Miami Marlins: 10 way-too-early first round targets for 2022 MLB Draft

It’s never too-early to talk about the 2022 MLB Draft right? After selecting shortstop Khalil Watson No. 16 overall in the first round in 2021, the Miami Marlins will make a selection in the Top 10 overall picks in 2022 for the third time in the last four years.

Selecting No. 6 overall in the 2022 MLB Draft, there are numerous potential options that will be available in the first round, but who will the Miami Marlins select or target with that pick?

10 way-too-early Miami Marlins first round targets for the 2022 MLB Draft

While it is still a ways away from the 2022 MLB Draft actually happening, there is a clear look at what the upper-half of the first round may look-like, including which players will likely be selected during that span.

With that said, let’s look at 10 players that the Miami Marlins should target with their first round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, beginning with a few honorable mentions.

HM. SS Jayson Jones – Braswell (TX)

One of the top high school shortstops in the 2022 draft, the Arkansas commit displays a powerful right-handed swing, and has the potential to transition to third base at the next level.

HM. LHP Brandon Barriera – American Heritage (FL)

An in-state product, Barriera is a left-hander from American Heritage that displays a three-pitch mix that features a mid-90’s fastball, changeup, and breaking ball, as well as excellent command.

HM. LHP Hunter Barco – Florida

The 6’4 left-hander posted a 4.01 ERA with 94 strikeouts across 16 starts with the Gators during the 2021 season, and displays a four-pitch mix headlined by an impressive fastball and slider.

HM. 3B Sal Stewart – Westminster Christian (FL)

Another in-state product, Stewart is one of the top home run hitters in the entire 2022 draft class who owns plenty of power from the right side of the plate, while also one of the top overall third baseman as well.

HM. OF Brock Jones – Stanford

One of the top left-handed collegiate power bats in the 2022 draft, Jones has split time between left and center field at Stanford, while also slashing .311/.453/.646 with 18 home runs, 62 RBI’s, and 14 stolen bases in 2021.

10. OF Chase DeLauter – James Madison

While there are two big high school outfield prospects that stick-out among the rest in this draft at the position, you could certainly make an excellent case that DeLauter is the top collegiate outfielder in the 2022 Draft. A two-way player at James Madison, DeLauter easily sticks-out offensively however having slashed a combined .385/.488/.657 across his first two seasons with the Dukes in a combined 42 games.

A player who continues to rise up draft boards, DeLauter has legit five-tool potential as a prospect, and is a player who can hit for both average and power while also a threat to make an impact on the base paths. Capable of playing any outfield position defensively, DeLauter is easily one of the top collegiate hitters in this draft, and is a player who will only continue to rise as the 2022 college baseball season draws near.

9. LHP Jackson Ferris – IMG Academy (FL)

The 2022 MLB Draft class displays a few notable left-hander’s that will all likely go in the upper-half of the first round with the one likeliest to come off the board first being Ferris, a Mount Airy, NC native who attends in-state IMG Academy. An Ole Miss commit, Ferris is widely regarded as one of the top overall high school arms in this class, and backed that up during the 2021 season where he posted a 0.55 ERA across 50.2 innings with the Ascenders.

The 6’4 left-hander already displays a fastball that sits in the mid-90’s, but also uses an impressive breaking ball and changeup that can also get batters out to pair with excellent command for each. Still only 17-years-old, Ferris continues to rise up the ranks as one of the top overall pitchers in the 2022 draft, and is emerging as a high-upside lock to go in the Top 10 picks overall, even potentially Top 5.

8. RHP Brock Porter – Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (MI)

Similar to the left-hander’s mentioned previously, the 2022 MLB Draft class has arguably two top high school right-handed arms with the first on this list being Porter. An impressive two-way player at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (MI), Porter is considered as one of the top pitching prospects in this draft, and is coming off a dominant 2021 junior season where he posted a 12-0 record with a 0.67 ERA and 126 strikeouts across 62.1 innings on one of the top high school teams in the country.

