Marlins MLB Draft 2019: Making all the right moves

By David Levin |

MIAMI, FL - MAY 29: Chief Executive Officer of the Miami Marlins Derek Jeter speaks with the media prior to the game between the Miami Marlins and the San Francisco Giants at Marlins Park on May 29, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Can the Miami Marlins follow up Monday night’s home run in the MLB Draft with more solid chess pieces on Tuesday and Wednesday?

The Miami Marlins won the baseball lottery Monday night.

There could not have been a better scenario than the one that played out for the Marlins front office, being able to draft Vanderbilt slugger J.J. Bleday and follow it up by grabbing Missouri outfield Kameron Misner. If the rest of MLB thought this organization was still sifting through the rubble of past draft errors, the front office in south Florida put those feelings to bed quickly.

In Bleday, Miami got the best power hitter in college baseball last season. Misner is an SEC veteran who has plenty of experience facing top pitching. The Marlins strategy of finding older players who could move through the minor league system in a few years should pay off handsomely.

The front office followed up the first two choices be grabbing high shortstop Nasim Nunez, showing everyone that Derek Jeter did his homework and knows how to scout talent along with Michael Hill and Gary Denbo.

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It’s not surprising that the Marlins wanted top outfield stars in this selection process. As we mentioned many times during the off-season, Jeter and Hill we’re looking for top outfield prospects from Major League teams when discussing trade talks involving J.T. Realmuto. The reason was simple. First off, Miami doesn’t have as many top-flight outfielders and other organizations.

The other reason is that players develop at different rates. Just like starting pitchers, outfielders need time to develop. Having two middle-of-the-order hitters now on board is crucial to the development of this organization from top to bottom.

By drafting Bleday, Miami also strength and its minor-league system. He should immediately become a top-five prospect, possibly in the top three, depending on which website ranks this organization.

The one thing that was lacking before Jeter and the front office took over was quality depth at each level of development. There was an overhaul. The emphasis last year was on acquiring younger pitchers to develop as starters, which this franchise has done in excess.

It’s sometimes rhetoric (I get it) but the Marlins are absolutely thrilled with their picks. I don’t even have an adjective to describe how they feel about these 3 kids. Obviously we will see if they hit, but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen them this confident.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) June 4, 2019

The scouting department did this at the expense of acquiring more hitters and everyday players. Now, the role is reversed where Miami is focusing on finding those potential start to fill the gap.

When you look at Miami’s top prospects, you see a mix of players the team traded for and players the front office has developed through the draft. The acquisition of Monte Harrison and Isan Diaz and others made this farm system a potential top-10 organization.

Even with the right puzzle pieces fitting into the Marlins blueprint, developing homegrown talent remains a valuable asset in every major league organization.

Next. The Marlins head to Milwaukee for a three-game set. dark

If the Marlins are able to sign Nunez, who is a Clemson commitment, the team’s top three picks are just as good as the ones Jeter orchestrated last season.

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