Miami Marlins prospect haul: Jose Devers, INF

The Miami Marlins only returned two prospects for Giancarlo Stanton in their trade with the New York Yankees. Lets take a look at Jose Devers.

The Miami Marlins valued salary relief over top-tier prospects while trying to trade Giancarlo Stanton. An understandable strategy when trying to build a franchise that doesn’t make much money.

As a result, they only returned two prospects in exchange for baseballs most dangerous hitter. Both the players Miami got back will be under a microscope as they make their way through the minor leagues.

We’ve already looked at the higher rated of the two prospects, Jorge Guzman. Now let’s see what hidden value Gary Denbo and Derek Jeter saw in Jose Devers.

If his name sounds familiar, it’s because his cousin plays third base in Boston for the Red Sox. Jose Devers is the lesser known of the two Devers, and he is further away from reaching the highest level of organized baseball.

Devers was part of the Yankees international signing class in 2016, and played his first full season of professional baseball in 2017. Scouts rave about his athleticism and fielding, but feel that his abilities at the plate will need a few years to catch up.

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He’s only 18-years old, bats from the left side, and has all the range and slickness you’d expect from one of the top shortstops in baseball. His body is going to fill out as he gets older; he currently stands 6-feet tall and weighs only 155-pounds.

To this point, he hasn’t shown much power. His game is more akin to a typical leadoff hitter. With excellent speed and good base running, he managed to steal 15 bases at an absurd 83 percent success rate. That’s a good thing considering how often he gets on base.

His numbers and when he’ll arrive

Devers only hit .246 in his first in rookie ball. But he was only 17-years old the entire season and played against far-and-away the best competition of his life. He figures to start the 2018 season in the GCL again, but could rise to short-season A at some point.

What has scouts most excited is, despite his meager batting average, he still managed to get on base a lot. His OBP was a staggering .359. Watching some of Devers’ at bats, it’s easy to understand why.

His understanding of the strike zone is incredible, and he works the count like a player well beyond his years.

He struck out 21 times, but also drew 18 walks. He exhausts opposing pitchers and forces them to throw him a pitch he can do something with. Once he learns how to hit it when he gets it, he figures to be an offensive force and rise quickly through the minor leagues.

Next: Miami Marlins prospect haul: Jorge Guzman, RHP

Devers didn’t appear on the Yankees top 30 prospects, according to MLB.com, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Yankees system is loaded with players with a higher profile, and further along in their development. But those in the know are very high on Jose Devers.

He figures to rank highly in the Marlins farm system, likely in the top 20. Expect him to be ready for to put on a Miami Marlins uniform no sooner than 2020, though 2021 seems like a more realistic ETA.

The Miami Marlins only returned two prospects for Giancarlo Stanton in their trade with the New York Yankees. Lets take a look at Jose Devers.

More from Marlin Maniac

His numbers and when he’ll arrive

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