Miami Marlins: Looking Back at the Last 10 First Round Picks

As the 2021 MLB Draft approaches, the Miami Marlins are narrowing down on just who they plan to select with their First Round pick.

With Miami holding the No. 16 overall pick in the First Round of this years Draft, there are numerous different potential options on who they will select. One thing is clear however: Whomever they select will join a phenomenal group of Marlins First Round Draft picks in recent years.

The Miami Marlins have a history of strong First Round picks.

While history shows that not all First Round picks will always pan out, the Marlins have had success when it comes to this area. The franchise has had some phenomenal selections over the years including players such as Josh Beckett, Christian Yelich, and more. While these players might not spend their entire careers with the Marlins, there is no denying that Miami has a history of making good selections in the First Round.

So, before the Marlins make their selection this year, let’s look back at the 10 most recent Marlins’ First Round picks and where they are now, starting with the 2013 MLB Draft.

2013 – 3B Colin Moran

Selection: 6th Overall, North Carolina

After a phenomenal 2013 season at North Carolina, the Marlins selected Moran with the sixth overall pick in the First Round of the 2013 MLB Draft. After spending a little over a year in the Miami system, the Marlins however traded the No. 4 prospect at the time to the Houston Astros as part of a multi-player deal.

After reaching the big leagues and spending his first two years with Houston, Moran was once again traded, this time to the Pirates in 2018 as the arguable focal-point of the Gerrit Cole deal. Still currently playing in Pittsburgh, the 28-year old now first baseman is enjoying a strong 2021 season slashing .280/.345/.414 with four HR’s and 23 RBI’s across 49 games.

2013 – LHP Matt Krook

Selection: 35th Overall, St. Ignatius High School (CA)

The Marlins selected Krook 35th overall with a Compensatory Pick in the First Round of the 2013 MLB Draft. However, Krook did not sign with the organization, and instead chose to attend Oregon to play college baseball.

After pitching at Oregon for three seasons, one of which the left-hander underwent Tommy John Surgery, Krook was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the Fourth Round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Since 2016, Krook has spent time in the Giants and Rays organizations, while also currently pitching in the Yankees system in Triple-A with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

2014 – RHP Tyler Kolek

Selection: 2nd Overall, Shepherd High School (TX)

One of the highest selected Draft picks on this list, the Marlins selected Kolek with the second overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft. Instantly becoming Miami’s No. 1 prospect, Kolek’s on-field play however didn’t necessarily translate to his top prospect status.

Kolek never reached higher than A-Ball during his five seasons in the Marlins organization posting a combined 5.66 ERA across 163.2 IP with 124 walks and 134 strikeouts during that time. Kolek recently elected free agency in November of 2020 where he is currently unsigned.

2014 – C Blake Anderson

Selection: 36th Overall, West Lauderdale High School (MS)

The second Compensatory Pick on this list, the Marlins selected Anderson 36th overall in the First Round of the 2014 MLB Draft. Instantly touted as one of the top catching prospects in the Miami system, Anderson never seemed to quite get going offensively.

While a solid defensive catcher, Anderson struggled at the plate only playing four seasons with the Marlins, with his best coming in 2015 where he slashed .220/.273/.322 in A-Ball. After essentially not playing in 2016 and 2017, aside from a short-stint as a pitcher, Anderson has yet to play since.

2015 – 1B Josh Naylor

Selection: 12th Overall, St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School (ON)

The Marlins drafted Naylor with the 12th overall pick in the First Round of the 2015 MLB Draft. Instantly becoming one of the top prospects in the Miami organization, the Canadian was traded a little over a year later in a multi-player deal that sent multiple players between the Marlins and Padres.

Naylor would reach the big leagues with the Padres back in 2019 having a solid first season, but was traded once again at the 2020 MLB Trade Deadline as he went to Cleveland as a part of the massive deal that sent Mike Clevinger to San Diego. Naylor was enjoying a solid first full-season in Cleveland before recently landing on the 10-day IL.

2016 – LHP Braxton Garrett

Selection: 7th Overall, Florence High School (AL)

The Marlins made Garrett the third highest drafted prep player from the state of Alabama when they selected the left-hander with the seventh overall pick in the First Round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Still currently with the organization, Garrett is now knocking on the door of the big leagues full-time.

The Marlins current No. 7 prospect, Garrett had to undergo Tommy John Surgery early on during his time in the Miami organization, but has looked strong since. Garrett has split time between Triple-A and the big leagues so far this season, and projects as an important piece of the Marlins pitching staff going forward.

2017 – LHP Trevor Rogers

Selection: 13th Overall, Carlsbad High School (NM)

After being selected by Miami with the 13th overall pick in the First Round of the 2017 MLB Draft, Rogers is undoubtedly the player that has had the biggest impact for Miami up to this point. Now in year two of his big league tenure, Rogers is vastly emerging as a massive part of the Marlins future rotation.

The arguable current favorite to win the 2021 NL Rookie of the Year, Rogers currently sports a 2.14 ERA across 16 starts on the season, along with a combined 3.07 ERA across his first 23 career starts. If recent trends continue for the 23-year old left-hander, this will certainly be remembered as one of the best Marlins’ First Round picks in recent memory.

2018 – OF Conner Scott

Selection: 13th Overall, Henry B. Plant High School (FL)

One of the top high school outfielders in the 2018 MLB Draft, the Marlins selected Scott, an in-state product, with the 13th overall pick in the First Round. Despite a slow-start to his professional career, Scott has began to emerge more as of late.

Miami’s current No. 15 prospect, Scott enjoyed a breakout 2019 season, splitting time between Low-A and High-A. Currently spending all of the 2021 season up to this point in High-A with the Beloit Snappers, Scott has slashed .255/.341/.372 across 36 games.