Miami Marlins Season in Review: Eric Jagielo

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 69 of 286. Stay tuned.

Eric Stephen Jagielo is a 6’3″, 210 lb. first baseman from Hinsdale, Illinois, origin also of major leaguers Todd Van Poppel, Kevin Plawecki, and Nick Burdi. Born on May 17th, 1992, Jagielo was chosen in the 50th round of the 2010 draft by the Chicago Cubs, but chose instead to play collegiate ball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. In three seasons of Division I ball, he slashed .321/.420/.532 over 167 contests. He totaled 27 homers and 124 RBI, with 88 walks and 97 strikeouts in 753 plate appearances.

Jagielo’s decision was rewarded with a first round selection in the 2013 MLB Amateur Entry Draft, with the 26th overall choice by the New York Yankees. In the 54 years of the MLB Draft, 25 players selected in the 26th spot have made it to the major leagues, led by Alan Trammell (1976, Detroit Tigers, 70.7 career WAR), Dave Henderson (1977, Seattle Mariners, 27.6 WAR), and Dan Plesac (1983, Milwaukee Brewers, 17.0 WAR). Follow Jagielo on Twitter @E_Jagielo.

Selected by the Yankees as a third baseman, Jagielo signed for $1,839,400 then worked his way up through their system until 2015, which he spent with the Trenton Thunder in the double-A Eastern League. After that season, the Yankees sent Caleb Cotham and Rookie Davis to the Cincinnati Reds for Jagielo, Tony Renda, and Aroldis Chapman. Jagielo had been named to the appropriate all-star team in each of his three seasons in New York’s system.

Jagielo, who entered Cincinnati’s system as their number 14 prospect, then spent a pair of seasons in the Reds’ system, between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in the double-A Southern League and the Louisville Bats in the triple-A International League. He also spent this time in transition from the hot corner to first base. During 2018 Spring Training, the Reds traded Jagielo to the Miami Marlins for cash considerations.

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Jagielo spent the entire campaign with the Shrimp, and ranked third on the team with 121 games played while leading the club with 64 RBI. Jagielo slashed a .198/.265/.331 line, with 20 doubles and 11 home runs. He drew 33 walks, but struck out 138 times in 442 plate appearances, just under a third of the time.

Defensively, Jagielo made 96 appearances at first base, yielding a .990 fielding percentage in 660 total chances. In nine games at third, he made two errors in 14 chances.

Jagielo still hasn’t mastered plate discipline, although he’s shown sporadic plus-power through his minor league career. If the Miami Marlins keep Jagielo in the system, which appears likely at the moment, he’ll start the season back in Jacksonville.

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