Posted March 1, 200420 yr This thread is devoted to posting the top fifty (50) Marlins prospects - in reverse order- as determined by Marlinsinsider.com. As they are posted I will add them to this thread. First of all, thanks to MarlinsInsider and it's publisher for doing the research and preparing this info. Second, let's not post to this thread so we can keep it clean and uncluttered. The idea is to keep the thread as a resource and not for debate. Thanks. Please discuss the prospects here. Florida Marlins Prospect Spotlight Countdown #50 By Mark Doring Publisher Date: Feb 26, 2004 Marlins Insider kicks off its Florida Marlins Organizational Top 50 Prospects Countdown with a look at its 50th ranked prospect. Find out who he is and how his background makes him such a unique and interesting prospect. Prospect Spotlight #50 OF Kenny Berkenbosch Height: 6?2, Weight: 205 Bats: Right, Throws: Right Born: March 17, 1985 Place: Flevoland, Netherlands Signed in 2002 Career Statistics Year Team AB R HRs RBIs SB BB SO OBP SLG 2002 Gulf Coast 9 1 0 1 0 1 2 .455 .444 2003 Gulf Coast 127 12 0 13 3 16 22 .326 .291 Strengths: Berkenbosch has tremendous size and is very well built for such a young player. For that reason he is projected to develop into plus power prospect with better than average speed. In the field, Berkenbosch has an above average throwing arm and has very good range due to his above average speed. For a young player who has not played against very much talent in his Netherlands?s homeland, he has adapted well to playing against better competition which is a testament to his self-confidence and willingness to learn. Areas for Development: Coming from the Netherlands where baseball development is still in its infancy, Berkenbosch has not received the coaching necessary to learn the finer points of the game. At this point in his development he is seen as a completely raw talent but one with tremendous natural skills and physical ability. Being that he just turned 18 his power has still not developed but the organization feels that it will develop as he matures. Right now he has shown good ability to hit the fastball but still needs work on off-speed and breaking pitches. A reason for this weakness is that prior to coming to US he has not seen many quality pitchers with the ability to throw breaking pitches. In the field, Kenny has the foot speed and arm strength to become a better than average OFer in either the LF or RF position. However, he must learn how to better respond to the ball off contact, how to position himself properly to make throws on the move, to take better angles in his pursuit of fly balls, and become more comfortable going back on deep flys. Scouts however are intrigued with his size, natural talent, and his eagerness to learn. Projection The Marlins were extremely excited when they signed Berkenbosch as a 16 year old in 2002. Marlins Director of International Relations Fred Ferreira upon signing Kenny said that ?Berkenbosch reminds me of a young Tim Salmon type.? In 2002, the organization gave Berkenbosch limited exposure in the Gulf Coast league and for a 17 year old he responded well in limited duty. In 2003, he was given an expanded role and showed progress in his development. Berkenbosch showed advancement in all areas in which he needs improvement. He made better contact, showed improved discipline at the plate, and showed advancement in the field. Even with this advancement it is still just a step in the mile that it?s going to take for Berkenbosch to become an everyday major league player. However, the talent is there and the eagerness to learn will be a tremendous asset in his development. Because Berkenbosch is so raw and has so much room for development he is probably a good 4-5 years away from a shot with the big team. But since he is only 18 years old, both the Marlins and Berkenbosch are patient in the development of his tremendous talent. He will start the 2004 season with the Jamestown Jammers of the New York Penn League with a possible advancement to Greensboro.
