Miami Marlins Prospect Watch: RHP Colton Hock

Colton Jack Hock was the Miami Marlins fourth round draft choice in the 2017 MLB Amateur Entry Draft.

Colton Hock is a six-foot-five, 220 lb. right-handed pitcher from Bloomsburg, PA. Born 24-years-old today, the Miami Marlins took him out of Stanford University with the 119th overall selection.

In three seasons of Division I play in the PAC-12, Hock was 10-8 with a 2.87 ERA in 77 appearances, 75 of them in relief. He saved 25 games in total, including 16 in his final collegiate season. Hock struck out 120 in 141 1/3 innings, and held opponents to a 1.16 WHIP.

In 2018, Hock’s first full professional season of work would see him entrenched in the Greensboro Grasshoppers bullpen, although he did start 10 games as well. For the Single-A South Atlantic League team, he went 9-8 with a 4.45 ERA, ranking sixth in the SAL in victories while racking up 77 K’s in 91 frames along with a 1.30 WHIP.

Promoted to the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League for the entirety of the 2019 campaign, Hock came on in relief to lead the Sharks in pitching appearances with 36 games played. He went 3-4 with a 3.16 ERA and five saves, with 47 whiffs in 51 1/3 innings while holding opponents to a 1.34 WHIP.

More from Marlins Prospects

• Miami Marlins: Checking in on prospects from the 2022 Arizona Fall League
• Miami Marlins: How top 2022 MLB Draft picks performed this season
• What’s wrong with Kahlil Watson?
• Miami Marlins: Farm System rankings part 2
• Miami Marlins: Farm System rankings part 1

Hock is reliant on a heavy sinking fastball that touches 96 MPH. He also has a plus-curve and a changeup which is described by Baseball America (subscription required) as a distant third pitch.

Hock’s solid season at High-A should be enough to get him another season in the system, likely at the Double-A level with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in the Southern League. If Hock eventually winds up at the major league level for the Miami Marlins, it will probably be sometime in mid- to late-2021.

In the meantime, Hock should spend most of 2020, whenever it starts, with the Shrimp. He has a chance to graduate up a level to the Triple-A Wichita Wind Surge in the Pacific Coast League before the season is out if he continues to pitch effectively.