linky link link

 

 

2005 1st rounders(from left to right): Aaron Thompson, Chris Volstad, and Jacob Marceaux

 

1992: 28th - Charles “CJ� Johnson - Catcher - University of Miami

 

Currently: After being released by the Colorado Rockies early in 2005, he was he caught on with the Devil Rays before being released by them as well.

 

Johnson played with the Fish from 1994-1998, in which 31 games in he was moved to LA along with a bunch of other all stars for Mike Piazza, who was eventually traded to the Mets. CJ came back to the Fish as a FA in 2001, but then was moved to the Rockies the winter of 2002 for Juan Pierre and Tim Spooneybarger(via ATL)

 

MLB Exp: 11+(1169 games)

 

Analysis: CJ was everything he was cracked up to be. He won a GG 4 times from 1995-98. He was also a 2 time all star(1997+2001), as well as a pivotal member of the 1997 Championship team.

 

1993: 27th - Marc Valdes - RHP - University of Florida

 

Currently: No idea. He pitched in the Yankees farm system in 2005 in which he had a 5.28era(AA) and 9.82era(AAA).

 

Valdes made his debut in 1995, but clearly couldn’t hack it. He was selected off waivers by the Expos in the winter of 1996. 2002-2004 he pitched in Japan.

 

MLB Exp: 6 years(144 games, 22 as a starter)

 

Analysis: Bust. Only had one season of his 6 with an ERA less than 4.00

 

1994: 5th-Josh Booty-3B-Louisiana State University

 

Currently: No clue. Maybe he is trying to catch on with a football team. He was a stud QB for LSU back in the day.

 

Josh was up with the big club in 1996 where he had 2 at bats, 1997 where he had 5 at bats, and 1998 where he had 19 at bats. Hey, he had a career .367 OBP.

 

MLB Exp: 3 years(13 games)

 

Analysis: Bust. After realizing he was not “the man� in baseball, he left and hooked on with a couple of NFL teams.

 

1995: 6th-Jaime Jones-OF-Rancho Bernardo HS, San Diego, CA

 

Currently: Not a clue, but he played in AAA Omaha(Royals) last season. He finished with .267/.329/.395, with 5hr and 21rbi in 195ab

 

Jones just never got it together in the minors(career: .265/.318/.404 with 69hr) and has since bounced from the Marlins, to the DBacks and lastly the Royals.

 

MLB Exp: None

 

Analysis: Bust

 

Wow what a run the Marlins went on in those 3 years

 

1996: 9th-Mark Kotsay-OF-Cal State Fullerton

 

Currently:Starting his 3rd season patrolling CF for the Oakland A’s. .247/.334/.366 1hr 9rbi in 93 at bats

 

Kotsay dominated in college, with some gaudy numbers .422-21-90. He was also named Baseball America’s college player of the decade. Mark came up with the Fish in 1997, and would become starter in 1998. Was eventually shipped off to the Padres for Matt Clement and Eric Owens.

 

MLB Exp: 9 seasons(1178 games)

 

Analysis: One of the best defensive CF in baseball today, Kotsay sports a career .287/.343/.425. Although he never developed into the power threat he was in college, he still shows pop on occasion. After trading Kotsay for Clement, the next year they shipped Clement to Chicago for Dontrelle Willis who won ROY and helped the Marlins to their 2nd title.

 

1997: 12th-Aaron Akin-RHP-Cowley County Community College

 

Currently: Entering his 3rd season as an pitching coach/assistant coach for the Mount Olive College baseball team.

 

Way back when, Baseball America rated him as the hardest thrower in the draft and this snippet, The Marlins’ first pick in 1997, right-handed pitcher Aaron Akin, is 2-4 with a 5.03 ERA at Single A Brevard County. Akin has permitted 67 hits and 21 walks in 53 2/3 innings for the Manatees…. That was in 2000, he was still in A ball.

 

MLB Exp: None

 

Analysis: B-U-S-T

 

1998: 27th-Chip Ambres-OF-West Brook HS, Beaumont, TX

 

Currently: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Royals this passed offseason and is not doing well in AAA. .179/.238/.308, 1hr, 4rbi, 1sb, 6bb, 19k in 78 at bats this season

 

As clich as it gets, he never “put it together� while with the Marlins. His career batting average is .253 and he never made it passed AA ball in 6 minor league seasons

 

MLB Exp: 53 games(with the Royals)

 

Analysis: Up to right now, he is a bust. I guess we will have to see if he ever gets going but it doesnt look good.

 

1999: 2nd-Josh Beckett-RHP-Spring HS, Spring, TX

 

Currently: With the Boston Red Sox, 3-1 with a 4.50era and a 1.25whip

 

Beckett made his debut with the big club in 2001 and was everything as advertised. Everything but the blisters. Luckily for him and the Marlins he seems to have shaken what was putting him on the DL every few weeks.