March 1, 200420 yr Author Marlins Top 50 Prospects: #49, Derek Wathan By Mark Doring Publisher Date: Feb 28, 2004 #49 SS Derek Wathan Derek Wathan has spent 6 years in the Marlins organization. Scouts feel that he is ready for his chance to play in the majors. Will that chance come with the Marlins? If so, when will that be and what can we expect? Vital Stats: Position - SS DOB - December 13, 1976 Birthplace - Cedar Rapids, Iowa Height: 6'3 Weight: 190 Bats - Both Throws - Right Acquired - Drafted in the 2nd Round (70th overall) of the 1998 amateur draft out of the University of Oklahoma. Batting: During his 6 years in the Marlins organization, Wathan has developed into a very good contact hitter. Derek has a very good feel for the strike zone although he doesn't manage too take many walks. Instead he uses his good batting eye to slap the ball around and use his quality speed to get himself on base. He is naturally a right-handed hitter so he carries a bit more pop from that side. Despite having good size at 6'3 190 lbs, his power can be described as nothing more than average gap power. He possesses no power from the left side. Base Running and Speed: Wathan possesses better than average speed but by no means is he going to burn up the base paths. Instead, he uses his above average baseball intelligence to make good decisions on the base paths. In the 2002 season he had leg injury issues that limited his base running but he bounced back in 2003 to steal 21 bases in 29 attempts. Defense: Wathan's good speed and quickness gives him very good range at the SS position. He has no trouble with the routine plays and occasionally comes up with the spectacular one. His throwing arm is solid for the SS position but isn't quite great. Derek is just as comfortable playing the 2B position as he is at SS. He can also adequately field the 3B and OF positions. Projection: Derek Wathan has now been in the Marlins organization for 6 seasons. One of those seasons was cut short by injury. Management was interested to see how he would bounce back with a full season at Triple A Albuquerque. Derek did so very impressively by putting up his best season in the minors. Unfortunately for Wathan, he only projects as a utility player in the major leagues and the Marlins already have a very good veteran in Mike Mordecai holding that position. The Marlins would love to keep Derek in the organization due to Mordecai's age. But as long as Mordecai remains effective he will be the Marlins utility man. The two biggest reasons why is that Mordecai is a known quantity and is payroll friendly. However, many scouts feel that Wathan has nothing left to prove at the minor league level and is ready for a shot at the majors. The Marlins will try to keep Wathan for one more season at Albuquerque and give him a shot to beat out Mordecai for a roster spot next year. At some point Derek Wathan will be a member of a major league team's roster. Whether that team is the Florida Marlins remains to be seen. Estimated Time of Arrival: Wathan might be ready to make a major league team right now. He has been invited by the Marlins to spring training for a chance to earn a roster spot. If he doesn't make the team he will either be cut outright so that he can pursue a shot with another team, or he will be sent back to Albuquerque as insurance if Mordecai ever ends up on the DL. Year Team AVG R HR RBI 2B SB BB SO OBP SLG 2003 Albuquerque .296 54 4 55 24 21 34 56 .350 .418
March 1, 200420 yr #48 Scott Nestor RHP Scott Nestor Vital Stats: Position: Pitcher DOB: August 20th, 1984 Height: 6'5 Weight: 220 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Drafted in the 14th Round (413th overall) in the 2003 amateur draft out of Chaffey Junior College Overview: Nestor can end up being another Marlins scouting success story. The Marlins found this tall right-hander pitching for Chaffey Junior College in California's Foothill Conference. This is the same school that produced the late Darryl Kile. During his two years at Chaffey, Nestor helped continue Chaffey's dominance of their conference with his often dominating performances. Repertoire: Nestor carries a better than average fastball that comes in at 94-96 mph. At this point Nestor has no other pitches that he can rely upon to get hitters out. He has started to work on developing a curveball but that pitch is still quite a ways off from being perfected. Style: Right now, Nestor can best be described as a pure thrower. His fastball was a dominating pitch on the junior college level and he had very good success with it during his short season stint in the Gulf Coast League. Nestor carries a no-nonsense approach when on the mound as he is not afraid to challenge hitters. He has great confidence and is an imposing presence on the mound with his height and long frame. That long frame helps throw off hitters timing as it makes Nestor's release point seem almost right on top of the hitter. Projection: In order for Nestor to develop into a serious top prospect he must develop two more reliable pitches. Therefore, he must also become comfortable in not relying purely on his fastball to get hitters