Miami Marlins Top 50 Preseason Prospects: Maniac Edition

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxP_VkEFeyc/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

49) SS Joe Dunand

How we voted:

KK: Unranked
DL: 49
DF: 36
Expected in Miami: 2021

Joe Dunand is a six-foot-two, 205 lb. shortstop/third baseman out of North Carolina State. In three seasons of Division 1 baseball with the Wolfpack, he hit .268/.334/.476 with 29 home runs and 132 RBI. The Marlins chose him in the second round of the 2017 MLB Amateur Entry Draft, with the 51st selection off the board.

When he spoke to the media for the first time at the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp media day back in April of last year, the first thing people wanted to know had to do with Joe Dunand’s cousin, Alex Rodriguez.

Dunand may be a work in progress still as he has spent the last two years in Jacksonville becoming a better hitter. You could say that his defensive ability is a few steps ahead of his current offensive prowess. Still, he has a power rating of 55, considered above average and a possible future 20-25 home run big leaguer.

The 24-year-old south Florida native What’s the second round pick of the Marlins in 2017 and has slowly climbed the ladder. Hopefully this is the year that he takes another large leap towards the majors. Last year in the Southern League, he batted .242.

In 265 minor league contests, including 191 with the Jumbo Shrimp, Dunand has slashed out a .244/.314/.366 line, with 20 round-trippers and 116 RBI. It may be a couple seasons before the shortstop sees the Majors, but expect him to be better at the plate, with improved swing selection and better hitting in 2020.