Miami Marlins Season Review: First Baseman John Silviano

John Silviano’s fourth season in the Miami Marlins system was his last.

John Silviano is a 5’11”, 190 lb. power hitting first baseman from Hypoluxo, Florida. Born on July 11th, 1994, he was chosen in the 13th round of the 2012 MLB Amateur Entry Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Eight players taken with the 415th overall choice have eventually graduated to the major leagues. Chief amongst them are Frank Viola (1978, Kansas City Royals, 46.9 career WAR) and Darren Holmes (1984, Los Angeles Dodgers, 7.3 WAR).

Initially selected as a catcher out of Summit Christian High School in Fort Myers, FL, Silviano hit just .164 with the GCL Blue Jays in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League after his selection, although he did collect 17 RBI in 39 games and draw 22 walks to 21 strikeouts. He was also guilty of six passed balls. He did not appear behind the plate through the rest of his playing career to date.

Silviano spent the next two seasons at the rookie level with the Blue Jays, but never approached the Mendoza line, and was released in July 2014. Two years later, the Miami Marlins signed him to a minor league contract and sent him to the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, in the South Atlantic League. In 44 games there, he improved his hitting to a tune of .212/.281/.449, with eight round-trippers and 19 RBI.

The improvement begged a further look from the Marlins organization, and they graduated Silviano to the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League in 2017. Another jump in his simple hitting metrics, to .245/.311/.417 along with 13 homers and 55 RBI in 103 games seemed to reward the front office’s faith.

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In a second season with the Hammerheads in 2018, Silviano hit .281/.363/.491 in 65 games, with a dozen home runs and 49 RBI. One step up, with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in the Double-A Southern League, he wasn’t as lucky. Just nine-for-54 in a 20 game look.

2019 was make-it-or-break-it time for Silviano, who started the campaign with Jacksonville. After 65 games, he was hitting just .151/.229./254 with four homers and 14 RBI. He also struck out 81 times in 230 plate appearances. The Miami Marlins organization parted ways with him on June 25th, granting his outright release.

Later, Silviano signed on with the St. Paul Saints, in the independent American Association. The move agreed with him, and saw him post a .241/.333/.468 slash line in 57 games, with 13 homers and 38 RBI.

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