Miami Marlins 2021 Season Review: 3B Bennett Hostetler

Out of all of the Miami Marlins picks in the 2021 MLB Draft, you arguably won’t find one player that looked more-impressive in their first professional action than Bennett Hostetler. Selected by Miami in the 18th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of North Dakota State, Hostetler could now be set for a big 2022 season that could see the 23-year-old begin to rise up the prospect ranks.

Miami Marlins 2021 Season Review: 3B Bennett Hostetler

Coming off a phenomenal 2021 campaign at North Dakota State, Hostetler would begin his professional career on July 25 with the Low-A Jupiter Hammerheads going 3-for-4 with two RBI’s. Enjoying similar success to what he saw with the Bison, Hostetler would collect at-least one hit in seven of his first nine games with the Hammerheads.

Beginning on August 18, Hostetler would go-on to have one of the best stretches of any Marlins minor leaguer this season appearing in 16 games between then and September 7. Across that span, Hostetler would slash .371/.409/.565 at the plate with three home runs and 14 RBI’s across 62 at-bats.

Collecting at-least one hit in 14 of those 16 games, Hostetler also added six multi-hit games during that span, as well as three three-hit games. Earning a call-up to High-A Beloit as a result, Hostetler would appear in 10 games with the Snappers where he would slash .265/.359/.500 with two home runs and eight RBI’s.

Seeing similar success between Low-A and High-A, Hostetler would slash a combined .319/.367/.486 for the season with five home runs, 33 RBI’s, and three stolen bases across 37 games. Making 150 total plate appearances, Hostetler would collect a total of 44 hits, eight of which were doubles, as well as drawing six walks to 44 strikeouts.

A versatile infielder, the 23-year-old spent a majority of the 2021 season at third base where he posted a combined .955 fielding percentage across 30 games. Hostetler also spent four games at shortstop, as well as three at DH.

One of the Miami Marlins early standouts from the 2021 MLB Draft, Hostetler as mentioned previously could be set for a big 2022 season. After an impressive start to his professional career, Hostetler will likely begin next season in either High-A Beloit or Double-A Pensacola.