Dan Jennings

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Miami Marlins #30 prospect in 2012
  No relation to the Marlins vice president of player personnel of the same name, Jennings shot to Double-A in his first full season three years ago but has had trouble advancing beyond that level. A 50-game suspension in July 2010 for using a banned over-the-counter stimulant carried over to the start of last season. He had decent success in his third stint in Jacksonville before a mid-June promotion to New Orleans, where his command faltered and his results turned ugly. He had a 7.04 ERA and surrendered three homers in 30 innings after yielding just four in his previous 200. Nevertheless, Miami protected him on its 40-man roster after the season. Jennings gets by with a two-pitch arsenal, mixing a 90-94 mph fastball with a solid to plus slider. He disguises the slider well and is able to give it different looks for lefties and righties. He got in trouble last year when he didn't stay down through the ball in his delivery, which caused his fastball to flatten out. Jennings uses a low arm slot, which makes him tough for lefties to pick up, yet he was much more effective against righties in 2011. He went to the Arizona Fall League to continue working on his delivery and command, and he'll give Triple-A another try this season.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #16 prospect in 2011
  No relation to the Marlins assistant GM of the same name, Jennings shot to Double-A in his first full pro season in 2009 after moving to the bullpen. He struggled at the outset of last season, pitching too cautiously and issuing 13 walks in his first seven appearances. Once he stopped trying to minimize mistakes and attacked hitters again, he got on a roll that ended when he tested positive for a banned substance in late July and was suspended for 50 games. He blamed an over-the-counter stimulant. Jennings succeeds by mixing a 90-93 mph fastball with a solid slider. He gets a nice, wide angle on his fastball, and he pitches low in the zone with life. He has allowed just three homers in 176 pro innings. He disguises his slider well and gives it different looks for lefties and righties, though he relies on it too much at times. Jennings has been effective against righthanders, allowing him to profile as a possible set-up man and not just a lefty specialist. He has to serve the final 11 games of his suspension at the start of the 2011 season, but could move quickly once he returns.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #13 prospect in 2010
  Jennings' pro career got off to a slow start, as he had a middling debut in 2008 and then had his first spring training interrupted by an emergency appendectomy. But in his first full season, he turned in strong work at three levels, including a cameo in Double-A. Armed with the best slider in the organization, Jennings throws the pitch with two different breaks, one for lefties and the other for righties. Because he tended to rely too much on his slider, pitching coordinator Wayne Rosenthal got Jennings to throw more fastballs last season. The results were impressive, as his velocity improved from 88-90 mph to 91-94, and he now sprinkles in his slider as more of an out pitch. He has some deception as well as late arm speed, and the ball seems to jump out of his hand. Almost frail when he first signed, Jennings has gotten significantly stronger. With his solid mound presence and ability to get righthanders out, he profiles as a lefty set-up man. He'll probably return to Jacksonville to start 2010.