MLB Draft: Top 3 Candidates for the Marlins to Draft

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Jun 20, 2013; Omaha, NE, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack pitcher Carlos Rodon (16) during the College World Series game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Dave Weaver-USA Today Sports

The MLB Draft is less than 12 hours away, with the Miami Marlins holding the #2 pick. The team’s pick could be a major make-or-break one for the Marlins, as they cannot afford another failed first round pick with the team rounding into form the next couple of seasons.

While the Marlins have had ample of time to go through thousands of prospects, the team has likely narrowed it down to three of four prospects they want the most. A lot of what the Marlins will decide to do will involve the Houston Astros, as they hold the number 1 pick.

The Marlins and Astros have been said to be on the same 4-5 prospects: Brady Aiken, Carlos Rodon, Alex Jackson, and Tyler Kolek. Other options for both teams include Aaron Nola and Nick Gordon. Outside of those six names, it would be a complete shock to anyone in the baseball industry if they were drafted number 1 or 2.

Most mocks have the ‘Stros selecting the talented lefty Brady Aiken, who has drawn comparisons to the Dodgers Clayton Kershaw. If this holds true, the Marlins will have an interesting choice on their hands.

Do they go with Rodon, the Cuban left hander that could make an impact in the majors as soon as next season? Or do they draft for a major organizational need of hitters?

Here are the three most likely candidates (from most likely to least likely) that could end up donning a Marlins uniform after the second selection:

1. Alex Jackson, C/OF

Age and School: 18, Rancho Bernando HS, California
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 210 lbs.
Position: Catcher/Right Fielder

When I first read the rumor of the Marlins drafting Jackson with the second overall pick, I was not a major fan of the team taking him. However, the more I have studied Jackson, the more I have started to like the idea of the team selecting him.

Alex Jackson is the most talented batter in the 2014 draft and could move a lot faster through the Marlins system than a High School arm would. Most scouts don’t believe that Jackson can stick at catcher long-term, but his bat should carry value at any position a team could play him at.

If Jackson can stick as a catcher, which I believe the Marlins will give him every opportunity possible to try, his value in this draft is higher than any other players. His power would be a major boost to the Marlins future lineup, with or without Giancarlo Stanton.

Jackson could become a .260ish hitter in the majors with the power to slug 30 or more home runs. Like I said, if he sticks at catcher, that is a super star player, even if his defense is just average. As we’ve seen with Stanton, that is also a formula for a star player in right field.

Overall, the Marlins need a bat and Jackson could be the perfect fit for them. Going by the timeline Christian Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton took to get to the majors, Marlins fans could see Jackson hitting bombs at Marlins Park as early as the 2017 season and as late as the 2018 season.

Jun 16, 2013; Omaha, NE, USA; NC State Wolfpack pitcher Carlos Rodon (16) during their College World Series game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Dave Weaver-USA Today Sports

2. Carlos Rodon, LHP

Age and School: 21, North Carolina State University
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 234 lbs.
Position: Starting pitcher

Jose Fernandez, Carlos Rodon, Andrew Heaney, Nathan Eovaldi, and Henderson Alvarez/Justin Nicolino.

That could be the look of the Miami Marlins rotation come late 2015.

With Fernandez and Rodon at the top of the rotation, not only would the Marlins have one of the best duos in baseball, they’d also have a great marketing ploy for the city of Miami. The Marlins could market the hell out of the two Cuban’s and bring baseball interest in Miami to an all-time high.

Projected to be a lock to be the number 1 pick in the draft just a few months ago, Rodon’s stock had nowhere to go but down. With sky high expectations, Rodon “only” struck 10.7 batters per nine innings, and finished his final season with an ERA of only 2.01. If these numbers were reflected upon any other starter in this draft, they’d be drawing praise from each scout.

A major concern for teams on Rodon would be his usage during the college season. Many times he was kept in a game with pitch counts reaching 120 and 130. With the team losing Jose Fernandez recently to Tommy John surgery and all their struggles to keep Josh Johnson healthy, this is going to be a sticking point for the Marlins when they are on the clock and Rodon is still there.

CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman suggests that Rodon could even make an impact on the Marlins major league roster by the second half of this season:

2. Miami Marlins: They are said to love San Diego high school hitting star Alex Jackson, but the temptation to take Rodon, a Cuban star from Miami who can pair with Jose Fernandez and might even help in the second half would seem to be too great. Possesses a tough cutter (one scout likened him to Al Leiter) and “disappearing” slider. Word is, Rodon isn’t thinking about a discount, so the negotiation between Scott Boras, who’s advising Rodon, and the cost-conscious Marlins, would be interesting. The pick: Carlos Rodon, LHP, NC State

While I don’t believe this is too likely, it illustrates just how close to big league ready Rodon is. He could realistically be making an impact on the Marlins rotation as early as 2015.

There are obviously injury risks associated with Rodon, or any other pitching prospect, but the potential with Rodon is too high to pass on. The Marlins could be in an interesting predicament if Rodon is not snagged up by the Astros with the number 1 pick.

3. Tyler Kolek, RHP

Age and School: 18, Shepherd High School, Texas
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 240 lbs.
Position: Pitcher

“The Marlins select a hard throwing right hander from the Texas area with the number two overall pick.”

Where have we heard that before? That’s right, with Josh Beckett in the 1999 MLB draft.

Kolek possess a fastball that has already been clocked in the triple digits in his High School games. He is destined to be a lock to be chosen in the top 5, barring a miraculous change in fate.

Unfortunately for the Marlins, or any team that drafts Kolek, he seems to be a pitcher that could move a little slower through a minor league system, then say someone like Brady Aiken. This is often the case with most power throwing pitchers, as they have to learn how to pitch more than just throwing a baseball.

Along with the electric fastball, Kolek possess a strong slider and curveball, both of which also have more room to improve. He also throws a changeup, but that is going to be a work in progress, as he works his way through any organization that drafts him.

In his senior year of High School, Kolek struck out 126 strikeouts and walked just 8 in 60 2/3 innings of work.

Kolek would be a great pick for the Marlins at number 2, as he has potential to be the next Josh Beckett or Jose Fernandez for the franchise. He however would be a bigger project than any of the other draft picks that the Marlins may consider.

Jun 16, 2013; Omaha, NE, USA; NCAA umpire Danny Collins (33) hands the ball to LSU Tigers pitcher Aaron Nola (10) during the game against the UCLA Bruins in the College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable mentions:

Brady Aiken, Aaron Nola, and Nick Gordon:

These three names are ones that Marlins fans should keep an eye on as well. Aiken seems like he is more than likely going number 1 overall to the Astros. If the Astros don’t select Aiken, it would make the Marlins choice even more interesting. At this point, my preference would be Aiken over anyone if he were to fall to number 2.

Both Nola and Gordon are longshots for the Marlins to pick, but they are players I cannot rule out, as the Marlins may try to cut a deal with a prospect to save some cash for further down the draft. If the Marlins were to reach for either of these two here, all hell would likely break loose from the media on the Marlins front office and owner Jeffery Loria.

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