Miami Marlins Prospect Watch: Spotlight on Stone Garrett

Stone Garrett didn’t take long after being activated to make his presence felt for the Jupiter Hammerheads.

Garrett was activated after a four-game rehab for the GCL Marlins, during which he was five-for-15 with two runs, a homer, and five RBI. Put in the five-hole in his first game back, he hit a single, a double, and a triple, scoring once and driving another in as the Hammerheads set down the Dunedin Blue Jays, 5-4 in 10 innings.

Garrett is a 6’2″, 195 lb. right-handed right fielder from Sugar Land, TX, home of the Sugar Land Skeeters. That’s the same team that Roger Clemens attempted his comeback with in 2012, but I digress.

Garrett was the Miami Marlins eighth round pick back in 2014. After starting his career slashing .236/.269 in 40 games with the GCL Marlins, he graduated to the Batavia Muckdogs in 2015. That’s where he hit .297/.352/.581 in 58 games, with 11 homers and 46 RBI.

In 2016, as the Miami Marlins number four overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Garrett hit .213/.265/.371 in 52 games for the Greensboro Grasshoppers. He was also the victim of an ill-fated “prank” by former organizational top prospect Josh Naylor. According to Miami Marlins GM Michael Hill:

"I don’t think you’ll see Josh Naylor goofing around with knives any more. Other pranks were just pranks and nobody got hurt,. Unfortunately, this one ended in an injury, which isn’t funny at all."

Garrett hit roughly the same line for the Hammerheads in 2017, a .212/.257/.314 in 94 games. That performance necessitated a repeat performance at the high-A level.

This year with Jupiter, Garrett is hitting .243/.287/.411 with six homers and 32 RBI. He’s also stolen 12 bases in 16 attempts. He’s no longer a rated prospect, despite his being only 22-years-old. According to the Pipeline:

"Though Garrett has long possessed impressive strength and bat speed, his stiff swing limited his production during his pro debut. The Marlins helped him clean up his mechanics last season, and it allowed him to hit for a higher average while tapping into his plus raw power more consistently. Garrett still needs to tighten his approach and improve his pitch recognition, as cutting down his strikeouts and continuing to increase his walk rate will only make him more dangerous at the plate."

If Garrett can continue to clean up his swing, he may start next season with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. For him, best case scenario (with continued improvement) will see him get a possible late season callup to the Miami Marlins near the end of the 2020 season.

Other Top Tuesday Performances

Brian Schales (JAX)

The Jumbo Shrimp lost a 7-4 decision to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Tuesday night. Schales, batting sixth, was not to blame. Schales went three-for-four with two doubles, a homer, and two RBI.

Sandy Alcantara (NO)

Alcantara got seven to miss in six innings against the Memphis Redbirds. He earned a Quality Start by allowing three runs on six hits and zero walks, getting 73-of-101 pitches over the plate, finishing with a 56 GameScore. The New Orleans Baby Cakes eventually won, 4-3 in 10 innings.

Ryan Lillie (JUP)

Ryan Lillie started in Jupiter’s 5-4 win against the Jays, and lasted seven innings, a Quality Start. Lillie gave up three runs on five hits and a pair of walks, striking out seven. He got 62-of-97 pitches in the strikezone, and earned a 58 GameScore.

Omar Lebron (GCL)

Lebron, who came up through DSL last season, batted sixth for the GCL Marlins in their 7-5 loss to the GCL Cardinals. Lebron went two-for-five with a double, a homer, and two RBI.

Peter O’Brien (NO)

O’Brien batted fifth in the Baby Cakes 4-3 win over the Redbirds, and got to base three out of four times, on a pair of walks and a second inning solo home run.

Ben Meyer (NO)

Meyer earned the win for the Cakes, striking out three in three scoreless innings. He gave up two hits and no walks, plating 23-of-40 pitches.

Lazaro Alonso (JUP)

Alonso batted in the sixth position on Tuesday, backing up Garrett for the Hammerheads. He opened the scoring in the second inning with a two-run homer, his third this season with Jupiter.

Tomas Telis (NO)

Telis hit his third homer of the season in the fifth inning, a solo shot to give New Orleans a 2-1 lead. He also scored another run later in the game.

Monte Harrison (JAX)

Harrison batted second for the Shrimp in their loss to the Wahoos, and was two-for-five with a solo shot. More importantly, he did not strike out and add to his 183 whiffs this season.

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