Miami Marlins Top 50 Preseason Prospects: Maniac Edition

50) RHP C.J. Carter

How we voted: 

KK: 36
DL: 50
DF: Unranked
Expected in Miami: 2021

Charvez Jordan Wesley Carter is a six-foot, 165 lb. right-handed reliever out of Troy University in Alabama. Now 22-years-old, the Atlanta, GA native joined the Marlins organization as the 29th round selection in the 2018 MLB Amateur Entry Draft, with the 867th overall choice.

In Carter’s only season of Division 1 ball with the Trojans, he struck out 90 in 69 2/3 innings for a frightening 11.63 K/9 rate. He was 8-6 overall with eight saves and a 3.75 ERA in 32 appearances, 29 in relief.

Soon after the draft, and after three appearances at the rookie-level with the GCL Marlins in the Gulf Coast League, Carter joined the Short-season-A Batavia Muckdogs in the New York-Penn League. He surrendered just 18 hits in 27 1/3 innings, striking out 35 batters and going 3-2 with four saves and a 3.95 ERA.

In 2019, Carter reported to the Single-A Clinton LumberKings in the Midwest League, and pitched in 18 games for them, all in relief. he whiffed 39 batters in 31 2/3 innings, going 2-2 with three saves, a 1.17 WHIP, and a 2.27 ERA. Good enough for a midseason promotion.

On the last day of June, Carter was promoted to the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League, where he put up a 0.41 ERA in 22 innings of work. He collected 20 strikeouts with a 1.14 WHIP, a 1-0 record, and another pair of saves.

Emboldened by Carter’s success, the Marlins issued a rare second in-season promotion, to the Double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in the Southern League. In his lone appearances, he was racked for five runs in an inning of work, but will garner a much longer look at the level in 2020.