Demetrius Sims: Miami Marlins Season in Review

Throughout the 2018/2019 offseason, Marlin Maniac will devote one article each for every player who appeared in the Miami Marlins system for the 2018 season. Every. Single. Player. This is Part 21…of 286. Stay tuned.

Demetrius Sims is a 6’2″, 185 lb. right-handed shortstop from Ann Arbor, MI. Born on July 14th, 1995, Sims was the 14th round choice of the Miami Marlins in the 2017 draft, 419th overall off the board out of Bethune-Cookman.

In three seasons of division I ball, Sims slashed .299/.375/.390, with four homers, 60 RBI, and 29 stolen bases in 39 chances. For his efforts, he was named to the 2017 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference All-Conference team.

Historically, the 419th overall choice has a 15 percent chance at making it to the major league level. Of the eight highest producing players from the “419 club” to make it that far, Rick Peters (1973, Minnesota Twins, 3.1 WAR) and Mike Dunn (2003, Houston Astros, 2.9) are the most prolific.

After his selection, Sims signed with the Miami Marlins on June 21st and reported to the GCL Marlins two days later. In his first 20 games as a professional, he slashed out a .290/.417/.304 line, drawing 11 walks and striking out 12 times over 84 plate appearances at the rookie level Gulf Coast League. He collected eight RBI and stole three-of-four bases, going 20-for 69 from the plate. Defensively, he racked up a .945 fielding percentage, making six errors in 109 chances in total. His performance was good enough to get a call up to the short-season-A Batavia Muckdogs, in the New York-Penn League.

In 17 games for the Muckdogs through the end of 2017, Sims slashed .186/.262/.237 and made five errors in 75 chances for a .938 fielding percentage. He also didn’t seem as selective at the plate, striking out 19 times and drawing only four walks in 65 plate appearances.

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2018 would begin with Sims repeating the short-season level with the Muckdogs, and he remained with the club through the season. He slashed .227/.306/.294 in 225 plate appearances over 57 contests, with 18 walks and 53 strikeouts. He also stole nine-of-13 bases and racked up 443 2/3 innings at short, playing to a .940 fielding percentage with 13 errors in 217 chances. The week that stretched from June 29th through July 5th, Sims was 12-for-25 with three stolen bases, including four straight multi-hit games.

The future for Sims is still wide open. Provided the Miami Marlins continue to employ him, he should start next season with the Greensboro Grasshoppers. If he progresses normally through the system, he’ll have a chance to make the club out of Spring Training in 2023.

Next. Brian MIller's 2018 Report Card and 2019 Predictions. dark

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