MLB Draft: The Miami Marlins look to add more cornerstone players

Can the Miami Marlins make the same kind of impact in the MLB Draft with only five rounds to select players this year?

The Miami Marlins are now on the clock. I never thought I would say that with such excitement, but the reality of adding a new class of talented baseball prospects leaves me a bit giddy. The Marlins front office has been traveling a long road since CEO Derek Jeter check took over the organization’s day-to-day operations and may have finally found the right direction to follow.

It appears his travels have allowed this ball club to find firm footing. As the organization’s minor-league system continues to grow, Jeter and his cohorts in the front office will have an opportunity to take another top six players to add to the plethora of talent that has already been acquired in the past two seasons.

While there may not be as much pressure to make the “right call” with the third overall selection this season, given that Miami is assured to grab one of the best players in the talent pool, it’s significant that the player the Marlins pick has a direct impact on the parent club within the next five seasons. Just like any other Major League team that continues to pick at the top part of this draft process, sooner rather than later, there must be a payoff in terms of wins and losses and player productivity.

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The Marlins are able to gamble a little bit this year, having spent the last two draft classes on young talented arms and experienced powerful bats.

Given that this is an abbreviated draft class, thanks to the threat of COVID-19 and how teams have had to research players since the end of last season, all 30 MLB teams will look to make every pick count while knowing that there will be several players out there they can acquire after the draft just like it’s free agency.

I suspect Texas A&M pitcher Asa Lacy will hear his name called and welcomed to sunny South Florida. Should the Marlins front office call an audible, there are plenty of other prospects to choose from, including Emerson Hancock of the University of Georgia. Both SEC stars have the potential to lead a pitching staff. While the Marlins have done an exceptional job and identifying young arms to develop, adding either one of these college stars makes the team’s farm system even stronger.

With only five rounds of players to choose from, the Miami Marlins will save roughly $3.4 million in bonus money.

The Marlins have six picks overall. They should be able to use each pick for the best player available in each round could make the Marlins one of those teams is able to fulfill all of their needs and still be able to locate players after the draft process.

Last year, the Marlins took another step towards its future by drafting Vanderbilt outfielder JJ Bleday with the fourth overall pick, then followed it up by selecting Missouri outfielder Kam Misner, high school shortstop Nasim Nunez and Wright State outfielder Peyton Burdick.