out. That approach may work at the junior college and even the rookie league level. But as he progresses through the system that style will not work against better hitters. For as good as his fastball is, even at the rookie league level, he relies on his fastball so much that hitters are able to key in on that one pitch. If he can develop even one other pitch it will help him tremendously in keeping hitters off balance. Nestor's mechanics are solid but he must work to become more fluid in his delivery. Being a hard thrower, he sometimes tends to overthrow. When he does, his mechanics become rushed to the point where they become almost forgotten about, and his control suffers as a result. The positive side is that not too many pitchers are blessed with his kind of fastball. He has the size, frame and fastball to be dominant. Its all a matter of whether he has the aptitude and desire to learn how to become a pitcher rather than just a thrower. Estimated Time of Arrival: Since Nestor has to work on developing two more pitches he can be comfortable with, he is by no means on a fast track schedule. The organization will work patiently with this potential diamond in the rough in the hopes that he can develop into a major league quality pitcher. Because of his style and approach the Marlins are projecting him as a potential closer candidate. Partly because as a closer he would only have to develop one other reliable pitch. If he develops more than one other pitch he could become a starting role prospect. He will start this season most likely with the Jamestown Jammers of the New York-Penn League. Consider him no closer than 4 years away from being ready. That's not such a bad thing considering he is only 19 years old. Year Team G GS IP W L SV H BB SO ERA 2003 Gulf Coast 12 0 25.1 4 1 0 20 16 27 2.49
March 1, 200420 yr #47 Pat Magness Pat Magness Vital Stats: Position: OF DOB: January 19, 1978 Height: 63 Weight: 230 lbs. Bats: Left Throws: Right Acquired: Drafted in the 12th Round(341st overall) of the 2000 amateur draft Overview: The Marlins drafted Magness in the 2000 amateur draft following his stellar college career at powerhouse Wichita State University. Magness earned All-American honors for the 1998, 1999, and 2000 seasons. In 1998 he led the nation in batting as only a sophomore with a .467 average. Magness ended his college career at the top of thirteen WSU offensive records. Batting: Magness is a pure hitter, period. He has a smooth, almost flawless left-handed stroke. He is considered to have one of the best batting eyes in the Marlins system, and he can hit for both average and power. In the 2002 season with the Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League, he was among the league leaders in HRs and RBIs with 16 and 73 respectively. Pat also hit for a very respectable .292 average that year in a league that is known for carrying top level pitching prospects while not being a league that is a good place for hitters to show their power potential. A chronic sore right wrist limited Magness ability to show his talents in Double A Carolina during the 2003 season. He was limited to only 53 games, most of which he played in pain. Base Running and Speed: Magness has below average speed and is not considered a strong base runner. Defense: Magness can play 1B and the OF but grades below average at both positions. In college he was primarily a DH because he was such a defensive liability. He has a decent throwing arm but because of his below average speed he only projects as a 1B. However, he is not fully comfortable at that position either. Projection: When all is said and done, there may not be a better all around hitting prospect in the Marlins organization than Pat Magness. However, for as good of hitter as he may be, he is equally as poor in all other phases of the game. Thus, he is considered a good prospect, but not a blue-chipper. A right wrist injury limited his 2003 season and it is important for Pat to show that the injury is no longer an issue and to make up for the lost year of development with a strong 2004 season. Estimated Time of Arrival: Pat will start this year with a clean slate at Double A Carolina. If he proves that his injury is behind him and makes a strong showing he could earn an invitation to spring training in 2005 where he could become a quality pinch hitter and backup 1B for the Marlins. Year Team AVG R HR RBI 2B SB BB SO OBP SLG 2003 Carolina .227 10 3 18 7 0 24 36 .350 .348
