’s big league debut is still a ways away, but he has all the tools to be an impact player.

Scouting Grades
Hitting: 50. Power: 55. Run: 55. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55.

Anthony Maldonado, RHP

Preseason rank: 21
BA Grade: 40. Risk: High.

TRACK RECORD: An 11th round draft choice out of Bethune-Cookman, Maldonado has established himself as one of the best relief pitchers in the Marlins organization. After spending time at both Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Jacksonville in 2022, Maldonado had an outstanding full season in Triple-A in 2023. He worked to a 1.76 ERA with 71 strikeouts to 21 walks across 46 innings and looked the part of an effective big league reliever.

SCOUTING REPORT: Maldonado is high-waisted at 6-foot-4 and features a lethal three-pitch mix that includes a mid-80s cutter, low-80s slider and low-90s two-seam fastball. He throws each offering the same amount, but his cutter-slider combination is especially deadly. Maldonado hides the ball well and attacks from a mid three-quarters slot. He has some arm speed and throws each offering with conviction. His cutter generated an absurd 63% miss rate and held opposing hitters to a minuscule .048 average. Maldonado manipulates its shape well and it consistently flashes late, two-plane break. His slider was just as effective with a 50% miss rate and .102 opponent’s batting average. It takes on a similar look to his cutter, but has a bit more horizontal break. Maldonado’s two-seam fastball isn’t necessarily a bat-misser, but it generates plenty of soft contact with its sinking action.

THE FUTURE: Maldonado will have an opportunity to make the big league roster out of camp and could fit in a late-inning role. With two plus pitches, he has the stuff to be an above-average major league reliever.

Scouting Grades
Fastball: 45. Cutter: 60. Slider: 60. Control: 55.

Mark Coley, OF

Preseason rank: 26
BA Grade: 40. Risk: High.

TRACK RECORD: Coley was a four-year player for Rhode Island who enjoyed a strong 2023 season that propelled him into a late day three draft selection. He had a strong pro debut and in Low-A Jupiter he hit .265/.395/.480 with eight doubles, three home runs and 17 RBIs in 33 games.

SCOUTING REPORT: Coley has plenty of present strength in his lean and athletic frame. He has a quiet yet explosive operation in the box with a minimal load and stride. Coley’s barrel explodes through the hitting zone and he has thunderous bat speed that enables him to generate big-time impact from the right side. He has plus power that he has gotten to in games, although his pure hit tool lacks refinement. Coley has below-average pitch-recognition skills and has the tendency to expand the strike zone given his overall contact rate of 57% and a 29% chase rate. Coley is a plus runner whose speed and athleticism translate well to center field, where he has a chance to stick long term, though his plus arm strength could also fit in right field.

THE FUTURE: Coley will likely begin 2024 back with Low-A Jupiter, although a promotion to High-A Beloit seems imminent. While he is already 23 years old, Coley’s potential big league debut could come as soon as 2026. He has an exciting toolset and could be a solid fourth outfielder.

Scouting Grades
Hitting: 35. Power: 60. Run: 60. Fielding: 50. Arm: 60.