Miami Marlins: Ranking the Positional Needs Going into the 2021 MLB Draft

As the 2021 MLB Draft approaches, the Miami Marlins will have many different potential options with their First Round pick.

There is no denying that of all the teams in Major League Baseball, the Miami Marlins have one of the deepest farm systems in the game. Not only does this mean that your team or franchise is loaded with talent from top to bottom, but it also means that the Marlins will be very good for years to come.

Now, after making the postseason a year ago, it seems evident that the Marlins as currently projected will not be enjoying October baseball as they did in 2020. Because of this, there may not be as much excitement throughout the remainder of the 2021 season as Marlins’ fans experienced last season.

However, that is where the 2021 MLB Draft comes in to play. Sure, you may not be as excited about the current on-field team, but excitement is starting to build for the upcoming Draft, and how that Marlins will add to one of the top farm systems in baseball.

The Miami Marlins hold the No. 16 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.

The Marlins will start adding to their system as they hold pick No. 16 in the First Round of the 2021 MLB Draft. While they hold numerous picks in this Draft, the First Rounder will arguably be the most impactful of all, which is why it is so highly anticipated on who they will choose.

Now obviously this draws the million-dollar question, who will they choose? That’s where this article hopefully comes into play.

This article will take a look at ranking the Marlins positional needs from least to greatest going into the 2021 MLB Draft. While there are numerous players to account for when making this, I felt it was easiest to factor-in only the internal options that are either top prospects making their way up through the minor leagues, as well as current big leaguers that will most likely still be with the team for the next 2-3 years.

So, let’s do it. Here are the Marlins biggest positional needs going into the 2021 MLB Draft from least to greatest, starting with No. 6….

6. Right-Handed Pitcher

Notable Depth:

• Sandy Alcantara – MLB

• Pablo Lopez – MLB

• Sixto Sanchez – MLB

• Edward Cabrera – AA

• Max Meyer – AA

While stockpiling arms through the Draft will always happen, one could argue that right-handed pitchers might be the least need for Miami going into this years MLB Draft. The Marlins already display two-to-three dominant starters at the big league level, while also having two of the premier pitching prospects in all of baseball.

While this group is already extremely impressive, you also have to remember a few other notable younger prospects including Eury Perez and Zach McCambley will be impact players in future years as well. While Miami will still get their fair share of impact right-handed pitchers in the middle rounds, they should look elsewhere based on what they are projected to have in the near future.

5. Outfield

Notable Depth:

• Jesus Sanchez – MLB

• Monte Harrison – AAA

• JJ Bleday – AA

• Peyton Burdick – AA

• Victor Mesa Jr – A

The Marlins future outfield is an intriguing group, and arguably one of the most difficult to fully predict. Top prospects such as Jesus Sanchez and JJ Bleday should be considered as near locks to roam the Miami outfield for years to come, but how and where do current big leaguers such as Starling Marte and Garrett Cooper fit in?

While there are a few intriguing outfielders potentially available in the First Round, Miami may opt-to go for another position where the depth is needed. The Marlins outfield has numerous potential options going forward, and could be one of the best in baseball over the next couple of years.

4. Middle Infield

Notable Depth:

• Jazz Chisholm – MLB

• Jose Devers – MLB

• Nasim Nunez – A

• Jose Salas – ROK

• Yiddi Cappe – ROK

The Marlins middle infield will feature one of the premier younger players in baseball in Jazz Chisholm for years to come, whether he plays at shortstop or second base. Chisholm is 100% a given going forward, but who will play alongside him?

This years Draft features many highly-touted prep middle infielders, most of whom are projected to be selected within the Top 10-15 picks overall. While the Marlins have depth in the middle infield headlined by Jose Devers and Nasim Nunez, as well as the ability to sign/trade for a premier SS/2B, is it possible Miami would select one of these impact middle infielders if they were to fall to them?

1. Catcher

Notable Depth:

• Jorge Alfaro – MLB

• Chad Wallach – AAA

• Will Banfield – A+

Out of all the Marlins positional needs going into the 2021 MLB Draft, catcher seems to arguably be the biggest. While the club has Jorge Alfaro at the big league level, there is no clear “catcher of the future” set in stone for this Marlins team going forward.

Will Banfield, the Marlins No. 27 prospect, is the only real future option currently available in the minor leagues, while a few others may also receive a look in the big leagues at some point. While Miami could always keep or move on from Alfaro in the future, selecting a top catcher, such as Harry Ford or Joe Mack, makes sense with their First Round pick this year.

As mentioned previously at the start, the Marlins currently display one of the top farm systems in baseball, and are set to add to it in the coming weeks. While it is always possible going forward that Miami could always sign or trade for a superstar player, the depth they have on the way to the big leagues is evident.

So, what positions do you think the Marlins will target most during the 2021 MLB Draft? If you were to ask me, the future positional options going forward that they need to address in the Draft are clear.

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