March 2, 200420 yr Author #46 OF Jim Kavourias Plus power prospect "Big" Jim Kavourias can hit the ball a mile. But how does the rest of his game measure up? Learn more about this prospect in this edition of the Marlins Insider Top 50 Prospect Countdown. Jim Kavourias Vital Stats: Position: OF DOB: October 4th, 1979 Birth Place: Strongsville, Ohio Height: 64 Weight: 230 Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Drafted in the 5th Round (131st overall) of the 2000 amateur draft Overview: Big Jim Kavourias is a large man who does everything on the baseball field in a large way. He swings hard, runs hard, throws hard, and goes 100% all the time. Kavourias can easily be considered the most intense player in the Marlins organization. His approach to the game is very straight forward. Go all out, all the time. Batting: Kavourias is a free swinger who pretty much swings as hard as he can every time he takes a cut. The plus side to this approach is that when Kavourias makes contact the ball often goes a long ways. The down side is that he is often fooled by breaking and off-speed pitches, thus, his average suffers. Jim would be wise to take some of the muscle out of his swing and focus on making more contact. He would then realize that his enormous strength will be more than enough to hit the ball out of the park. Kavourias does have a good feel for the strike zone but strikes out too much because of his approach. If he doesnt learn to change his ways he will continue to be strictly a fastball hitter and it will limit his chances to gain a shot at making a major league roster. Base Running and Speed: Surprisingly, for as big as Kavourias is, he is a very good runner. Pitchers must respect him when he is on base because he will steal a base here and there. Defense: Kavourias is considered an above-average defensive outfielder. He has an above average throwing arm and the foot speed to cover enough ground to play either left or right field. Although he still needs work on his defensive footwork. Projection: The Marlins had very high expectations for Kavourias when they drafted in out of Tampa University in 2000. Certain aspects of his game have progressed as expected, specifically, his power and his defense. However, his all-around offensive game has not and until that happens he will not elevate himself to top-prospect status. Estimated Time of Arrival: Kavourias is not considered a blue-chip prospect but his progression through the Marlins system has been on a steady pace. 2003 was a breakout season offensively of sorts. If he is to get the attention of the Marlins front office he must learn to become more disciplined at the plate. Jim will play for the Marlins Double A affiliate Carolina Mudcats in 2004. This is a make-or-break year as he is now 24 years old and at the point where he either makes his move or falls off as a serious major league prospect. With a strong 2004 season Jim may earn a invitation to next years spring training. Year Team AVG R HR RBI 2B SB BB SO OBP SLG 2003 Jupiter .247 54 20 65 19 10 34 97 .307 .455
March 2, 200420 yr #45 Michael Tucker Michael Tucker Vital Stats: Position: 3B DOB: November 7th, 1979 Birth Place: Lakeland, Florida Height: 63 Weight: 200 Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Drafted in the 14th Round (422nd Overall) of the 2001 amateur draft. Overview: The Marlins drafted Tucker out of Florida Southern in 2001. Coming out of college there were no questions about his fielding ability, however, his bat left a lot to be desired. Batting: When Tucker first entered into the Marlins organization he was not considered to be much of a hitter. While his hitting is still behind in his development, there have been substantial signs of improvement. Tuckers approach at the plate is very aggressive, which at this point is an indication that his batting eye is not very good because he swings at a lot of bad pitches. He has trouble with breaking pitches and hard inside fastballs. In the 2003 season Michael did show considerable improvement at the plate in his ability to make contact and even showed a bit of gap power. However, he must learn to become more cerebral in the box and work on not being fooled so often. He must learn to be more selective and make pitchers work for strikes instead of giving them away. This will help him draw more walks which is another thing he has to work on. On the positive side, the fact that every year in the system his offensive numbers have improved across the board is sign for encouragement. Base Running and Speed: Tucker has adequate speed but not enough to be considered a serious base-stealing threat. He must also learn to make better decisions on the base paths as he can be a bit careless at times. Defense: This is the strongest aspect of Tuckers game. In 2002 he led the Midwest League in fielding percentage by a 3B. He fields everything cleanly, has good footwork, and an above average throwing arm. Michael can also be called upon to play a little SS when necessary, but he does not have the speed or foot quickness to play there on a regular basis. Projection: Right now, Tucker has two things that are grabbing the attention of scouts. First is his superb defensive play and second is eagerness to improve at the plate. By no means will Tucker ever develop himself into a top quality hitting prospect, but some scouts feel that if he continues to improve at the plate he could one day find himself a role on a major league team as defensive specialist utility guy. A lot of work at the plate still needs to be done for that to happen. Estimated Time of Arrival: Tucker will most likely play another season at Class A Jupiter in the Florida State League. If he shows further improvement at the plate he could earn a mid-season promotion to Double A Carolina. Best case scenario for Tucker to earn a shot at making a major league roster will be an invite to spring training in 2006. But it will take a substantial amount of improvement at the plate for that to happen. But scouts are keeping an eye on him. His glove is that special. Year Team AVG R HR RBI 2B SB BB SO OBP SLG 2003 Jupiter .276 36 5 51 22 2 32 92 .342 .381
