Miami Marlins 2021 MLB Draft Report Card — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

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Best Pure Hitter: Unsurprisingly, first-rounder Kahlil Watson (1) got the nod here. Watson was ranked by BA as the No. 6 overall prospect in the class, so the Marlins were quite thrilled to scoop him up with the 16th pick. His barrel malleability and bat speed give him a chance to be a 60-grade hitter at his peak.

Best Power Hitter: One look at Watson is all it should take to realize the massive thunder he can produce offensively. He has tremendous bat speed and is capable of driving balls out to all sectors of the park. Improved swing decisions would help his power play up even further and help him cash in on his tremendous upside.

Fastest Runner: Once Watson hits the ball, it’s off to the races. He’s shown 70-grade speed in the 60-yard dash and should be at least a plus runner even if he slows down as he gets older and stronger.

Best Defensive Player: If Watson dedicates himself to shoring up the finer parts of his game, his defense could shine and make him an extremely well-rounded player who is an asset on both sides of the ball. The Marlins also rave about the catching abilities of Joe Mack (1s) who is an athletic backstop out of high school in New York.

Best Fastball: Although he hasn’t shown a quality secondary pitch, Florida State righthander Hunter Perdue (10) can bring his fastball up to 98 mph. Beyond its pure velocity, the Marlins like some of the characteristics it’s shown from an analytical standpoint as well.

Best Secondary Pitch: Lefthander Pat Monteverde (8) pitched at Virginia Wesleyan, Seton Hill (Pa.) and Texas Tech and had a Tommy John surgery all before being drafted, but the Marlins like the arm speed and conviction with which he throws his changeup. Hitters in the Florida Complex League were not as fond of Monteverde’s changeup, which they swung and missed at roughly 70% of the time.

Best Pro Debut: Watson had an excellent debut, but this spot goes to Bennett Hostetler (18), whom the Marlins took out of North Dakota State. The 24-year-old, who is converting to catcher, compiled an .852 OPS and hit his way to High-A in his first test as a pro.

Best Athlete: Mack and Boston College infielder Cody Morissette (2) each were multi-sport athletes as amateurs. Mack played both volleyball and basketball and Morissette played football and basketball in addition to baseball.

Most Intriguing Background: Outfielder Noah Williamson (19) is the grandson of Fred Williamson, who played for the Steelers, Raiders and Chiefs from 1960-67. Later in life, Fred Williamson acted and produced feature films, including the original version of “The Inglorious Bastards,” and made a cameo in one of rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg’s music videos.

Closest To The Majors: The Marlins believe Watson’s blend of tools and skills could help him hop onto the fast track to Miami, starting with his full-season debut in 2022.

Best Late-Round Pick: The hittability Hostetler showed in college and in his first turn as a pro gets him the nod in this category.

One Who Got Away: The only unsigned player in the Marlins’ class was Texas third baseman Ivan Melendez (16), who returned to the Longhorns for his redshirt junior season.