The Miami Marlins are playing the MLB Draft waiting game

What happens after the Detriot Tigers make the first pick in the MLB Draft affects the Miami Marlins moving forward.

Just like other sports leagues that hold their draft to bring in new prospects to change the complexion of organizations, the Miami Marlins are in a holding pattern.

What will the Detroit Tigers do with the first overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft that will set the tone for Baltimore Orioles and what will the American League East team do that sets the table for what Marlins CEO Derek Jeter wants to do with the third overall selection?

Whoever is taken with the third pick, Miami is slated to get another cornerstone piece to their growing chessboard of players. After the past two draft classes and a slew of moves to the organizational roster, the Marlins once again have a chance to come away with several good players for their future.

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First, however, the Tigers are on the clock.

“Like every other team, the Tigers have had to adapt to a new reality this spring. They’re doing more video scouting, having more virtual conferences with their staff and are getting to know players via Zoom meetings,” Jim Callis of MLB.com writes.“Detroit won’t have to make an official decision until June 10, when it’s scheduled to exercise the No. 1 overall choice at 7:11 pm ET.”

After that, the Miami Marlins will have a better understanding of who will still be on the board. It is believed Spencer Torkelson, the first baseman from Arizona State, will be the first name called that night, but there is a chance things could change in the next nine days. Austin Martin of Vanderbilt is also in the conversation. Many publications and websites have the Marlins grabbing pitcher Asa Lacy, the left-handed pitcher from Texas A&M.

There is an outside shot that Georgia right-hander Emerson Hancock and New Mexico State middle infielder Nick Gonzales could be part of the conversation for the Marlins.

Because of the success of the past two draft classes, where needs were met with young pitchers and then experienced bats in the middle of the lineup, Jeter and his staff could take the best player available route and not miss a step in the continued process of growth through the team’s minor league system.

Since Callis has mocked Lacy to the Miami Marlins, he seems to be the odds on favorite to get the from the organization.

“Lacy has established himself as the top pitching prospect in his class thanks to a fastball, slider and changeup that all can grade as well above average at their best,” Callis writes. “He ranked third in NCAA Division I in opponent average (.162) and eighth in strikeout rate (13.2 per nine innings) as a sophomore, and posted even better numbers (.111 and 17.3) this spring.”