March 4, 200420 yr Author # 44 P Randall Messenger Pitcher Robert Messenger is a frustrating prospect. He has all the talent necessary to be a major league quality pitcher. But there is something that is holding him back. Find out what it is in this edition of the Marlins Insider's Top 50 Prospect Spotlight Randall Messenger Vital Stats: Position: Pitcher DOB: August 13th, 1981 Birth Place: Sparks, Nevada Height: 6'3 Weight: 240 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Drafted in the 11th Round (326th overall) in the 1999 amateur draft out of Sparks High School, Nevada Overview: Randall Messenger is an extremely talented pitcher. However, as of yet he has not reached his full potential. The reason he has not began to touch the level of his talent is not a mechanical flaw in his delivery nor a question of style or approach. Randall Messenger is not fully developing as a prospect because for whatever reason he cant keep himself out of trouble. If he were to ever focus on his career and see the opportunity his talents could bring him instead of whatever else is distracting him. He could be as good as he wants to be. Repertoire: Messenger carries a good but overwhelming fastball that he generally throws in the 92-94 range. He also throws a very effective curveball and change. Messenger can not be looked at as a pitcher that has a dominating repertoire. But when you take the sum of his parts and consider that he has good command of his pitches and better than average location. One can understand why the Marlins are hesitant to give up on this oft-troubled prospect. Style: Messenger pitches with a very confident approach. He seems to understand what exactly his strengths and weakness are and he doesnt try to do anything more than what he is capable of. The only major flaw in his approach is that since he relies so much on good location he often tries to over-finesse his pitches on the corners instead of occasionally going after hitters. Projection: Messenger will start this season most likely at Double A Carolina where he never was able to find his place after a suspension to start the season for breaking team rules. Coincidentally, Randall also finished his 2003 with a suspension after again breaking team rules. This last suspension led to the Marlins withdrawing their invitation for Messenger to participate in the Arizona Fall League and the chance to be added to the 40 man spring training roster. Estimated Time of Arrival: The Marlins have given Randall Messenger every chance to succeed during his 5 years in the Marlins system. His off the field issues have already cost him draft position coming out of high school, the opportunity to pitch in the Arizona Fall League, and most importantly the chance to fully develop his potential. The Marlins patience is wearing thin. He already has two strikes against him. One more and he will be out. However, if he does decide to focus on his career in 2004 he could end up getting an invite to spring training in 2005. Year Team G GS IP W L SV H BB SO ERA 2003 Carolina 29 23 113.2 5 7 0 137 51 78 5.46
March 5, 200420 yr Author #43 Jason Restko Jason Restko Vital Stats: Position: 1B DOB: December 15th, 1984 Birth Place: Chicago, Illinois Height: 6'5 Weight: 185 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Drafted in the 10th Round (293rd overall) of the 2003 amateur draft out of Marist High School, Illinois Overview: The Marlins drafted this 3B prospect after his All-State performance at Chicago-areas Marist High School. Like most high school prospects, JT Restko is extremely raw, but has the natural frame and athletic ability to become a very interesting prospect Batting: Restko has power potential written all over him. Many scouts that have seen him compare him to a young Richie Sexson type. Right now, he stands at 65 but will probably grow a few more inches before he is done. His frame at this point is very slight at 185 but will undoubtedly gain weight as his body matures with age. With Restkos size and power potential out of high school, most would figure that he wouldve been drafted considerably higher than where he was. Scouts answer this by pointing out that while Restko does generate a tremendous amount of power he has severe mechanical problems in his swing. He has a slight bar arm in his swing and tries to hook the barrel at the finish. The strangest thing about this deficiency is that it usually saps the player of his power because the swing does not incorporate the body thus it overly relies only on the arms. Plus, the arms are unnaturally tight and not flowing through the stroke. Restko must learn to better use leverage in his swing thus freeing up his body for a more natural, flowing, and powerful movement. If he doesnt change he will become handcuffed by hard inside fastballs and will not be able to