Miami Marlins

TRACK RECORD: The Royals' 33rd-round pick in 2016, Misner instead went to Missouri, where he enjoyed a solid three-year career. A left foot fracture limited Misner to just 34 games in what was otherwise a breakout sophomore year in 2018, but he started his 2019 campaign strong before struggling with some swing-and-miss issues during conference play. After shaking off the rust post-signing in the Gulf Coast League, Misner finished the season in low Class A Clinton.

SCOUTING REPORT: While blessed with unrivaled tools within the Marlins system, Misner certainly looks the part of a major leaguer and has drawn comparisons to the Indians' Bradley Zimmer. Using a balanced yet spread-out stance, Misner has shown bat speed and an idea of the strike zone. Misner has been vulnerable to chasing stuff up in the zone, resulting in softer contact than expected. He still has an above-average power with good lift but will need to do a better managing counts and staying in control of at-bats. Misner is an above average runner with the tools to stay in center field though some scouts feel he may grow out of the position as he continues to fill out.

THE FUTURE: Misner should spend most of his time with high Class A Jupiter in 2020, when he will likely share an outfield with 2018 first-round pick Connor Scott.

TRACK RECORD: Selected by the Mariners in the second round of the 2015 draft, Neidert quickly gained a reputation for both an advanced feel and command of his fastball-changeup mix. The Marlins netted Neidert as one of three Mariners prospects, along with Robert Dugger, in the Dec. 2017 deal that sent Dee Gordon to Seattle. Surgery to repair his meniscus cost Neidert a chunk of the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Neidert's 90-94 mph fastball doesn't overpower hitters but the pitch plays up due to some deception through delivery, late movement as well as his ability to spot it to all parts of the plate. Neidert further expanded his fastball's value in 2019 by pitching up in the zone, which generated more soft contact to go along with an excellent swing-and-miss rate. Neidert's plus changeup keeps hitters off-balance. While Neidert still has a big 12-6 curveball, its early break and lack of true deception despite good spin relegates it to a fourth pitch. Neidert's success at the upper levels by the development of a cutter-slider hybrid with just enough angle and depth to both sides to keep hitters off-balance. Neidert generates a high front side with his glove and stays closed before generating tilt toward the plate. He maintains a consistent release point.

THE FUTURE: Neidert made up for the time lost due to his right knee injury by making five starts in the Arizona Fall League, where he went 2-0, 1.25 with 19 strikeouts and just two walks in 21.2 innings. With the ceiling of a mid-to-back of the rotation starter,

TRACK RECORD: Originally signed by the Yankees for $250,000 out of the Dominican Republic, Devers was part of the Dec. 2017 deal that sent Giancarlo Stanton to the Yankees. Devers is also the cousin of current Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers. Devers has struggled with a series of nagging injuries over the past two seasons, including shoulder and forearm issues, as well as a groin injury that limited him to just 47 games in 2019. Devers made up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League.

SCOUTING REPORT: Devers is a plus defensive shortstop with excellent instincts and solid footwork that help his average arm play up. Two years after being acquired, Devers is still a projection bat due in part to lack of strength as well as limited at-bats. Devers is a contact hitter with a selectively aggressive approach as evidenced by a 5.1-percent walk rate and a 14.7 percent strikeout rate. While Devers' power will never be average, he will need to do more to be competitive.

THE FUTURE: Having played in just 187 games over the past three seasons, the 20-year-old Devers simply needs to stay healthy. At full strength, Devers is a plus defensive shortstop with the potential to be a topof- the-order hitter who should start back at high Class A Jupiter in 2020.

TRACK RECORD: Guzman was older than most Latin American signees, inking with the Astros for $22,500 at the age of 18 in 2014. Even more notable, Guzman hailed from Las Matas de Santa Cruz in the northwest Monte Cristi province, one of the more report parts of the Dominican. Guzman has been traded twice already—once to the Yankees as part of the Brian McCann deal, and then to the Marlins in the Giancarlo Stanton trade.

