Marlin Maniac’s Top 10 Prospect List Post Trade Deadline

Jul 5, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Andrew Heaney (25) reacts after giving up a two run home run to St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Allen Craig (not pictured) during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

With the 2014 trade deadline now past us, its time for us to take a look at the Marlin Maniac top 10 prospect list for the Miami Marlins, post the trade deadline.

As we all know, the Marlins dealt two of the three prospects from our post draft top 15 prospect list, in Jake Marisnick (#3) and Colin Moran (#5) to the Houston Astros for a package headlined by starting pitcher Jarred Cosart. With the trade sending out two of the Marlins top prospects, there has been some changes in the top 10, with both players moving up by default as well as due to performance.

Our top 10 prospect list post draft was put together by myself and author David Polakoff. For the most part, we were in agreement with how to rank the prospects, but we also had a couple of differences in thinking. We used the MLB.com top 20 Marlins prospect list as the tiebreaker in the case of us ranking one prospect over the other.

Here is a look at the top 10 prospect list for the Marlins:

Jun 14, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins catcher Jacob Realmuto (60) backs away from an inside pitch as Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Chris Stewart (19) catches the ball at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

4. Justin Nicolino, LHP

Preseason Rank: 4, Post Draft: 7

MLB ETA: 2015

Nicolino is back into the top 5 prospect list for Marlin Maniac after taking a bit of a dip in our last ranking. The main reason for his slip was due to his lack of strikeouts. That is still a major concern for Nic, as he has struck out just 60 batters in over 139 innings of work.

The good news is that Nicolino does not walk many batters, either, with just 18 walks on the season. Nicolino is likely to see Triple-A before he gets his chance in the majors, like Heaney and Desco before him. I believe he has proven all that he can at Double-A, so it should probably be a matter of time before he earns his promotion to Triple-A.

Due to his lack of whiffs, I project Nicolino to be a 4/5 innings eater at the MLB level. There’s doubt that he could be a 3/4 guy like the Marlins had envisioned when they acquired him from the Jays.

5. Avery Romero, 2B

Preseason: 9, Post Draft: 9

MLB ETA: 2016

With Moran and Marisnick gone, Romero is the Marlins de-facto top hitting prospect. That is not a bad thing, however, as Romero has a chance to be a special player with his bat.

Despite hitting well on the season (.324 wOBA), we are still waiting to see if Romero can develop some pop with his bat, as his body matures. If he is able to add power to his game, he has a chance to become an All-Star second baseman down the road.

Reports say that Romero has improved his defense at the keystone position, with the Marlins hoping he could be the team’s long term solution at second base.

6. J.T. Realmuto, C

Preseason: 13, Post Draft: 8

MLB ETA: 2014

Realmuto has already seen action at the big league level in 2014, filling in for Jarrod Saltalamacchia when he hit the 7-day concussion DL. That in itself says a lot about how far Realmuto has come from 2013.

Repeating the Double-A level, Realmuto has a .366 wOBA, reinserting himself into the conversation as the catcher of the future for the Fish.  His defense has been a strong point since he converted to the position in 2010, when the Marlins drafted him.

If his bat continues to develop, Realmuto can be an everyday catcher, which would be his ceiling. His floor at this point seems to be a Jeff Mathis type role, with a questionable bat and strong defense behind the plate.

Jun 27, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins relief pitcher Brian Flynn (35) throws during the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Marlins Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

7. Adam Conley, LHP

Preseason: 5, Post Draft: 6

MLB ETA: 2015

Conley has been sliding the wrong way during the 2014 season on Marlins prospects lists. He came into the season as the third best Marlins starting pitching prospect, but has slipped down to the fourth best as of now. Inconsistencies and an elbow injury have been major detriments to Conley’s 2014 season.

Conley is currently spending his second stint on the 7-day disabled list with an elbow issue. That is not something the Marlins organization wants to see. When he’s been healthy, he’s posted the lowest strikeout rate of his minor league career and walked the highest amount per nine innings.

As a converted reliever, you have to wonder if the innings have started to take a toll on the left hander and if future remains in the rotation or out of the bullpen. His 6.00 ERA and 4.16 FIP certainly paint that picture, but we’ll just have to wait and see how a healthy Conley looks. That might not happen till 2015.

8. Justin Twine, SS

Preseason: N/A, Post Draft: 10

MLB ETA: 2018

This is a guy that both David and I are high on. Being a former football and track star in high school, you could just imagine the athleticism the kid possess. This is a major reason the Marlins signed him to a slot second round deal of $1.3 million.

Twine has not gotten off to a great start to his pro career, possessing a .231/.279/.346 slash line with just 2 walks and 37 strikeouts in 104 at bats for the Gulf Coast Marlins. None of the numbers should be a major concern just yet for Twine, as he projects to be a longterm project the Marlins need to be patient with.

Scouts are unsure of Twine’s ability to stick at short stop, but with his athleticsm, he should find a defensive home easily, with a switch to center field being in the cards as well.

9. Trevor Williams, RHP

Preseason: 14, Post Draft: 13

MLB ETA: 2015

Williams has spent the entire 2014 season with the Marlins High-A team, the Jupiter Hammerheads. The results for Williams have been positive, for the most part. He owns a 2.67 ERA and a 3.23 FIP for the Hammerheads on the season. His 5.3% walk rate has been his strong suite, but the 16.7% strikeout rare is a concerning number.

Without much more to prove at the High-A level, Williams could soon be taking the spot of Justin Nicolino, once he is promoted to Triple-A. The fasttrack for Williams to the majors is likely as a reliever, but the Marlins will likely stick with him as a starter as long as they possibly can.

Williams has the potential to be a 4/5 guy for the Fish as his ceiling and has the floor of a decent reliever at the big league level. His lack of whiffs likely keeps him from having a higher potential.

10. Brian Flynn, LHP

Preseason: 7, Post Draft: 12

MLB ETA: 2014

Flynn is back in the big leagues, taking the spot of Jacob Turner, who was recently designated for assignment. Flynn actually came to the Marlins in the Anibal Sanchez trade, along with Turner. He is now the Marlins best shot of coming out ahead in that deal.

After a strong 2013 season which helped him soar up the prospect ranks for the Fish, the 2014 season has been unkind to the left hander. He posted a 3.42 FIP in 138 Triple-A innings last season, before falling apart with a 6.44 FIP at the big league level.

In 2014, his FIP has climbed all the way up to 4.83 and it is likely that the Marlins are going to push him as a reliever at the big league level. He for now is a long-man option out of the Marlins pen, but could be the guy sent packing when they likely select right hander Brad Penny‘s contract to start in place of Turner Saturday.

Flynn is another backend option for the Marlins, but could also be a dependable lefty out of the Marlins pen long-term.