handle quality breaking pitches as he progresses through the system. Base running and Speed: Restko is a long and at this point, relatively gangly, 19 year old. Thus, he is an extremely slow runner and will never project to be any different. Defense: Restko played 3B in high school but does not have the footwork or the throwing arm to play that position at any higher level. He will be groomed as either a 1B or a corner OF Projection: JT made a very solid impression in his first pro action with the Gulf Coast Marlins. He did not seem to be overwhelmed by the higher quality of pitching and continued to show the power potential scouts seemed to agree upon. Restko could end up becoming a very competent hitting prospect the way things are right now. But if he can work on his swing mechanics he could turn himself into something very special Estimated Time of Arrival: Restko will start his 2003 season with the Jamestown Jammers of the New York-Penn league with a possible promotion to low-A Greensboro if he has a strong performance. Because of his need for a mechanical overhaul at the plate he is no closer than 4 years away, best case scenario, from a chance with the big club Year Team AVG AB R HR RBI SB BB SO OBP SLG 2003 Gulf Coast .249 177 19 4 15 0 16 43 .320 .350
March 7, 200420 yr Author #42 3B/OF Matt Padgett Matt Padgett Vital Stats: Position: OF DOB: July 22, 1977 Birth Place: Lexington, South Carolina Height: 6'2 Weight: 215 lbs. Bats: Left Throws: Left Acquired: Drafted in the 5th Round (162nd overall) in the 1998 amateur draft out of Clemson University Overview: Matt Padgett was drafted by the Marlins out of Clemson University where he was a two sport star. Matt lettered in both baseball and football, where he was kicker for the Tigers. Batting: Matt Padgett is somewhat of a novelty in the Florida Marlins system in that he is a left-handed power hitter. The Marlins organization is very dry in left-handed hitters, let alone those who can hit for power. However, despite Padgetts unique standing in the organization and his tremendous success at each level of the system, Padgett does not have the overwhelming confidence of the Marlins staff. Matt has his supporters but those within the Marlins organization either love him or hate him. The problem of those that do not see him as a serious prospect think that despite his being elected as an All-Star in the Southern League and leading the league in RBIs in 2003, that he still strikes out too much. For them, this is an indicator that his success in the minors will not translate to major league success. At various stages of his progress through the system he has led his respective teams in batting average, homeruns, and RBIs. Some hitters have a lot of success being free swingers who despite their good numbers also strike out a lot. Some scouts like these types of players, some scouts dont. Unfortunately for Matt Padgett, most in the Marlins organization dont. Base running and Speed: Padgett has adequate speed but is not considered a base stealing threat. Defense: Matt has played both 3B and OF during his tenure in the Marlins organization although he is more settled and comfortable in the OF. In the OF, he is a decent but not outstanding defensive player. He has an average arm and enough speed to cover the necessary ground. Projection: At every level Padgett has played, he has not only performed very well offensively, but he has also gotten better each year. Matt is a very confident young man whose approach has not been changed by the nay-sayers within the organization. Perhaps he feels, why change what is working. Matt may never have enough supporters within the organization to make it all the way with the Marlins. But he still has his supporters and if he continues to perform he deserves the chance to show if he can do it on the big stage. Estimated Time of Arrival: Padgett will start this year most likely at Triple A Albuquerque. If he turns in another good year offensively, he may earn an invite to Spring Training in 2005. Perhaps the Marlins should consider Padgett as the left-handed pinch hitter/utility position now occupied by Lenny Harris, considering Harris is talking about retirement following the 2004 season. If Padgett does not get a shot with the Marlins, dont be surprised if you see another team somewhere give him the chance the Marlins may never give him. Year Team AVG R HR RBI 2B SB BB SO OBP SLG 2003 Carolina .277 65 17 76 29 2 43 104 .337 .455