SCOUTING REPORT: Guzman is strong, physically mature and shows the makings of a solid delivery although his arm action is shorter and more rigid than most. While clean out front, Guzman is prone to rhythm and timing issues. To make up for it, Guzman possesses good downhill plane to the plate and a fastball in the mid-to-upper-90s that tops 100 frequently. Guzman's fastball quality took a step forward in 2019 because he utilized it up in the zone more often. Guzman also has an above-average slider that looks and feels more like a curveball family because of its hard, downer break. The pitch's quality in and out of the zone is still a work in progress despite good shape. Guzman's changeup may be key to his future role. It is often firm due to his arm action and delivery and is more of a timing pitch that needs to be thrown with more conviction.

THE FUTURE: If Guzman can learn to harness his stuff and lower his walk rate, he could have the ceiling of a hard-throwing, mid-rotation starter. However, some scouts believe he's best suited for a role as a highleverage reliever working off his upper-90s fastball and above-average slider.

TRACK RECORD: Part of the second generation of impactful Mesas in Cuban baseball, Victor Victor's dad, Victor, was a standout player in Cuba, hitting .318. Victor Victor—not to be confused with his brother, Victor Jr., also a Marlins farmhand—made his debut at 15 in the Cuban major league and played six seasons before defecting. The Marlins signed Mesa out of Cuba in October 2018 for $5.25 million.

SCOUTING REPORT: While team officials expected a stark adjustment period for Mesa, who missed a lot of time in his final couple of years in Cuba due to injuries, he was behind even the most conservative of expectations when it came to his ability as a hitter. Too often, Mesa hit the ball either on the ground or with little impact to straightaway center and the opposite field. Some of this was due in part to Mesa's athletic, quick-twitch body, which too often caused him to open up too early and commit his lower half, robbing him of leverage. Despite the struggles, Mesa showed some encouraging signs, including a low swing-and-miss rate (18 percent) and a low strikeout rate (13.4 percent), displaying the ability to keep his hands back despite losing his base. Mesa is an above-average center fielder with plus arm strength and plus speed who uses a quick first step and good route-running ability to track down balls to either gap.

THE FUTURE: Mesa will likely begin 2020 back at Double-A Jacksonville, where the Marlins will hope to see a more experienced, well-adjusted hitter in his second season of pro ball.

TRACK RECORD: Principally a basketball player growing up in the Dominican, baseball was never a true priority for Encarnacion. By the time that changed, Encarnacion was already 18, thereby making him older for free agents and leading to a bonus of just $78,000 in 2015. Encarnacion has shown glimpses of power but also contact issues as he's progressed through the Marlins system.

SCOUTING REPORT: Encarnacion struck out in more than 31 percent of his at-bats from 2017-18. He lowered that rate to a more palatable 25.3 percent in 2019, while also showing much-improved power numbers. Armed with a simple righthanded swing and a closed stance, Encarnacion has plus raw power to all fields. While he needs to continue to work on pitch recognition, Encarnacion did a much better job managing sliders, particularly from righthanded pitching. Encarnacion has plus arm strength and profiles best as an average to above-average defender with average speed.

THE FUTURE: The coming year will be key in determining Encarnacion's place in a suddenly crowded outfield picture.

TRACK RECORD: A redshirt junior at Wright State due to a Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the entire 2017 season, Burdick was named 2019 Horizon League player of the year. Ranked No. 183 on the BA 500, Burdick was drafted with the 82nd overall pick and signed him for just under $400,000.

SCOUTING REPORT: Armed with plus power and an above-average hit tool, Burdick was one of the minors' best hitters after making his pro debut in mid-June. More bat strength than looseness, Burdick showed an impressive ability to drive the ball to all fields while also showcasing a a walk rate above 11 percent at low Class A Clinton. Burdick's peripherals were particularly impressive during his first year in pro ball, including a 90.8 mph average exit velocity and 16.1-degree launch angle. Burdick should be an average defender in either corner-outfield spot with average speed and a slightly above-average arm.

THE FUTURE: Burdick will likely begin his age-23 season with an assignment to high Class A Jupiter. If he continues to impact the ball like he did in his pro debut, he could move quickly through the minors.

TRACK RECORD: Considered one of the top defensive shortstops in the 2019 draft class, Nunez, was the Marlins' choice in the supplemental second round. After signing for an overslot $2.2 million, Nunez played in 48 games in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League before a promotion to short-season Batavia.

