Gunnar Schubert: Miami Marlins Prospect on the Rise

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 122 of 286. For the first 100, click here.

Gunnar McLean Schubert is a 5’11”, 205 lb. middle-infielder from Auburn, Washington. Born on May 19th, 1996, he was the 28th round choice of the Miami Marlins in the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft

Gunnar’s selection continued an unprecedented trend in draft history, marking the fourth consecutive season that the Miami Marlins selected a player named either “Gunnar,” or “Gunner.” It started in 2015 with LHP Gunnar Kines, continued in 2016 with catcher Gunner Pollman, and reached three with the selection of LHP Gunner Leger in 2017.

Schubert was chosen by the Miami Marlins with the 837th overall pick, and if he gets to the major leagues he will be the first (of 40) to make it that far after getting selected from that position. Follow Schubert on Twitter @StunGun_5.

Schubert totaled a .278/.376/.349 slashline between a year at Pierce Junior College and two seasons with Gonzaga. He totaled five homers and 84 RBI, with 22 stolen bases in 30 tries. After getting drafted, he signed with the Miami Marlins for a $1,000 bonus, and got started by joining the GCL Marlins, in the rookie-level, Florida-based, Gulf Coast League.

In two weeks with GCL, Schubert went seven-for-26 with two doubles, a triple, and three RBI, with three walks, four runs scored, and a stolen base. In 62 innings at shortstop, he made a pair of errors for a .931 fielding percentage – but – you know, small sample size.

On July 4th, the Miami Marlins promoted Schubert to the short-season-A Batavia Muckdogs in the New York-Penn League. In 10 games, he was 11-for-35 with five doubles and an RBI, with nine whiffs and a pair of walks.

Two weeks after joining the Muckdogs, Schubert was promoted again, to the single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers in the South Atlantic League. He had two multihit games for them but not much else, going six-for-37 in 12 contests. He drew three walks and struck out 15 times, scoring four runs and knocking two others in.

That was no good, so Schubert was again knocked down to the Muckdogs for a week from August 15th through 22nd, and went six-for-23 with a double, a triple, and three RBI.

For the final week-and-a-half of the minor league season, Schubert was promoted to his fourth level of the short-season, joining the high-A Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League. He hit safely in eight-of-10 games, collecting multiple hits in five of them. He slashed .424/.486/.515 in his short look. Schubert deflects praise, and looks to continue his improvement through hard work.

More from Marlins Prospects

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• Miami Marlins: Farm System rankings part 2
• Miami Marlins: Farm System rankings part 1

The only player with more non-DL roster moves for the Miami Marlins in 2018 was corner infielder Bubba Hollins, but Schubert was a close second. Defensively, he finished with a .937 fielding percentage in 267 1/3 innings at shortstop and a .938 fielding percentage in 93 2/3 innings at second base. He played four innings at third for the Muckdogs, booting his only chance.

In short, Schubert is equally well suited to play shortstop or second base, but needs seasoning at both spots. He’s streaky at the plate, but has shown flashes of brilliance. A full season at one level will do him well, and he looks to be ready to spend 2019 with the Hammerheads. With a little work, his best case scenario would see him challenging for a callup in late 2020, but it’s more likely that he joins the Miami Marlins in 2021.

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