Similar to Ferris previously, Porter also stands at 6’4, but displays one of the top fastball’s among high school arms in the 2022 draft class that sits in the upper-90’s, as well as a solid breaking ball and changeup. A Clemson commit, Porter has some of the best pure stuff of any high school pitcher in this draft, and is a projected Top 10 overall pick that has a lot of upside.

7. 2B Jace Jung – Texas Tech

While a majority of his time across his first two years at Texas Tech has come at second base, Jung is a player who has also seen time at third base, and could eventually settle at the hot corner. Regardless of where he settles defensively, Jung is one of the top collegiate bats in the 2022 draft, and is coming off a phenomenal 2021 season with the Red Raiders where he slashed .337/.462/.697 with 21 home runs across 56 games.

The 20-year-old is the younger brother of current Texas Rangers No. 2 prospect and former first round pick Josh Jung, and displays a similar skill-set to him that could see Jung transition more at the next level to third base. Jung is a likely Top 10 pick, and could be one of the more-intriguing collegiate hitters in the upper half of the first round due to his positional versatility.

6. SS Brooks Lee – Cal Poly

When making the argument for who is the top overall collegiate hitter in the 2022 draft, each of the next two players could arguably have that label with the first being Lee. Despite missing almost all of his freshman season at Cal Poly in 2020, Lee slashed a phenomenal .342/.384/.626 across 55 games in 2021, and then continued that success in the Cape Cod League slashing .405/.432/.667 across 21 games.

A switch-hitting middle infielder, Lee owns impressive power offensively at the position, and has all the tools needed to play at either shortstop or second base at the next level. While some of the notable high school players still to come on this list will likely be selected within the Top 5, don’t be surprised if Lee is the top collegiate player to come off the board, potentially in the Top 5 overall.

5. 3B Jacob Berry – LSU

The other player that you could certainly make an argument is the top collegiate hitter in the 2022 draft is Berry, a switch-hitting third baseman. Now attending LSU, Berry actually spent his freshman season a year ago at Arizona where the 20-year-old posted a phenomenal .352/.439/.676 slash line across 63 games, a season that also included 17 home runs and 70 RBI’s.

While listed as a third baseman, which is where he will likely see a majority of his time in 2022 with the Tigers, Berry spent a majority of the 2021 season as the Wildcats DH as an impactful member of the Arizona lineup. While Berry still has room to improve defensively, his bat is undoubtedly one of the best in the 2022 draft class, and is emerging as almost a lock to go in the Top 5 because of it.

2. RHP Dylan Lesko – Buford (GA)

Undoubtedly the top pitcher in the 2022 draft comes from the high school ranks in Lesko, a right-hander from Buford High School (GA). The 2021 Gatorade National Player of the Year, Lesko entered the 2021 season as the top arm in the 2022 draft, and did nothing but cement himself further as the top prospect at the position as he posted an 11-0 record with a 0.35 ERA and 112 strikeouts across 60 innings with the Wolves.

A Vanderbilt commit, the right-hander owns arguably the top changeup in the 2022 draft, as well as a fastball that sits in the mid-90’s and a power breaking ball, all of which are paired with plus-command. One of the top high school pitchers in recent years, Lesko is also a likely lock to go in the Top 3 picks overall, as well as a dark horse to go No. 1 overall.

1. SS/2B Termarr Johnson – Mays (GA)

The player coming in at No. 1 on this list is Johnson, arguably the top overall hitter in the 2022 MLB Draft. A talented middle infielder, Johnson attends Mays High School (GA) where he is coming off a phenomenal 2021 season in which he slashed a combined .400/.558/.981 across 19 games as a junior.

A player who has risen into the No. 1 overall pick conversation in recent weeks, Johnson is an elite hitter at 5’10 where he has the ability to hit for both contact and power from the left-side of the plate, while also displaying impressive speed. The biggest question surrounding Johnson is which middle infield position he settles in eventually, but regardless of that, the 17-year-old is an elite hitter who is becoming the arguable favorite to go No. 1 overall in the 2022 MLB Draft.