Miami Marlins Prospect Watch: Spotlight on George Soriano

While the Miami Marlins were dropping their rubber match to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night, their minor leagues were also engaged in battle.

The New Orleans Baby Cakes were the lone Miami Marlins farm club with a scheduled off-day. Due to bad weather, however, the Batavia Muckdogs and the Greensboro Grasshoppers also missed out on getting some game on. The DSL Marlins continued a suspended game from two weeks ago, then played a sorta-kinda doubleheader, splitting. The GCL Marlins, the Jupiter Hammerheads, and the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp each earned wins.

George Soriano may not be a name that has turned many heads when people rank the various minor league systems. A right-handed pitcher from San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic, the Miami Marlins signed him through free agency on August 19th, 2015. He was just 16-years-old at the time.

Soriano’s first professional action came with the DSL Marlins in 2016, for a club that posted a 16-59 record. He went 1-6 with a team-leading 55 2/3 innings pitched. He had a 1.38 WHIP, a club-best 56 whiffs, and a 3.56 ERA. The following season, he joined the GCL Marlins. Although an injury was never explicitly explained, he did spend the entire season on the disabled list.

Soriano has appeared in eight games this season for GCL, and now has a 2-1 record and a 1.71 ERA. Opponents are batting .175 against him, and he’s also holding them to a 0.82 WHIP. He’s struck out 28 in 31 2/3innings. In yesterday’s game, he earned the win by tossing 5 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out six GCL Mets in a 9-1 victory. Soriano allowed three hits and no walks.

If he continues with more-or-less normal progression, Soriano would make a Spring Training appearance with the Miami Marlins in 2023.

Miami Marlins Best in the Minors for August 8th

Aside from Soriano’s heroics, there were other Miami Marlins standouts through the system.

Merandy Gonzalez (JAX)

For the third start in a row, Gonzalez allowed one earned run in seven innings. Today, he earned a victory and struck out four Mississippi Braves in a 3-1 Jumbo Shrimp victory. Gonzalez got 64-of-101 pitches over the plate and registered a 73 GameScore, allowing four hits and one walk.

Brady Puckett (JUP)

Puckett started for the Jupiter Hammerheads and earned his fifth win against zero losses for the season. He faced 24 batters, and allowed only four of them to reach base in seven frames, on three singles and a walk. Puckett got 62-of-91 pitches into the strikezone for a 76 GameScore. Miami’s 15th round pick in 2017, he’s got a 2.03 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and a .228 oppBA with Jupiter during this year.

Frank Valera (DSL)

Valera started against the DSL Braves on July 23rd, and completed the game today. It goes in the books as an eight-inning performance and a complete game loss for Valera. He held the Braves to four runs on five hits and three walks, striking out seven and finishing with a 67 GameScore. Valera is now 2-2 for the season, with a 4.59 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and a .246 oppBA.

Adonis Giron (DSL)

Giron was 0-for-4 in the continuation, then batted cleanup in today’s regularly scheduled contest against the DSL Braves. He went two-for-four with two runs, two stolen bases, a double, and an RBI.

Anfernee Seymour (JUP)

Seymour batted leadoff for the Hammerheads, and went two-for-four with a triple, a run scored, and three RBI. He’s now slashing .289/.333/.442 in 50 games for Jupiter.

Jan Mercado (DSL)

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Mercado batted sixth in DSL’s second game of the day, scheduled for seven innings. He reached base three times, drawing two walks and going 1-for-1. Like Giron, he stole two bases.

Yeremin Lara (DSL)

Lara started game two for DSL today, and struck out five in four innings. He gave up one run on two hits and two walks for a 58 GameScore.

Nick Fortes (GCL)

Fortes, who was drafted by the Marlins in the fourth round this year, is a right-handed catcher out of DeLand, FL. This was only his fourth professional contest. He reached base safely three times, drawing a pair of walks and going one-for-two from the plate, with a run and two RBI.

Connor Grant (GCL)

Grant, the “other” Conner the Marlins chose this season, was picked up in the 21st round. Although he only went one-for-five in today’s game, he also stole two bases and scored two runs. He’s got a .224/.294/.276 slashline, with 13 stolen bases.

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