 

MLB Exp: 5 seasons(111 games, 108 starts)

 

Analysis: He finally broke through(in the regular season) for the Marlins in 2005, winning 15 games.He showed the world what kind of pitcher he can be in 2003 when he was named WS MVP for the Marlins. He has all the makings of a Cy Young if he can just stay healthy. Josh was part of a blockbuster this past offseason that sent him, Mike Lowell and Guillermo Mota to Boston in exchange for Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, Jesus Delgado, and Harvey Garcia

 

2000: 1st-Adrian Gonzalez-1B-Eastside HS, Chula Vista, CA

 

Currently: Adrian is a San Diego Padre, and is starting everyday at 1b with Ryan Klesko hurt. In 98 at bats, he 1 homerun and 13rbi to go with a line of .235/.287/.337

 

Gonzalez was progressing nicely in the farm system although it seemed that Jason Stokes had passed him on the fast track to the majors. The Marlins were in the thick of things the summer of 2003 and desperately needed another reliever, so Adrian was shipped off to Texas, along with Will Smith and Ryan Snare, for Ugueth Urbina

 

MLB Exp: 2 years(286 at bats)

 

Analysis: He should be the Padres 1B for a long time, but who knows…

 

2001: no pick that year, decided to sign Charles Johnson instead, chose Garrett Berger in 2nd round

---fyi with our pick that year, the White Sox took Kris Honel... other names around our pick were Aaron Heilman and Jeremy Bonderman

 

2002: 11th-Jeremy Hermida-OF-Wheeler HS, Marietta, GA

 

Currently: On the DL but with the big club

 

Hermida was recently named #4 in Baseball America’s Top 100 overall prospects.

 

MLB Exp: 61 at bats

 

Analysis: Jeremy took the league by storm last September hitting a grand slam in his first major league at bat. His brief stint with the Marlins was all they needed to see that he was gonna start in RF on Opening Day 2005. These injuries are starting to pile up, but hopefully he can kick that bug soon.

 

2003: 16th -Jeff Allison-RHP-Veterans Memorial HS, Peabody, MA

 

Currently: He is out of the league again. Last report he left spring training to go live with his mother in NC. He was placed on baseball restricted list.

 

MLB Exp: None

 

Analysis: It appeared as though he kicked his drug habit(that nearly killed him) when he pitched for the Marlins low-A team Greensboro last season. Something unfortunate happened between then and now, and he is out of baseball at this time.

 

2004: 27th-Taylor Tankersley-LHP-University of Alabama

 

Currently: Double-A Carolina

 

`Tank’ was rated as the Marlins 14th best prospect by Baseball America this year after struggling a bit in 2005(5.18era in low-A, 3.38era in high-A).

 

MLB Exp: None

 

Analysis: So far so good. He has been working in the pen in AA and has a 1.54era in 11.2 innings this season Nice 14:4, K:BB ratio too.

 

2005: 16th-Chris Volstad-RHP-Palm Beach Gardens HS, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

 

Currently: Dominating low-A Greensboro, 4-0 with a 2.81era in 32 innings

 

Arguably the most polished HS pitcher in the draft last year, Volstad has been just as good as advertised. He could see a Josh Beckett-like rise to the majors if he keeps this up. Baseball America rated him as the Marlins #7 prospect this season.

 

MLB Exp: None

 

Analysis: Awesome so far.

 

2005: 22nd-Aaron Thompson-RHP-Second Baptist HS, Houston, TX

 

Currently: Struggling in low-A Greensboro, 0-2 with a 5.63era. Very nice 24k to just 6 walk ratio though. He’ll bounce back.

 

Ranked as the Marlins 11th best prospect by Baseball America this year, Thompson had a fine first year in pro ball going 1-2 with a 3.10era in Jamestown after having a 4.50era in the Gulf Coast League.

 

MLB Exp: None

 

Analysis: No complaints here either. He isn’t on the track Volstad is on, but he certainly looks like a nice pitching prospect.

 

2005: 29th-Jacob Marceaux-RHP-McNeese State

 

Currently: Not having a good time in high-A Jupiter with the Hammerheads. He is 0-3 with a 6.26era.

 

Being that he is out of college, he could possibly see AA this year…. if he could atleast show the Marlins something positive. Baseball America has him ranked as the Marlins #26 prospect.

 

MLB Exp: None

 

Analysis: Eh… I hated this pick then, and I still hate it. In his professional debut last season, Marceaux went a combined 3-8 with a 7.56era in Jamestown and Greensboro. I hope he turns things around, but I just dont see him panning out.

Great writeup. I'm excited about Volstad and Thompson. I haven't seen either pitch, but hear very good things about them.

 

The award for most hyped player that drifted into oblivion is a toss-up between Booty and Allison.

Very cool. Thanks alot. Can't believe it was 11 years ago that we draft Jaime Jones, it seems like just yesterday. I had alot of hopes for that guy.