Miami Marlins Prospect Watch: Spotlight on Humberto Mejia

Humberto Mejia hasn’t really blown anyone away over his four-season minor league career. Just good enough to keep on giving the ball to occasionally. On Sunday, he went the extra mile and showed that maybe he’s a little better than that. Could he make a run at finding his way to the Miami Marlins eventually? Time will tell.

On Saturday, Mejia started for the Batavia Muckdogs and lasted five innings, allowing two hits and zero walks. He whiffed nine Williamsport Crosscutters while allowing just one run, on a Danny Mayer solo homer. By getting 58-of-74 pitches over the plate (a startling 78.3 percent strike rate), he earned a 66 GameScore.

Mejia is a 6’3″,175 lb. right-handed pitcher from Panama City. That’s in the country of Panama, not the state of Florida. He spent the 2015 season with the DSL Marlins as an 18-year-old fireballer, going 3-3 with a 1.69 ERA, 71 K’s in 74 2/3 innings, and a 0.96 WHIP. He also held opponents to a .216 batting average that season.

A lateral move in 2016 would see Mejia turn in another 3-3 record for the GCL Marlins. He whiffed 34 in 40 frames and allowed a 2.45 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. A promotion late in the season made him a Muckdog for the final week, during which he went 1-2 with a 4.82 ERA, 15 K’s in just nine innings, and a 1.29 WHIP.

Mejia missed the entire 2017 campaign, and rejoined the Muckdogs this season. He’s started more-or-less every fifth day, making nine rotational starts and posting a 1-5 record. He’s struck out 33 in 43 2/3 innings, with a 3.92 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP.

If Mejia remains with the organization, he should start next season with the Greensboro Grasshoppers. With more-or-less normal progression, he’ll be ready for major league action in 2022.

Other Top Miami Marlins Minor League Performers

Davis Bradshaw (GCL)

Bradshaw played designated hitter and batted fifth for the GCL Marlins in their 6-4 win against the GCL Nationals on Sunday afternoon. He went two-for-three with a walk, a run, an RBI, and four stolen bases. Not a typo. Today’s performance pushed his average to .353. Bradshaw was the Miami Marlins 11th round pick this season.

Stone Garrett (GCL)

Garrett, who has stalled this season with the high-A Jupiter Hammerheads, is on a rehab assignment with GCL. Today, he was two-for-four with a double, a triple, two runs, and two RBI, batting fourth and playing in left field.

Tyler Cloyd (NO)

Cloyd started and earned a win over the Iowa Cubs, running his record to 4-4 for the season with New Orleans. He failed to qualify for a Quality Start, allowing four earned runs in five innings, striking out four and walking two while allowing four hits. Three of the four hits were home runs.

Peter Mooney (NO)

Mooney played shortstop and batted fifth for the Baby Cakes. He went two-for-four with two runs, including a two-run homer. He’s now hitting .313 for the season at triple-A.

Dakota Bennett (GCL)

Bennett started for the GCL Marlins, and lasted five shutout innings. He earned his first win of the season for GCL, striking out two and surrendering zero runs on one single and one walk. He earned a 68 GameScore for his performance.

Tyler Mitzel (BAT)

Mitzel pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the Batavia Muckdogs, striking out four. He earned the victory, allowing just one hit, a single, and didn’t walk anyone. He now carries a 1.50 ERA for the season.

Will Banfield (GSO)

Banfield batted fifth and played DH for the Grasshoppers in their 9-2, rain-shortened loss to the Asheville Tourists. Asheville one-hit Greensboro, with Banfield’s two-run shot as the lone bright spot.

Peter O’Brien (NO)

O’Brien is only batting .200, but he’s slashing .190/.310/.455 this season between the Tulsa Drillers, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, and New Orleans because he hits a lot of homers. 22 at last count. Sunday, he was one-for-three with a solo home run.

Luke Jarvis (BAT)

Jarvis batted seventh and manned shortstop for the Muckdogs in their 2-1 victory over the Crosscutters, going three-for-four with two doubles and an RBI.

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