SCOUTING REPORT: Nunez has long carried a defense-first reputation. He has all the makings of a plus defensive shortstop with excellent instincts, quick hands and smooth footwork to go alongside a very fast arm. Nunez showed off plus speed in his brief pro debut, stealing 28 bases in 30 attempts. Offensively, though, there are plenty of questions. While he has bat quickness from both sides with a swing geared for line drives, he fared far better lefthanders than righthanders.

THE FUTURE: A defense-first player now, Nunez's offensive development will be key to unlocking his potential as an impactful everyday shortstop. For now, he looks like an easy fit as defensive utilityman.

TRACK RECORD: Widely considered the draft's best defensive high school catcher in 2018, the Marlins drafted Banfield with the 69th overall pick in 2018 and signed him for an above-slot signing bonus of $1.8 million, nearly twice the slot value. Banfield has thrown out 46 percent of would-be basestealers.

SCOUTING REPORT: Behind the plate, Banfield has plus arm strength along with very quick feet to go with good lateral agility. While he is still an inexperienced receiver with some crudeness in his glove hand and framing, Banfield has shown the potential to be a plus defender. He's improved his shifting and blocking abilities notably since joining the organization. Banfield's strikeout rate has steadied between 28-30 percent, and his walk rate lowered to 5.8 percent in 2019. More alarming, he has well above-average swing-and-miss and chase rates. While Banfield has above-average raw power from the right side with plus launch angle, he has had a harder time with controlling at-bats and getting into advantage counts.

THE FUTURE: Banfield needs to improve his approach and shorten his swing, but if he can make strides offensively he has all of the defensive tools necessary to be a strong, defense-first catcher.

TRACK RECORD: Widely viewed as the best athlete in the Nationals' system, Sharp has a pinned tweet of himself dunking a basketball after moving the ball between his legs in mid-air. He was flying high again at the beginning of the 2019 season at Double-A Harrisburg, but an oblique injury kept him out of action for nearly three months. He made up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League, winning a pitcher of the week honor and achieving a 1.50 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP and 24 strikeouts in 24 innings. The Marlins picked him third overall in the Rule 5 major league draft in December.

SCOUTING REPORT: Sharp mostly throws sinkers in the 89-93 mph range and logged a 63 percent groundball rate in Double-A. He doesn't miss an overwhelming amount of bats, but he keeps the ball on the ground and limits damage. Sharp complements his sinker with an above-average changeup in the upper 80s and throws a low 80s breaking ball that grades out a tick below average. Sharp hides the ball well and repeats his delivery to give him average control. He has a lean build but has gained strength as he has risen through the minors.

THE FUTURE: Sharp has to stay on the major league roster all year with the Marlins. He has a chance to do so as a groundball-inducing reliever.

TRACK RECORD: After another slow start in 2017, Holloway had Tommy John surgery. Holloway returned for his first full season, post-surgery, in 2019, reaching high Class A Jupiter for the first time and completing a career-high 95 innings.

SCOUTING REPORT: Despite his early struggles, Holloway's fastball velocity has gotten better each season and averaged 97 mph during 2019. Holloway has very long limbs and has tried to limit excess movement, working stretch-only with a very short stride to simplify direction and repeat his delivery. Repeating, though, has been a challenge, along with maintaining direction to the plate, which has created erratic command and control in the zone. Holloway has the makings of a true plus curveball and an at least average changeup to round out his arsenal.

THE FUTURE: While few debate Holloway's stuff, his role remains in question. He has the body and the stuff to start but his delivery challenges may push him to the pen.

TRACK RECORD: The younger brother of fellow Marlins prospect Victor Victor Mesa and son of Cuban legend, Victor Mesa, Sr., Mesa Jr. signed with the Marlins for $1 million in Oct. 2018. He hit .284 while posting nearly as many walks (24) as strikeouts (27) in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in his debut.

SCOUTING REPORT: Mesa Jr. has impressed evaluators with a smooth, easy swing and advanced bat-toball skills. He opens his front side early, negatively impacting his base and present power, but has shown an uncanny ability to keep his hands back and made contact. Mesa Jr. projects as an average defender with above-average arm strength in right field. He's also an average runner.

