Miami Marlins Rising: Juan Borges’ 2018 Season Review

Juan Borges completed his final Miami Marlins season in 2018.

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

Juan Carlos Borges was a 6’2″, 160 lb. centerfielder when signed through international free agency to play for the Miami Marlins in 2014. He spent his last three seasons with the team as a pitcher.

Most players who debut in the Dominican Summer League are of the low-risk, high-reward variety, and Borges was no exception. Less than 25 percent of players in the league even make it as far as the low-minors outside of the Dominican Republic.

After signing for a $100,000 bonus to join the DSL Marlins in the rookie-level Dominican Summer League, Borges got into 63 games for the team as an outfielder. He hit .182/.223/.218 with 14 RBI and three stolen bases. In 512 innings in the field, he made five errors and nine assists, with a .965 fielding percentage.

Repurposed as a reliever going into the 2016 campaign, Borges pitched to a 2.25 ERA in a very small sample size of eight innings, with seven strikeouts. He also allowed five hits and nine walks for a 1.75 WHIP.

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Borges pitched a career-high 43 2/3 innings in 2017 for DSL, going 2-1 with a 1.44 ERA and a solid 1.145 WHIP. He walked 17 batters and struck out 45. The performance was enough for him to merit a fourth season with the low-rookie-level club, and he returned in 2018 for what would ultimately be his last season (so far).

This season, Borges appeared exclusively in relief for the DSL Marlins, and in 19 trips out of the pen went 1-1 with a 1.86 ERA and 26 K’s in 29 innings. He was eventually released despite a solid 1.207 WHIP and only 8.1 H/9 allowed. He allowed an opposing slashline of .239/.314/.312 over 121 plate appearances, and was no doubt hurt by a .305 BAbip. He had what was probably his best game of the season on July 26th. In that one, he struck out three over two scoreless innings against the DSL Dodgers Robinson, as the DSL Marlins were defeated, 4-3 in 10 innings.

Borges played more seasons than most at the low-rookie level, and his numbers, while not outstanding, should have been enough for him to get a look in the stateside low-minors. Regardless, he’s now a free agent, as of October 25th, and is free to pursue a career with any organization.

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