Marlins’ Rule V candidate preview

On Friday all 30 MLB teams have to set their 40-man roster for the Rule V draft that takes place next month. The Marlins’ roster currently stands at 35, which means they have five spots open to protect their players from the Rule V draft. For this year’s draft, teams have to protect high school players drafted in 2007 and college players from the 2008 draft.

For the Marlins, there are two locks- right-handed pitcher Tom Koehler and lefty reliever Dan Jennings.  After that it is not as clean-cut. There are “four” other players that are candidates to be added in outfielder Kevin Mattison, infielder Paul Gran, outfielder/infielder Jake Smolinski and pitcher Peter Andrelczyk.

First Kevin Mattison, the 2008 draftee out of UNC Ashville spent the 2011 campaign in Double-A Jacksonville. Mattison was a mid-season Southern League All-Star but ended with a .260 clip. The 26-year-old did have 38 stolen bases and had 49 last season. Currently Mattison is playing in the Arizona Fall League and owns a .352 batting average with six homeruns.

Paul Gran is also in the Fall League and is hitting a respectable .308. For Jacksonville this past season, the infielder hit .260. Likely won’t be added to the 40.

Jake Smolinski came to the Marlins from the Washington Nationals when the Marlins shipped out outfielder Josh Willingham and pitcher Scott Olsen. Smolinski, who can play multiple positions, only hit .245 for the Jacksonville Suns and hasn’t really lived up to the potential that the Marlins saw in the former second rounder.

The 6’1’’ righty Andrelczyk split 2011 between Double-A Jacksonville and Triple-A New Orleans. The Pennsylvania native had a combined 2.26 ERA in 41 games. For Jacksonville, Andrelczyk appeared in 20 games and flashed a 5-2 record with a 3.06 ERA with a 30/15 K/BB ratio. When moved up to the Pacific Coast League, his numbers just got better. In 21 games for the Zephyrs, Andrelczyk posted a dazzling 1.49 ERA in 36 innings pitched. Andrewlczyk will have a good chance to be added come Friday.