Marlins Spring Training 2020: When will JJ Bleday Arrive in Miami?

With the kind of beginning he has had in the Marlins organization, it’s fair to ask when the front office expects JJ Bleday to be in the Majors.

When will the Miami Marlins feel the impact of outfielder JJ Bleday? The first-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft made an impression during his first season with the Marlins in Single-A baseball. Bleday, who won a National Title with Vanderbilt last year, is expecting bigger things in 2020.

So are the Marlins. Bleday is currently the No. 2 prospect in the Marlins organization according to MLB Pipeline.

When he is set to arrive in the Majors is still a guessing game. Would there be realistic chance he could be a Sept. 1 call-up if he makes as much of an impact and shows growth in Year 2 with the organization?

It’s a question Joe Frisaro of MLB.com talked about in his recent “In Box” feature.

“With Bleday, this will be an interesting season to follow. The left-handed-hitting outfielder has already shown he can perform at Class A Advanced Jupiter, batting .257/.311/.379 with three home runs and 19 RBIs in 38 games,” Frisaro writes.

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The front office did the smart thing by shifting their attention from strengthening the minor league system in 2018 by adding arms at every step along the way to Miami and then did the same thing in 2019 with hitters and outfielders. Derek Jeter made it known he wanted to strengthen the organization with older, more established hitters with more experience.

The message seems to have paid off. But it wasn’t just Bleday who made a lasting impression. It was also Kam Misner and Peyton Burdick who used the chance they got in the system to show they too could be swinging for the fences in Miami sooner rather than later.

The focus is on Bleday and how soon he can walk into Marlins Park and knock a few balls into the centerfield stands. There is no rush in bringing him along, but when he does get to The Show, he will be the most talked-about hitter the organization has had in some time.

“My guess is Bleday, Miami’s first-round Draft pick in 2019, will start off the ’20 season at Jupiter again, then advance to Double-A Jacksonville,” Frisaro adds.“He probably needs a full season in the Minor Leagues, but you never know. If he shows he’s ready for the big leagues, then I wouldn’t be surprised if he can make the leap in September, but that would only be if everything falls right for him. The player usually makes that decision, based on how he’s performing.”