Miami Marlins: Is Jake Marisnick Ready for Promotion?

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

Juan Pierre has gone 2 for his last 24 since his 14 game hitting streak ended on June 20th and Justin Ruggiano has collected just 3 hits in his last 24 at bats. For the season, the team has a wOBA of just .272, the worst mark in the majors. The Marlins are not getting much out of their current crop of left fielders and a change maybe necesary soon.

Meanwhile, Marlins top prospect Christian Yelich is still rehabbing from an abdomen injury and should not be ready to see the majors until at least the end of July or the beginning of August. So the team cannot count on him stepping in for the black hole in left field right now.

The team however does have one option sitting in the minors that is making a case for himself for an immediate promotion: Jake Marisnick.

Marisnick was batting just .235/.287/.378 (.306 wOBA) in his first 108 plate appearances and had just a .284 wOBA for the Blue Jays in Double-A last season. He has however since been playing much better.

On the season, Marisnick owns a .289/.359/.500 slash line for the season, good for a .390 wOBA. Marisnick has 10 homers, 10 doubles, and 3 triples, as well as 11 stolen bases in 16 attempts.

In his past ten games, Marinick owns a .297/.395/.405 slash line. Marisnick has shown clear improvement as the season has worn on and with 494 plate appearances in Double-A with the Jays and Marlins, might be showing that he has mastered the level as a hitter. Marisnick missed the entire month of April with a broken bone in his hand.

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After striking out in over 30% of his at bats in the month of May, Marisnick has struck out just 18 times in his last 105 at bats. He also has drawn more walks in fewer AB’s since the month of May.

With his 10 homers and 13 doubles/triples, Marisnick has had his best power showing of his young career, posting a career high ISO of .211 thus far. His career high in homers was 14 in 2011, when he was playing A-Ball with the Blue Jays. Marisnick had a .403 wOBA that season and earned a promotion to High-A the following season.

While it would not hurt to keep Marisnick in the minors for the duration of the season, to get him more seasoning, he is making a compelling case for a promotion sooner rather than later.

What do you guys think? Is it time to promote Marisnick and give him a shot to work in the outfield with Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna? What do you do with Chrisitan Yelich if you bring up Marisnick now and have a crowded outfield?