Miami Marlins Prospect Watch: Spotlight on Tristan Pompey

Throughout the 2018 campaign, Marlin Maniac will strive to bring you daily minor league reports focusing on the future stars of the Miami Marlins. Today, we take a look at outfielder Tristan Pompey.

Tristan Pompey is a 6’4″, 200 lb . switch-hitting outfielder from New Westminster, Canada, in British Columbia. Born on March 23rd, 1997, the Miami Marlins chose him in the third round of the 2018 draft last month, with the 89th overall selection. Notable 89th picks over the years include Randy Johnson (101.1 WAR, 1982), Justin Morneau (27.2, 1999), Chris Young (17.3, 2000), and Nick Johnson (14.6, 1996).

It wasn’t the first time that the now-21-year-old Pompey was drafted. Three years ago, the Minnesota Twins tried to get him out of Jean Vanier Catholic high school, in the 31st round of the 2015 draft. Pompey, who sometimes calls himself “Lavish Savage,” instead joined the Wildcats at the University of Kentucky. In 49 games as a freshman in 2016, Pompey slashed just .233/.328/.440 with seven home runs and 29 RBI.

In 2017, Pompey’s slashline exploded to .361/.464/.541 in 66 contests, with 10 round-trippers, 45 RBI and nine stolen bases. He also drew 46 walks, showing patience beyond his years. It was more of the same in the most current college campaign, which saw Pompey slash .335/.448/.541 with another seven homers, 39 RBI, and 10 stolen bases.

On day one of the 2018 draft, the Miami Marlins chose Connor Scott, Osiris Johnson, and Will Banfield. Pompey was Miami’s first second-day selection. Slotted at $642,600, the Marlins signed Tristan just above that, at $645,000. Pompey reported to the GCL Marlins on July 3rd, and went three-for-12 with three walks, a stolen base, and an RBI in four contests before getting promoted.

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Pompey was pushed up two levels, past the short-season-low-A Batavia Muckdogs in the New York-Penn League into middle-A. He joined the Greensboro Grasshoppers in the South Atlantic League on July 7th. Pompey has now played in 14 games, hitting safely in nine of them and collecting multiple hits in four. In Monday night’s 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Lakewood Blueclaws, Pompey batted third and went two-for-three with two walks, a double, and a home run. The moon shot was the first of Pompey’s professional career.

Pompey is currently slashing .263/354/.351 for the Grasshoppers. Although he seems a natural home-run hitter, especially in practice, he seems more specialized in game situations to hitting line drives in the model of Brian Miller. According to baseballamerica.com:

"Pompey turns in fringe-average run times out of the box, but he runs better once underway and he can pick his spots to steal. Defensively, he’s below-average in any outfield spot because of poor routes, reads and some over-aggressiveness that can turn a single into extra bases. His below-average arm is best left in left field."

After his accelerated movement to Greensboro, Pompey should progress more or less normally through the Miami Marlins system. Expect him in Jupiter with the Hammerheads to open next season with a possible callup to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp before the end of the campaign. We should see him with the Miami Marlins in Spring Training by 2020 with normal progression, with a corner outfield spot in 2021.

Next: Spotlight on Christopher Torres

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