Jonathan Asahina

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Miami Marlins #26 prospect in 2002
  Left without a first-round pick in 2001 for the first time in club history, Florida signed Asahina as a $512,000 draft-and-follow. The Northern California junior college player of the year, Asahina is intriguing as a two-way prospect. A switch-hitter in college, he abandoned the left side as a DH at Utica, showing gap power. Though not imposing, he has a 91-95 mph fastball with good movement. He also throws a knee-buckling curve with a late break, a pitch the Marlins emphasized over his slider. His changeup can be a plus pitch when he maintains his arm speed, but he struggles with that at times. He clearly was tired by instructional league after throwing more than 200 innings in 2001, and his velocity dropped as a result. While some see him as a pitcher only, others want to see more of his bat. He's a good enough athlete to merit a look at third base or catcher, depending on his success on the mound.