2013 Marlin Maniac #5 Prospect: OF, Jake Marisnick

We have now ventured into the top five section of our top twenty prospect list. The Marlins list thus far has provided a lot of pitching and catching depth. The Marlins have two catching prospects that should be impact starters and a few starting pitchers with the upside of being mid-rotation starters. The Marlins have a few intriguing outfield prospects as well.

Here is a quick recap of the top 20 prospects we have taken a look at so far:

• #20-Mason Hope, RHP
• #19- Zack Cox, 3B
• #18- Tom Koehler, RHP
• #17- Kolby Copeland, OF
• #16- Austin Barnes, INF-C
• #15- Alfredo Silverio, OF
• #14- Avery Romero, INF
• #13- Derek Dietrich, INF
• #12- Mason Hope, SP
• #11- Adam Conley, SP
• #10- Jake Realmuto, C
• #9- Jose Urena, SP
• #8- Rob Brantly, C
• #7- Adeiny Hechavarria, SS
• #6- Marcell Ozuna, OF

The next player we will take a look at is the second of three prospects that the Marlins acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays back in November, in the massive fire sale trade. He is a promising outfield prospect that is highly regarded as a potential five tool player.

Feb 22, 2013; Jupiter, FL, USA; Miami Marlins player Jake Marisnick (77) poses for a picture during photo day at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

5. Jake Marisnick

Drafted: 2009 3rd round pick

Birthdate: 3/30/1991 (21) Height: 6’4″ Weight: 200 lbs.

The Blue Jays drafted Jake Marisnick in the third round (104h pick) of the 2009 Amateur Draft out of Poly High School in Riverside, California. Marisnick signed with the Jays for a signing bonus of $1,000,000. Scouts loved the five tools that Marisnick flashed and his future potential as a strong defensive center fielder.

Due to his late signing, Marisnick did not play any games in 2009 for the Blue Jays organization, but he did make his debut in 2010. Playing for the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays, Marisnick hit a respectable .287/.373/.459 with three homers and 14 stolen bases. After only 35 games with the GCL Blue Jays rookie team, Marisnick was promoted to low Class-A. Marisnick did not do well in his remaining 34 games, posting a .220/.298/.339 slash line with only one home run. He did however successfully steal nine more bases.

The Jays decided to keep Marisnick in Low-A to start the 2011 and that decision paid dividends, as he improved and hit a .320/.392/.496 slash line with 14 home runs and 37 stolen bases. He posted a wRC+ of 153. Due to this tremendous break out season, Baseball America ranked Marisnick as the 67th best prospect in baseball and the 70th best prospect by MLB.com.

The Blue Jays then started Marisnick in High-A to start the 2012 season, where he posted a  .263/.349/.451 slash line in 65 games. Marisnick hit only six home runs and stole 14 bases, but overall was impressive, posting a wRC+ of 127. Due to another strong performance, the Blue Jays decided to aggressively promoted him mid-season to Double-A.

Marisnick did not respond well to facing more advanced pitching, as he posted a line of .233/.286/.336 in 55 games. His 74 wRC+ was well below league average in his 223 at-bats.

While some prospect systems are still optimistic that Marisnick will improve with a full season of Double-A, prospect guru John Sickels is a bit more pessimistic on Marisnick’s future:

"6) Jake Marisnick, OF, Grade B-: Something of a tough grade. All the tools are here, but his swing gets tied up and he doesn’t control the zone well against advanced pitching. He’s young at 21 and has time to fix it, but without adjustments he will end up as a role player for his speed and glove."

Sickels himself has fellow Marlins prospect Marcell Ozuna ranked higher than Marisnick. I debated flipping the two with Ozuna being higher than Marisnick, but with Marisnick being a year younger and having a bit more minor league success, I upgraded Jake one spot over Ozuna.

Marisnick will start the season in Double-A and should be one the main cogs on one of the best outfields in the minors. Marisnick is expected to be the center fielder of the future for the Miami Marlins, pushing Christian Yelich to left field, where he is more suited to play. We will have more on Yelich and his prospect ranking in the coming days.

Like Ozuna, Marisnick will miss the beginning of the season, as he sustained a broken arm as well. Marisnick sustained his injury back on March 6th against the St. Louis Cardinals and should be back by the second or third week of the season.

Marisnick could make the Marlins big league team when the rosters expand in September of this season, but he will be ready to be a full-time player by 2014. Unlike Yelich, Marisnick has not tore the minor leagues up enough to warrant a mid-season call-up this season.