Unprotected: Marlins Outfield Prospect Stone Garrett and Rule 5

Going into next month’s rule 5 draft, there’s a few players who could find themselves in a new system.

Stone Garrett is one such player. The Marlins‘ eighth-round pick back in 2014, Garrett put his best all-around season together while playing with the Double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Playing near-equally in left and in right field, Garrett made four errors in 857 innings, holding down a .980 fielding percentage. He was guilty of sometimes making special plays look routine (see tweet below).

At the plate, Garrett clubbed a career-best 14 long balls while slashing out a .243/.289/.413 line. He collected 63 RBI and also stole 15 bases.

Garrett is a year-back from where a more conventional progression would have him – due to an extra season spent with the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League.

Formerly ranked as high as Miami’s number four overall prospect (for both Baseball America and the MLB Pipeline in 2016), Garrett is currently unranked. A 6-2, 195 lb. right-handed hitter, the Sugar Land, TX native is turning 24-years-old today.

Garrett could prove a worthy gamble for a team seeking a little depth in their outfield.

Other Marlins Birthdays

Left-handed pitcher Gene Walter (59) was drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1981, and eventually spent parts of four seasons in the majors with the San Diego Padres, the New York Mets, and the Seattle Mariners. In the final season of his 12-season professional career, he went 2-0 with a 7.88 ERA for the Edmonton Trappers, in the Pacific Coast League.

Outfielder Greg Hubley (47) was the Florida Marlins 44th round selection in 1993. He appeared in 48 games for their rookie-level GCL affiliate after the draft, and slashed .296/.394/.359 with 11 stolen bases. It was his only season of affiliated ball.

Righty pitcher Derek Reichstein (47) signed with the Marlins after going undrafted out of San Jose State. He would go 2-6 with a 5.03 ERA in parts of two seasons with the short-season-A Elmira Pioneers in the NYPL between 1994 and 1995.

Catcher Derek Forchic (46) was undrafted out of Barry University, and played in 27 games for the 1996 Utica Blue Sox, again in the NYPL. Forchic was 25-for-87 with a pair of homers and 10 RBI.

Infielder Terrence Smalls (44) joined the Florida Marlins organization as their 24th round pick in 1998. He played in two seasons between the Blue Sox, the Single-A Kane County Cougars in the Midwest League, and the High-A Brevard Count Manatees in the Florida State League. In 83 contests, he went 49-for-201 with 13 RBI and 16 stolen bases.

London, Ontario native Geoff McCallum (42) was an infielder signed undrafted from Stetson University. He made his first affiliated appearance in 2001 with the San Bernardino Stampede, for the Seattle Mariners in the High-A California League. Five years later, he made his second with the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads in the FSL. The then 28-year-old went 20-for-108 in 32 contests.

Six-foot-six right-hander Ryan Hafner (28) came to the Marlins through free agency in June, 2015. He pitched in 17 games between the Hammerheads, the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, in the South Atlantic League, and the NYPL’s Batavia Muckdogs, racking up a 1.521 WHIP.

Right-Hander Reid Redman (31) was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 37th round in 2011 and by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 23rd round in 2012, but didn’t sign with either. In 2013, he went undrafted, and signed with the Marlins through free agency. He was pretty good for the Muckdogs in 2013, then in 2014 between the Suns and the Hammerheads went 5-1 with a 2.04 ERA, a 1.005 WHIP, and 68 whiffs in 61 2/3 innings. Despite that, the Marlins traded him to the Kansas City Royals for Aaron Crow.

More from Marlins Prospects

• Miami Marlins: Checking in on prospects from the 2022 Arizona Fall League
• Miami Marlins: How top 2022 MLB Draft picks performed this season
• What’s wrong with Kahlil Watson?
• Miami Marlins: Farm System rankings part 2
• Miami Marlins: Farm System rankings part 1

Venezuelan native RHP Yusmeiro Petit (35) came up with the Mets before joining the Marlins organization in 2006. He went 4-6 with a 4.28 ERA for the Albuquerque Isotopes in the PCL, then made his major league debut with the Marlins. He racked up a 9.57 ERA and a 2.115 WHIP over 14 2/3 innings.

Despite that setback, Petit has gone on to a productive 12-season MLB career, with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the San Francisco Giants, the Washington Nationals, the Los Angeles Angels, and the Oakland Athletics.

Left-handed starter Justin Nicolino (28) joined the Marlins in the same megadeal that gave us Jeff Mathis and Adeiny Hechavarria from the Toronto Blue Jays. He remained in the organization from 2013 through 2017, making 33 starts and 17 relief appearances with the parent club. For his major league career, he was 10-13 with a 4.65 ERA. He’s currently a free agent.