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Miami Marlins receive high praise for their 2020 Draft class

By David Levin |
LAKELAND, FL - MARCH 01: A detailed view of a pair of official Rawlings Major League Baseball baseballs with the imprinted signature of Robert D. Manfred Jr., the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, sitting in the dugout prior to the Spring Training game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 1, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Yankees 10-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
LAKELAND, FL - MARCH 01: A detailed view of a pair of official Rawlings Major League Baseball baseballs with the imprinted signature of Robert D. Manfred Jr., the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, sitting in the dugout prior to the Spring Training game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 1, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Yankees 10-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The Miami Marlins were one of a handful of MLB teams that received superior reviews for their 2020 Draft class.

Evidently the staff here at Marlin Maniac is not the only one who has high praise for the Miami Marlins 2020 draft class. The six pitchers who were taken between Wednesday and Thursday night could become the best draft class ever assembled in team history.

Jim Callis of MLB.com listed the Marlins as one of the six teams that got it right with all five rounds this year. Max Meyer might be the most MLB-ready pitcher in the Draft at this point.

“Miami took the exact opposite approach to Detroit by selecting six straight pitchers, all with intriguing upside,” Callis writes.

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The Marlins front office has made solid pitching the focus of their rebuilding project that is now in Year 3. By trading for top prospects and then reshaping the bullpen, Miami is moving toward being a contender sooner rather than later.

The current situation with the team, MLB, and the Coronavirus have halted the climb in the ranks. Miami has what is considered one of the best minor league systems in baseball. Good pitching is a major part of the equation.

By leaping over Texas A&M flamethrower Asa Lacy, the team opened itself up for scrutiny by selecting a pitcher who some believe might be better suited for the bullpen in the Majors.

“The Marlins started with Minnesota right-hander Max Meyer (No. 3 overall), who pairs the best pitch in the Draft (a wipeout slider) with a fastball that reaches triple digits,” Callis continues.

Meyer was just the start as the Marlins, who do have needs in other areas of the diamond, continued their stockpiling of talent. The front office, led by the president of baseball operations Michael Hill and CEO Derek Jeter as well as Marlins farm director DJ Svihlik continued to strengthen this team for the future.

“… Oklahoma high school left-hander Dax Fulton (second round), the top prep southpaw available and the owner of a projectable 90-93 mph fastball and a nasty curveball. Ball State righty Kyle Nicolas (supplemental second) is one of the hardest-throwing starters (up to 100 mph) in the college ranks, while Coastal Carolina righty Zach McCambley (third) generates high spin rates on his low-90s fastball and power curveball. Vanderbilt lefty Jake Eder (fourth) and Southern California righty Kyle Hurt (fifth) lack consistency but can reach 97 mph with their fastballs and back them up with solid secondary pitches,” Callis adds.

Meyer is a player, according to ESPN.com’s David Schoenfield, who could see the field in 2020. I’m not sure that happens given the state of MLB at the moment and the fact the Marlins may not want to rush their newest player through the system without a real test in the minors.

Next. Marlins: Should we just give up on the 2020 MLB season?. dark

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