Marlins Prospect Watch: Checking in With the 2016 Draft Class

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10th Round LHP Dylan Lee

Dylan Lee joined the Marlins out of Fresno State. He’s since appeared at every level of the Marlins system. He’s gone 13-20 with a 3.33 ERA in 120 games, including 24 starts. He’s struck out 203 in 246 innings, and put together a 1.17 WHIP.

Lee remains in the system, and will likely begin the 2020 campaign with the Triple-A Wichita Wind Surge, in the Pacific Coast League.

11th Round RHP Chad Smith

McCalla, AL native Chad Smith is a 6-foot-4 right-hander from the University of Mississippi. Chosen after going 4-4 with a 4.22 ERA in 59 2/3 innings, he was first assigned to GCL.

Smith has remained in the Marlins system, going 12-9 with a 4.47 ERA in 116 relief appearances. He’s saved 25 games and struck out 166 in 149 1/3 innings overall, with a 1.46 career WHIP. Currently part of Jacksonville, look for him to begin 2020 with the Shrimp or the Surge.

12th Round RHP Mike King

Mike King is the only person chosen by the Marlins who has already made it to the majors out of the 2016 draft. After the 2017 season, Miami traded him to the New York Yankees for Garrett Cooper and Caleb Smith.

14th Round RHP Michael Mertz

Michael Mertz spent three years in the Marlins system out of Oklahoma State. He was 14-9 with a 3.52 ERA in 95 minor league contests, with a .220 oppBA and a 1.30 career WHIP.

15th Round SS James Nelson

James Nelson was taken by the Marlins out of Cisco Junior College, and spent four seasons in the system between GCL, Greensboro, and Jupiter. Once ranked as high as the number four prospect in the Marlins system, as rated by Baseball America in 2018, Nelson hit .228/.279/.296 last year for the Hammerheads.

On January 15th, the Marlins traded Nelson to the New York Yankees for major league reliever Stephen Tarpley.