Miami Marlins 2020 MLB Mock Draft: The First 10 Rounds!

The Miami Marlins have a world of possibility at their fingertips for the 2020 MLB Amateur Entry Draft.

Choosing third overall thanks to a 57-105 campaign in 2019, I believe there’s a consensus as to who the first four picks will be. The only question is what order they’ll go in. Namely, first baseman Spencer Torkelson, left-handed pitcher Asa Lacy, outfielder Austin Martin, and right-handed pitcher Emerson Hancock could all be a reasonable choice to go numbers one through four.

First Round, Number Three Overall

For symmetry’s sake, and because I think it’s how it’s likely going to shake out, the Miami Marlins will choose a Vanderbilt product with their first pick for the second year in a row. After taking outfielder J.J. Bleday in 2019, they’ll happily take Austin Martin in 2020. I think this will be possible because it’s likely the Baltimore Orioles will pick Arizona State product Torkelson first overall, and Lacy should go second to the Detroit Tigers.

Although listed as a shortstop, the six-foot, 170 lb. Martin can also play second, third, or center field as needed. Kind of like Jonathan Villar, but less speed and more hit. In his third year at Vandy, Martin was well on his way to another eye-popping stat line when the season was unceremoniously cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

In 118 contests overall, Martin has cobbled together a .376/.479/.521 slashline. Since the start of the 2019 season, it’s been an even more impressive .404/.504/.626 with 11 homers, 53 RBI, and 21 stolen bases in 27 attempts over 75 games. The cherry on top? Martin’s plate discipline saw him draw 48 bases on balls during the same timeframe, while striking out only 33 times.

As a top Marlins selection, Martin would join a fratenity that has seen six graduate to the 10+ WAR club, led by Adrian Gonzalez (2000, 43.6), Josh Beckett (1999, 35.7), and Christian Yelich (2010, 31.8).

Martin would be arriving in the majors sometime around 2022. He and Bleday could hit three-four in the batting order for years to come for the Miami Marlins.

Second Round, Number 40 Overall

The Marlins have their next pick at number 40, their second round choice. After going with a collegiate position player in the first round, the Miami Marlins go with a prep pitcher our of La Mirada HS in California in the second.

Jared Jones is a six-foot-one, 180 lb. right-handed pitcher. Committed to the University of Texas, it’s likely he’ll forgo a collegiate career for the right signing bonus. His three pitch mix is led by a mid- to upper-90s fastball, with an above average slider and a developing changeup. Although a pitcher by trade, Jones can also boast an 80-grade outfield arm. That’s the highest grade there is, by the way.

Jones also has unquestionable baseball pedigree. He has two cousins who have pitched in the major leagues, Ron and Randy Flores, and his dad played two seasons of minor league ball with the Arizona Diamondback organization.

Some observations throughout this article are courtesy of Baseball America’s scouting report. You can check out the original here, but there is a subscription required.

Competitive Round “B”, Number 62 Overall

Sometimes, the Miami Marlins have been known to draft locally. I believe they’ll use their competitive balance pick to choose 18-year-old Alejandro Rosario from Miami Christian HS with their “B” round pick.

Rosario is a six-foot-one, 165 lb. right-handed pitcher with a nifty 97-98 MPH fastball. He also has a slider and a split-change which hover in the 81 MPH range, but scouts have questions about his bat-missing ability.

Third Round, Number 76 Overall

Shortstop Yohandy Morales is a product of Braddock HS and a Miami Hurricanes commit. Standing six-foot-four and weighing in at 195 lbs., Morales is the recipient of good baseball genes as well:

His father, Andy, played in the majors and Morales likely has the same pure talent to follow in his footsteps. Morales matured physically quicker than most of his contemporaries and showed an impact righthanded bat as an underclassman. Baseball America’s Scouting Report (subscription required)

Fourth Round, Number 104 Overall Choice

Right-handed pitcher Stevie Emanuels was used mostly as a relief pitcher through his first two seasons pitching for the University of Washington. In 65 games overall through that period, he struck out 97 in 99 innings, with a 10-5 record, seven saves and a 3.31 ERA.

Emanuels had struck out 38 in his first 22 2/3 innings through the 2020 season before it was put on hold by COVID-19. Now a starter, he was 3-1 with a 0.79 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP when play was halted.

Fifth Round, Number 134 Overall Choice

Left-handed pitcher Michael Kirian is a six-foot-six, 235 lb. behemoth currently attending the University of Louisville. Three seasons as a reliever have seen him strike out 66 in 41 innings, while allowing a 1.47 WHIP.

His lifetime WHIP is misleading, as it includes 14 walks in 11 1/3 innings as a freshman. Since that time, he’s put up a mark of 1.009. Both before and after he discovered his control, Kirian was able to make batters miss. His 12.31 K/9 rate has been more-or-less consistent through his collegiate career.