Who does the Marlins have their eye on in the MLB Draft?

With the fourth pick in the MLB Draft on Monday night, the Miami Marlins will concentrate on selecting the best possible position player to fit the team’s needs.

The one thing we know for sure is the Miami Marlins will take the best offensive player they believe is available when the organization picks fourth in the MLB Draft on Monday evening. What we don’t know is who that player will be, as the front office may have multiple choices sitting on the board when they make that choice.

Decisions, decisions.

The MLB Draft will be different this year as the Marlins have used the selection process and player trades to add pitchers for the future. Now, the attention shifts to the offense, most notably sluggers, wherever they may fit in the team’s plans.

“The 2019 Draft takes place Monday-Wednesday, beginning with the Draft preview show on MLB Network and MLB.com at 6 p.m. ET on Monday,” writes Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. “MLB Network will broadcast the first 41 picks (Round 1 and Competitive Balance Round A), while MLB.com will stream all 78 picks on Day 1.More from Marlins DraftMiami Marlins draft retrospective: 2003Miami Marlins draft retrospective: 2002Meet the 2022 Miami Marlins Draft PicksMiami Marlins draft preview: Brooks LeeMiami Marlins draft preview: Jackson HollidayMLB.com will also provide live pick-by-pick coverage of Rounds 3-10 on Day 2, beginning with a preview show at 12:30 p.m. ET. Then, Rounds 11-40 can be heard live on MLB.com on Day 3, beginning at noon ET.”

Miami’s minor league system looks different than just a year ago. It should look different after this week as well. The Marlins should get an impact player early.

Based on MLB.com’s top 200 prospects, if the Marlins pick based on rankings, C.J. Abrams of Blessed Trinity Catholic in Roswell, GA would be the choice.

Per the website’s scouting report, “Abrams’ speed and athleticism compare favorably to any of the top prep talents in the 2019 Draft, and he’s also one of the better high school hitters available. He draws comparisons to Dee Gordon, though he has considerably more pop than the former batting and stolen-base champ.”

The focal point, in my opinion, should be on California first baseman Andrew Vaughn who some believe could be the best hitter in this draft. Vaughn’s scouting report shows he has improved each season in college.

“He has a very advanced approach at the plate, one that has allowed him to walk much more than he has struck out throughout his Cal career, with a knack for barreling up the baseball. He doesn’t sacrifice power as a result, showing the ability to hit the ball out to all fields, profiling as a true middle-of-the-order run producer in the future.He’s a first baseman only, though he thinks he could handle third or the outfield, but should be fine at first, with decent hands and a solid arm that allowed him to pitch as a freshman.”

J.J. Bleday of Vanderbilt is the player that is most talked about when discussing the Marlins, per Frisaro. The Vanderbilt outfielder led the NCAA in home runs this season – something the franchise lacks in the middle of their lineup. The minor league affiliates aren’t bursting with home run hitters. Isan Diaz, the team’s second baseman at Triple-A New Orleans has shown he can hit the long ball and is almost ready to make the leap to the Majors.

Monte Harrison is also a home run threat and has been a terror on the base pads as the Baby Cakes leadoff hitter. One they are promoted to the Show, who replaces their productivity?

Per Frisaro, “Marlins chief executive officer Derek Jeter was among a team contingent to watch Bleday in the SEC Tournament. Jeter and company also saw in person University of California-Berkeley first baseman Andrew Vaughn, a right-handed-hitting first baseman.Prep shortstop CJ Abrams, from Blessed Trinity Catholic High School (Ga.), Arizona State outfielder Hunter Bishop and prep outfielder Riley Greene, from Hagerty High in Oviedo, Fla., also are possibilities.”