German Marquez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #5 prospect in 2017
  Signed by the Rays in 2011 out of Venezuela for $225,000, Marquez was the prime player the Rockies received after the 2015 season when they traded Corey Dickerson to Tampa Bay. Marquez repaid the Rockies' confidence with a breakout 2016. He made the jump from Double-A Hartford to Triple-A Albuquerque to the big leagues in 2016, beating the Cardinals with five quality innings to win his first start. Marquez has plus velocity and it comes effortlessly at a consistent 94-96 mph and touches 98. The ball comes out of his hand with velocity and never fades. Marquez's solid three-pitch assortment includes a curveball that flashes plus and has good spin. His 2016 focus was to tighten it up, which he did. That allows his curveball to play better at the mile-high altitude of Coors Field. His changeup still needs work but has good velocity differential from his fastball. He has shown an ability to pitch inside and use his changeup even when behind in the count. Most impressively, he reduced his walk rate in 2016 by more than a half walk per nine innings. His command improved with growing confidence in his ability. With his assortment and command, Marquez will challenge Jeff Hoffman to claim the open spot in the big league rotation. He has the stuff to be an upper-tier No. 3 starter.
• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #14 prospect in 2016
  Marquez represents reassurance that the Rays' international scouting operation is working. Since signing for $225,000 in 2011, he has slowly but surely climbed the ladder. Things began to click for him in 2014, when he gained strength and size and conquered low Class A Bowling Green. In 2015, Marquez reached high Class A Charlotte and showed the makings of two plus-or-better pitches. His fastball, which worked more in the low 90s previously, ticked up, hitting 97 mph and consistently working at 93-95. His curveball has tight spin and promising depth, leading some scouts to project it as a plus pitch. Marquez's changeup also shows promise. He has feel for it down and to both sides of the plate, but it must improve for him to better combat lefthanded hitters. Marquez has excellent control, thanks to his balanced delivery and repeatable, short-to-long arm action. Some scouts project him to develop above-average control at maturity. His pitch-sequencing and command both improved, earning him a spot on the 40-man roster, and he should advance to Double-A Montgomery in 2016.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #25 prospect in 2015
  Marquez signed for $225,000 in 2011 but didn't distinguish himself in his first two seasons. He struggled initially at low Class A Bowling Green in 2014, too, but he responded by not allowing more than two earned runs in any of his final last 14 starts (2.54 ERA). He has an easy arm action with clean, polished mechanics. He pounds the strike zone with above-average control and can overpower hitters with his 91-93 mph fastball that touches 96. His heater tends to jump out of his hand and possesses excellent late life. His quick arm and wrist also generate a sharp, above-average curveball, and he shows good feel for a changeup. Mature for his age, Marquez needs to fine-tune his command in the strike zone, though he does a good job of working the lower half of the zone. A potential back-end starter, Marquez should make the jump to high Class A Charlotte to open 2015.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Eastern League #9 prospect in 2016
  Traded by the Rays to the Rockies for Corey Dickerson, Marquez had one of the biggest breakouts this year among pitchers. Marquez comes armed with an electric fastball that sits in the mid-90s and can touch the high 90s. He couples the pitch with a hard-biting, downer plus curveball and a changeup that improved as the year progressed. His balanced delivery and clean arm action allowed him to show fastball command and impressive feel to pitch for a 21-year-old. He ranked third in the EL with 126 strikeouts.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #53 prospect in 2017

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Signed by the Rays in 2011 out of Venezuela for $225,000, Marquez was the prime player the Rockies received after the 2015 season when they traded Corey Dickerson to Tampa Bay. Marquez repaid the Rockies' confidence with a breakout 2016. He made the jump from Double-A Hartford to Triple-A Albuquerque to the big leagues in 2016. Scouting Report: Marquez has plus velocity and it comes effortlessly at a consistent 94-96 mph and touches 98. The ball comes out of his hand with velocity and never fades. Marquez's solid three-pitch assortment includes a curveball that flashes plus and has good spin. His 2016 focus was to tighten it up, which he did. That allows his curveball to play better at the mile-high altitude of Coors Field. His changeup still needs work but has good velocity differential from his fastball. He has shown an ability to pitch inside and use his changeup even when behind in the count. Most impressively, he reduced his walk rate in 2016 by more than a half walk per nine innings. His command improved. The Future: Marquez will challenge Jeff Hoffman to claim the open spot in the big league rotation. He has the stuff to be an upper-tier No. 3 starter.