By James Bailey
November 2, 2011


Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2011.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Christian Yelich, of 2. Marcell Ozuna, of 3. Jose Fernandez, rhp 4. Matt Dominguez, 3b 5. J.T. Realmuto, c 6. Chad James, lhp 7. Rob Rasmussen, lhp 8. Noah Perio, 2b 9. Scott Cousins, of 10. Adam Conley, lhp

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Christian Yelich Best Power Hitter Marcell Ozuna Best Strike-Zone Discipline Jake Smolinski Fastest Baserunner Kevin Mattison Best Athlete J.T. Realmuto Best Fastball Jose Fernandez Best Curveball Austin Brice Best Slider Rob Rasmussen Best Changeup Jose Alvarez Best Control Michael Brady Best Defensive Catcher J.T. Realmuto Best Defensive Infielder Matt Dominguez Best Infield Arm Matt Dominguez Best Defensive Outfielder Kevin Mattison Best Outfield Arm Marcell Ozuna

PROJECTED 2015 LINEUP

Catcher J.T. Realmuto First Base Gaby Sanchez Second Base Noah Perio Third Base Matt Dominguez Shortstop Hanley Ramirez Left Field Logan Morrison Center Field Christian Yelich Right Field Mike Stanton No. 1 Starter Josh Johnson No. 2 Starter Ricky Nolasco No. 3 Starter Anibal Sanchez No. 4 Starter Jose Fernandez No. 5 Starter Chad James Closer Chris Hatcher

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2011 Org. 2002 Josh Beckett, rhp Red Sox 2003 Miguel Cabrera, 3b Tigers 2004 Jeremy Hermida, of Padres 2005 Jeremy Hermida, of Padres 2006 Jeremy Hermida, of Padres 2007 Chris Volstad, rhp Marlins 2008 Cameron Maybin, of Padres 2009 Cameron Maybin, of Padres 2010 Mike Stanton, of Marlins 2011 Matt Dominguez, 3b Marlins

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2011 Org. 2002 Jeremy Hermida, of Padres 2003 Jeff Allison, rhp Marlins 2004 Taylor Tankersley, lhp Mets 2005 Chris Volstad, rhp Marlins 2006 Brett Sinkbeil, rhp Pirates 2007 Matt Dominguez, 3b Marlins 2008 Kyle Skipworth, c Marlins 2009 Chad James, lhp Marlins 2010 Christian Yelich, of Marlins 2011 Jose Fernandez, rhp Marlins

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Josh Beckett, 1999 $3,625,000 Adrian Gonzalez, 2000 $3,000,000 Livan Hernandez, 1996 $2,500,000 Kyle Skipworth, 2008 $2,300,000 Jason Stokes, 2000 $2,027,000

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Sharing a division with the Phillies, the Marlins faced an uphill battle going into the 2011 season. First place in the National League East may not have been a realistic goal, but fifth place wasn't the destination most foresaw either. After finishing May in second place, just two games back, Florida fell apart.

The Marlins went 5-23 in June, enduring a 1-19 stretch and dropping into last place, which they would escape only briefly later in the year. Manager Edwin Rodriguez resigned near the end of the club's 11-game losing streak, just days short of the one-year anniversary of his hire.

Veteran Jack McKeon, who famously rallied Florida to a World Series title after taking over in mid-2003, was unable to replicate the feat. He guided a young roster to a 40-50 record, then stepped aside when Ozzie Guillen came over from the White Sox in October, in a transaction that also included trading prospects Jhan Marinez and Osvaldo Martinez to Chicago. The return of the feisty former Marlins third-base coach stirred up the fan base as the franchise prepares to move into a new stadium for 2012.

Shortly before Guillen's long-rumored arrival, a front-office shakeup saw longtime vice president of player development and scouting Jim Fleming reassigned as a special assistant. Marty Scott, who had been managing in the independent American Association, took over as farm director. Scouting director Stan Meek was promoted to vice president of scouting and will continue to run Florida's drafts.

While the organization's spin on the changes was that they were just a different approach, they were rooted in owner Jeffrey Loria's frustration with the club's lack of major league-ready talent in the system, which he spoke publicly about in July. After years of plugging key pieces into the lineup and pitching staff—such as Mike Stanton, who hit 34 home runs in his first full season—the upper levels have gone dry. The Marlins rank 29th in draft spending over the last five years ($21.7 million), and that has caught up to them.

Matt Dominguez failed to win the third-base job in spring training, then missed the start of the year with a broken elbow. Scott Cousins wasn't the answer when Chris Coghlan went down with a knee injury. Martinez did nothing when given an opportunity.

Finesse starters Tom Koehler and Elih Villanueva, who had blitzed through Double-A in 2010, were woeful in Triple-A and weren't realistic options when Josh Johnson was lost for the year. The only significant rookie contributions Florida got came from backup outfielder Bryan Petersen and relievers Steve Cishek and Mike Dunn.

There is some talent deeper in the pipeline. Low Class A Greensboro claimed the South Atlantic League crown on the strength of a prospect-laden lineup led by left fielder Christian Yelich, right fielder Marcell Ozuna, catcher J.T. Realmuto and second baseman Noah Perio. The Rookie-level Gulf Coast League team, featuring righthanders Austin Brice and Mason Hope and center fielder Jesus Solorzano, came within a game of capturing a championship.

Florida also added several promising arms in the draft, plucking righthander Jose Fernandez in the first round, lefty Adam Conley in the second and Hope in the fifth. The Marlins hoped to add a pair of talented middle infielders in Connor Barron (third round) and Tyler Palmer (fourth), but both players ended up sticking to their strong college commitments.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects  (How to subscribe)

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