THE FUTURE: The Marlins can afford to be patient with Mesa Jr., who will play in 2020 as an 18-year-old.

TRACK RECORD: The Marlins' top international signing in 2019, Salas' dad, uncle and grandfather all played pro ball in Venezuela. Salas was born in Florida and grew up in Orlando, but before high school he moved to Venezuela, worked out for clubs there, then went to the Dominican Republic before signing.

SCOUTING REPORT: Salas has a live, projectable body with lots of room to add strength. He's a quicktwitch athlete with plus speed. At his size, Salas might lose a step as he fills out, but he has significant physical upside to grow into more strength and power. The Marlins liked Salas' chance to hit for average and power, though other clubs were mixed on his hitting ability, with a tendency to get mechanical in his swing and inconsistent game performances. Salas' athleticism and strong arm play well at shortstop, where he gets quick reactions off the bat. He can get erratic in the field, however, so some scouts thought he might fit better in center field. There's also a chance he moves elsewhere in the infield.

THE FUTURE: Salas will make his pro debut in 2020, likely beginning the year in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.

TRACK RECORD: A strong commitment to UCLA and an apparent high price tag pushed Fitterer down teams' draft boards, but the Marlins, undeterred, drafted Fitterer in the fifth round and signed him for $1.5 million—the largest signing bonus given to any 2019 draftee outside of the top three rounds.

SCOUTING REPORT: Fitterer has an ideal, projectable pitcher's body, featuring broad shoulders and long limbs with lots of room to add strength. Fitterer starts his pitch mix with a fastball in the low-to-mid- 90s that he can cut and sink effectively with late life through the zone. He throws three distinct offspeed pitches, including an upper-70s curveball that has the makings of a plus pitch, an above-average, low-80s slider and an average, fourth-pitch changeup. While Fitterer's delivery needs some refinement both in direction and base, due in part to limited core strength, he only needs to make minor adjustments. Fitterer is a good athlete on the mound, leading most scouts to project above-average control with refinement.

THE FUTURE: It is very easy to dream on Fitterer's ceiling as he matures. Due to limited innings, the team will continue to monitor his usage in the spring. While Fitterer will be given a chance to break with low Class A Clinton in 2020, he will most likely start in extended spring before moving to the New York-Penn League.

TRACK RECORD: The Marlins selected Johnson in the second round in 2018 and signed him for $1.35 million. He went to the same high school as former big leaguer Dontrelle Willis, and his second cousin is 2007 NL MVP Jimmy Rollins. His father, Marcel Johnson, played three seasons professionally. Johnson had surgery in March to repair a stress fracture in his right leg.

SCOUTING REPORT: Entering the 2018 draft, Johnson was highly regarded as a tooled-up, albeit raw, potential everyday shortstop. He has quick hands and at least average arm that should allow him to stick as an average to above-average defender at shortstop, but there are some scouts who question whether he may grow off the position and move to second base. Prior to his injury, Johnson was an above-average runner and the Marlins were intrigued by his potential as a power-speed threat. Johnson has plus raw power but he showed a propensity to chase out of the zone too often during his pro debut in 2018. Improving quality contact and reducing his strike zone to make more contact will be key.

THE FUTURE: Johnson is expected to be fully healthy and ready for spring training in 2020. He will likely begin the season with low Class A Clinton in what will be his first full pro season in the minors.

TRACK RECORD: Mejia signed for $50,000 in 2013 but didn't make his professional debut until 2015 and then missed all of 2017 due to shoulder injuries. He reached full-season ball for the first time in 2019 and logged a 2.09 ERA at the Class A levels before he was shut down at the end of June. The Marlins thought enough of Mejia to add him to their 40-man roster in November.

SCOUTING REPORT: Mejia has seen his fastball velocity gradually increase since signing, peaking as a low-to-mid-90s pitch that can touch 95 mph. Mejia throws strikes with his fastball, which features solid life through the zone. His curveball and slider both flash above-average. The slider, long-term, appears to have the better ceiling because it generates more chases and swings and misses. Mejia features a short stride with limited leverage through his lower half in his delivery, uncoiling with some effort due to stiffer hips.

