Nestor Bautista’s 2018 Season Review: Miami Marlins Farm Report

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 70 of 286. Stay tuned.

Nestor Andres Bautista is a 6’3″, 200 lb. left-handed reliever from New York City, NY. Born on May 13th, 1992, he was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 32nd round of the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft out of Ball State University.

Players chosen with the 947th overall choice don’t have a stellar track record at getting to the major leagues, with only one-of-54 making it that far. Only Brad Holman (1990, Kansas City Royals, 0.3 career WAR) so far. You can follow Bautista on Twitter @N3st00r.

Bautista reported to the GCL Marlins, in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League after signing, and pitched in 13 games. He struck out 30 over 36 1/3 innings, with a 1.101 WHIP and a 2.97 ERA to go with his 2-1 record. In 2015, he spent the entire season with the Batavia Muckdogs in the short-season-A New York-Penn League. In 14 games, he posted a 4-3 record and earned a 3.27 ERA while allowing opposing hitters to hit .307. He struck out 41 in 55 frames.

That wasn’t really very good, but the Miami Marlins decided to give Bautista a look at the single-A level, with the Greensboro Grasshoppers in the South Atlantic League. Over the next two seasons, injury kept him to a total of 40 innings of work between the Hoppers and the Muckdogs. 2018 would see him get a full season of work in Greensboro.

Bautista went 1-2 for the Grasshoppers in 2018, with a 2.64 ERA in 37 games. He set down 89 in 75 innings of work by way of strikeout, and limited opponents to a 1.03 WHIP. Not a starting pitcher, Bautista averaged over two innings per appearance despite starting only one game. On July 12th, in a 2-1 loss to the Kannapolis Intimidators, Bautista struck out three over three near-perfect innings, allowing only a single. On August 18th, he turned in four innings of relief and collected seven strikeouts in a 7-2 win against the Intimidators.

Bautista is already 26-years-old, too old for a prospect, but he made strides in 2018. Currently rostered with the single-A Clinton LumberKings in the Midwest League, he should begin next season with the high-A Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League. Normal progression would see Bautista get a chance with the Marlins sometime in 2021.

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