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Miami Marlins Prospect Report: Spotlight on Demetrius Sims

By Kevin Kraczkowski|
ALEXANDRIA, VA - JUNE 19: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Image was created as an Equirectangular Panorama. Import image into a panoramic player to create an interactive 360 degree view.) This 360 degree picture was photographed from behind home plate near the position where gunman James Hodgkinson opened fire at the Eugene Simpson Stadium Park, seriously wounding House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise, June 19, 2017 in Alexandria, Virginia. Investigators have concluded their investigation at the shooting scene and the area has been reopened to the public. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
ALEXANDRIA, VA - JUNE 19: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Image was created as an Equirectangular Panorama. Import image into a panoramic player to create an interactive 360 degree view.) This 360 degree picture was photographed from behind home plate near the position where gunman James Hodgkinson opened fire at the Eugene Simpson Stadium Park, seriously wounding House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise, June 19, 2017 in Alexandria, Virginia. Investigators have concluded their investigation at the shooting scene and the area has been reopened to the public. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Demetrius Sims stole two bases and hit his first professional home run yesterday for the Batavia Muckdogs. Maybe someday he’ll do the same for the Miami Marlins.

Demetrius Sims is a 6’2″, 200 lb. second baseman from Ann Arbor, MI. Born on July 14th, 1995, the now-23-year-old was the Miami Marlins 14th round choice in 2017 out of Bethune-Cookman. He slashed .299/.375/.390 in 167 games over three seasons of NCAA ball, with four home runs, 60 RBI, and 29 stolen bases. He was also a defensive wizard out of shortstop:

Sims was the 419th overall choice. Other players selected at that spot have gone on to major league careers, most notably Mike Dunn (3.0 WAR, 1.41 WHIP, #4 all-time Miami Marlins strikeout artist).

Sims began his professional career with the GCL Marlins after his selection, and slashed .290/.417/.304 in 20 games. He also stole three bases and drew 11 walks against 12 strikeouts. At any rate, good enough to be promoted to the short-season-A Batavia Muckdogs, in the New York-Penn League.

After Sims was promoted on August 15th last year, he appeared in 17 contests for the Dogs, slashing .186/.262/.237 with four walks and 19 strikeouts. With his work clearly still cut out for him, Sims would make his season debut in 2018 back with the Muckdogs.

In 34 games this year, Sims has slightly improved his slashline, to .230/.338/.274, with eight stolen bases and 14 walks against 33 whiffs. There are clear signs that Sims is making progress. Two weeks ago, he was selected as the Marlin Maniac Player of the Week, going 10-for-25 with a double, two walks, three RBI and three stolen bases. He collected multiple hits in four consecutive games during that stretch.

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Sims is currently riding a three-game hitting streak. Last night’s home run was the first of his professional career. Along with the round-tripper, a two-run shot in a 6-5 loss to the Staten Island Yankees, Sims also had a first-inning sacrifice bunt, a single and two stolen bases in the third, started a defensive double-play in the fourth, added another sacrifice bunt in the fifth, collected an assist to end the seventh inning, and started another double play in the eighth.

Sims is never going to be a power hitter, but he’s quick and has the versatility to excel at either second base or shortstop. With normal progression, he should spend next season with the Greensboro Grasshoppers, 2020 with the Jupiter Hammerheads, and 2021 between the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and the New Orleans Baby Cakes. Sims should get a Spring Training invitation for the 2021 season.

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