THE FUTURE: Durability remains the biggest question mark for Mejia, who threw a career-high 90.1 innings in 2019. Many scouts believe his stuff will play up in the bullpen.

TRACK RECORD: Miller hit .332 throughout his three years with North Carolina while posting a .872 OPS. Miller signed with the Marlins for $1.88 million as the 36th overall pick in 2017. He has continued to post high averages with low Class A Greensboro and high Class A Jupiter, hitting .324 over 534 plate appearances, but his numbers have dipped since reaching the upper levels.

SCOUTING REPORT: A lefthanded hitter with a smooth swing, Miller's ordinary numbers were the first struggles he'd experienced as a pro. Miller has continued to show above-average contact skills and low swing-and-miss rates, but scouts have noticed an effort to add lift to swing and pull the ball more, which has had a negative impact on quality contact. Always a good fastball hitter who has been able to handle velocity, Miller did not do so as effectively over the past years. Even with the changes in his swing path, power still has been minimal. He has plus speed but has a below-average stolen base percentage. Despite his speed, Miller has played most of his games in left, where he is an average defender with an average arm.

THE FUTURE: A potential .300 hitter with solid on-base skills and potential baserunning threat, Miller has the potential to be a useful top-of-the-order hitter and has a ceiling as an extra outfielder.

TRACK RECORD: Dugger went undrafted out of high school, then pitched two seasons at Cisco (Texas) JC. Dugger then moved to Texas Tech's bullpen for his draft year. The Mariners drafted Dugger with their 18th-round pick in 2016, then traded him to the Marlins as part of the Dee Gordon deal.

SCOUTING REPORT: Dugger makes the most of his average mix by throwing strikes, changing speeds and pitching to contact. He throws four- and two-seam fastballs, with his two-seamer acting more like an 88-92 mph sinker and his four-seamer coming in straighter at 90-93 mph. Dugger also throws a trio of average offspeed pitches, headlined by a low-80s slider that works as his go-to pitch against righthanders. Dugger uses his low-70s curveball effectively against lefthanders, and his changeup is used just enough to keep hitters off-balance.

THE FUTURE: Dugger was roughed up in his first taste of the majors in 2019, displaying the slim margin for error his stuff allows. He will likely continue to get chances in the Marlins' starting rotation in 2020.

TRACK RECORD: Mokma was committed to Michigan State, where he was originally planning to play alongside his older brother, Mike. Instead, the Marlins drafted Mokma with their 12th-round pick and signed him just before the deadline for $557,000.

SCOUTING REPORT: Mokma entered the draft cycle as a projectable, cold-weather high school arm with a very high ceiling. Mokma's fastball currently sits in the low 90s, but most evaluators feel there's plenty more velocity to tap as he adds core strength and fills out his athletic frame. Mokma showed feel to spin a potentially above-average curveball as an amateur while he used his third-pitch changeup much against lesser competition. Mokma's sound delivery leads scouts to project average or better control.

THE FUTURE: After an encouraging pro debut, Mokma most likely will start the season in extended spring training in 2020 as the team will manage his workload. He has the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter.

TRACK RECORD: The Phillies' 20th-round pick in 2015, Stewart broke out in 2018 and impressed enough that the Marlins requested him as part of the J.T. Realmuto trade. Stewart's control took a step back in 2019, when he walked 2.9 batters per nine innings and found the middle of the plate more often.

SCOUTING REPORT: Stewart's fastball velocity dropped significantly in 2019, when the pitch spent most of the season sitting in the upper 80s. The velocity drop impacted the pitch's effectiveness in and out of the zone. Previously a strength, Stewart lost the ability to locate and generate soft contact or ground balls. Stewart shows the makings of an average slider with good angle and spin. While Stewart's slider lost its impact vs righthanded hitters, it remained effective against lefties as a swing-and-miss pitch in and out of the zone with good angle and depth. Previously a solid weapon vs righthanders, Stewart's changeup commanded less respect because hitters were able to adjust to the lack of separation from his fastball.

THE FUTURE: If Stewart can regain his velocity in 2020, his ceiling would rise in kind. He seems likely to return to Jupiter to start 2020 for a potential reboot.