Five Miami Marlins on MLB Network's Top 100 Prospect List

Earlier today, MLB Network unveiled their Top 100 Prospect list.

Five Miami Marlins from various levels of the minor league system were named as “top” prospects in the countdown. Did the “powers that be” miss anyone? Monte Harrison, Kameron Misner, Trevor Rogers and Braxton Garrett come to mind.

85) RHP Edward Cabrera

The first Marlin on the list is Edward Cabrera, @ecabrera30 on Instagram. Still just 21-years-old, the six-foot-four right-handed starting pitcher will be entering his fifth professional season in 2020.

Cabrera had been somewhat underwhelming through his first three seasons in the system, but that all changed for him in 2019. In 58 innings with the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League, he struck out 73 batters while racking up a 0.948 WHIP, a 5-3 record, and a 2.02 ERA.

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After a promotion to the Double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in the Southern League, Cabrera continued his mastery of grown men, striking out 43 in 38 2/3 innings and putting up a 1.060 WHIP, a 4-1 record, and a 2.56 ERA. There is no reason to think that Cabrera will not somehow find his way onto the active 26-man roster at some point this season.

80) OF Jesus Sanchez

Higuey, DR native Jesus Sanchez, @jesussanchez07tb on Instagram, came over to the Marlins in the deal that also gained Ryne Stanek for Trevor Richards and Nick Anderson from the Tampa Bay Rays. Now 22-years-old, Sanchez had been with the Rays since 2015. In 2019, he hit .275/.332/.404 with the Montgomery Biscuits in the Southern League before the deal.

Post-trade, Sanchez hit .246/.338/.446 with four homers and nine RBI in 17 games with the Triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes in the Pacific Coast League. Of particular note for Sanchez is his ability to resist the swing-and-miss pitch. His career 18.3 percent whiff rate is a far less disconcerting figure than so many existing prospects in the Marlins system.

Sanchez is a possibility for the Marlins 26-man roster this Opening Day, depending on his (and other outfielders) Spring Training performance.

66) SS Jazz Chisholm

Jazz Chisholm is a native of Nassau in the Bahamas, and had been playing in his fourth professional season in the Arizona Diamondbacks system. Near the trade deadline, the Marlins sent future All Star pitcher Zac Gallen to the desert in return for his services.

The Marlins must be pretty high on Chisholm, @_jazz3 on Instagram, to give away such a solid pitcher, and it’s easy to see why. Listed as five-foot-11 and 165 lbs. he’s got a power stroke that defies his size. In 112 games at the Double-A level last season between the Southern League’s Jackson Generals and the Jumbo Shrimp, he totaled 21 homers and 54 RBI.

After joining Jacksonville, Chisholm slashed .284/.383/.494 in 23 games, with four doubles, two triples, and three round-trippers for 10 RBI. Chisholm is also a possible 20 stolen base threat at the major league level. He swiped 16 in 20 attempts through 2019.

28) RF J.J. Bleday

J.J. Bleday, @jjbleday on Instagram, is a six-foot-three left-handed outfielder out of Vanderbilt University. Before coming to the Marlins with the fourth overall choice in the 2019 MLB Amateur Entry Draft, he led the nation with 26 homers in Division 1 play for the Commodores, with 69 RBI in 65 contests.

In 38 games for the Marlins, with the Hammerheads, Bleday hit .257/.311/.379 with three home runs and 19 RBI. Although not a threat to ever steal many bases, Bleday flashes above average tools in the outfield. He assisted on four plays while going perfect in the field in 45 chances. Look for Bleday to begin the 2020 campaign with the Jumbo Shrimp. He’s likely to compete for the Marlins Opening Day roster in 2021.

22) RHP Sixto Sanchez

Sixto Sanchez is a six-foot, 185 lb. native of San Cristobal, DR. He came to the organization prior to the 2019 season from the Philadelphia Phillies affiliate system, with RHP Will Stewart and major league catcher Jorge Alfaro for J.T. Realmuto.

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Sanchez, who is considered by most to be the Marlins top overall prospect, spent most of his first Marlins campaign with the Jumbo Shrimp. He was 8-4 with a 2.53 ERA and 97 K’s in 103 innings. His 1.029 WHIP was aided by his unwillingness to issue free passes, with only 19 surrendered through the season. His career figures prove it’s not a fluke, either. His resultant 1.7 BB/9 is matched by his career figure. To wit, he’s only walked 64 and struck out 294 in 335 1/3 career innings, for a career 1.020 WHIP. He was recognized as Jacksonville’s MVP and their pitcher of the year for his efforts.

More from Marlins Prospects

I guess what that all really means is that what we see is what we get with Sixto, and Marlins Park could see that kind of magic in the near future. Although Sanchez is unlikely to break camp with the Marlins, he’s a solid candidate to join the parent team sometime in 2020. You can follow him on Instagram @sixto03_sanchez.

Thanks for reading. Do you agree with what the MLB Network had to say? Weigh in below in the comments, or on Twitter or Facebook. Keep it here to stay current on all your Marlins news.

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Miami Marlins on MLB Network’s Top 100 Prospect List

By Kevin Kraczkowski | Jan 25, 2020