Miami Marlins Take Power Pitcher Max Meyer Third Overall

With the third pick in the 2020 MLB Amateur Entry Draft, the Miami Marlins pick….

Although this was entirely unexpected, Meyer is a solid choice to someday lead the Miami Marlins rotation. Expected pick Asa Lacy went with the next pick, to the Kansas City Royals.

Meyer, ranked as the ninth overall draft prospect by MLB.COM, is a six-foot, 185 lb. right-handed pitcher. A lefty batter, Meyer has both a fastball and a slider which grade out at 70, along with a solid-high-average 55-grade changeup.

In his last full collegiate season, Meyer started in 11 of his 16 appearances for the Golden Gophers, posting a 5-3 record and a 2.11 ERA. He whiffed 87 in 76 2/3 innings, walking 20 and putting up a 1.017 WHIP. He improved on those already impressive figures in a junior season cut short by COVID-19. After four starts this year, Meyer had a 3-1 record and a 1.95 ERA. He struck out 46 while walking eight in 27 2/3 innings. That’s a K/9 of 14.96 and a K/BB of 5.75. Meyer had started out his college career by tying a Gophers team-record with 16 saves as a freshman.

Meyer’s fastball sits in the 93-to-97 range, topping out at 100. Although his change is rated at 55, it was showing signs of improvement through the part of the 2020 season that managed to get played.

Going with the third overall choice, Meyer is the highest-drafted pitcher in Minnesota history, eclipsing Glen Perkins, who went 22nd overall in 2004. The Gophers have had two fielders taken third overall through their history. David Globig, an outfielder taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1976, never reached the majors. The Brewers also went third overall in 1977, and chose future Hall of Famer Paul Molitor. David Winfield, taken fourth out of UM in 1974, is kind of a grey area, as he was chosen as a pitcher but eventually made the Hall of Fame as a right fielder.

The Miami Marlins Rotation of the Future

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Meyer joins an impressive stable of pitchers on the verge of making an impact at the major league level. Recent first round choices Braxton Garrett and Trevor Rogers both lefties, along with recent trade acquisition right-hander Sixto Sanchez and home grown righty Edward Cabrera make for a possibly formidable future rotation for the Miami Marlins.

First baseman Spencer Torkelson went first to the Detroit Tigers to nobody’s surprise, although they did take him as a third baseman. The Baltimore Orioles followed with a reach to the number 10 overall prospect, outfielder Heston Kjerstad out of the University of Arkansas.

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