March 14, 200420 yr Author #41 Ryan Bear Ryan Bear Vital Stats: Position: OF DOB: January 26, 1981 Birth Place: Panama Beach, FL. Height: 6'1 Weight: 220 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Drafted in the 30th Round (893rd overall) in the 2003 amateur draft out of the University of Central Florida Overview: Ryan Bear is a player who has flown completely under the radar coming out of the University of Central Florida. The Golden Knights were woeful as a team during Bears tenure. Ryan however, was voted the teams MVP in 2003, as he earned 1st Team Atlantic Sun Conference after hitting .390 with 5 homeruns and 36 RBI. Bear was also one of only 11 to earn a spot on the Verizon Academic All-America team. Ryan Bear has the possibility to become a success story for the Marlins scouting staff. Because of the poor team that Bear played for he did not receive the recognition that he probably deserved. Bear has above average athletic ability, is extremely intelligent, is a student of the technical aspects of the game, is a very hard worker, and is an all-around coachs dream. There is a story from Bears senior season that can give you a good example of the type of player he is. Bear was carrying a 19 game hitting streak into a game against a conference rival. Bear came up in the 9th inning still without a hit, going 0-3 on the day with his team down 1 run. The count went to 3-0 and instead of trying to make something happen with the next pitch, or even foul it off to get another hack at it, Bear let the next pitch go by for ball four. Thus, he sacrificed his personal accomplishment of a 19 game hitting streak so that his team could have the game tying run on base at the end of a close game. The coach of UCF, Jay Bergman, had this to say about Ryan Bear. Ryan Bear brings a whole lot of hardness to our team. Hes a good student, and a good person off the field. Ryan is very quiet, very laid back, but still very very competitive. Batting: Has previously stated, Ryan Bear is a student of the technical aspects of the game. He has put in a lot of hard work learning exactly what a fundamentally sound swing is and what it should feel like. Because of this, Bear now has a very good swing without any major hitches or other flaws. In college, he was primarily an average and speed guy but he has good size and has started to show some power potential as well. Ryan has a good feel for the strike zone. He doesnt swing at a lot of bad pitches and he makes consistent good contact. Base running and Speed: The University of Central Florida is a team that focuses on team speed and Ryan Bear was no exception to that rule. Bear has above average speed for a guy his size and is a threat to steal at any time. Ryan also knows how to read pitchers and therefore can get very good jumps. This is a plus category for him. Defense: Bear played primarily at 1B for the Golden Knights, but he also played a good bit of left and right field. Ryan prefers to play the OF as it allows him to be more active. He has the speed to cover a lot of ground in OF and has an above average throwing arm. Projection: Right now its tough to project what sort of player Ryan Bear will become. At UCF his style could best be described as a Darin Erstad type. However, Ryan has started to show some power potential. This prospect is such a hard worker that it will be interesting to track his development. Estimated Time of Arrival: Ryan Bear has improved his play every year since his days at Gulf Coast Community College. His work ethic, intelligence and hard work have him ahead of curve for a player who only has a half year of pro experience. However, he is 23 years old so his time as a prospect will be short lived. Ryan was not recruited by any D-1 teams out of high school. He was an after-thought when he joined UCF in 2002 and was not expected to be their best player in 2003. Pro scouts either missed him or ignored him going into the 2003 draft. Most analysts still do not think of Ryan Bear as much of a prospect but there is evidence that the Marlins do. Most players who are drafted start their first pro season in the Gulf Coast League. The Marlins however, sent Bear directly to Jamestown of the New York-Penn League even though Bear did not play against top notch competition in college. Ryan performed extremely well in Jamestown and will start the 2004 season manning the right field for the Greensboro Bats in low-A with a likely mid-season promotion to the high-A Jupiter Hammerheads. Year Team AVG AB R HR RBI SB BB SO OBP SLG 2003 Jamestown .296 240 42 6 37 15 24 36 .367 .463
March 18, 200420 yr Author #40 Ryan Jorgensen Coming out of college, scouts saw something in Ryan Jorgensen despite that fact that he wasnt even the starter. How do scouts feel about him after a few years in the minors? Find out in the latest edition of the Marlins Insiders Top 50 Prospect Countdown Ryan Jorgensen Vital Stats: Position: C DOB: May 4, 1979 Birth Place: Kingwood, TX. Height: 6'2 Weight: 200 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Traded to the Marlins from the Chicago Cubs in 2002 as part of the Matt Clement/Alfonseca/Willis trade Overview: Ryan Jorgensen was originally a 7th round draft choice of the Chicago Cubs in the 2000 amateur draft out of college baseball powerhouse Louisiana State University. During his time at LSU, Ryan was a member of two National Championship teams. Interestingly, Jorgensen was not the starting catcher for the Tigers. Jorgensen was the backup catcher and occasional DH hitter. Unfortunately for Ryan, the Tigers had 1st Team All-American and Player of the Year finalist, Brad Cresse (now in the Diamondbacks organization). Despite his backup status, Ryan hit .302 with 4 homeruns and 23 RBI, and his defensive prowess had many scouts believing that Ryan could become a major league quality catcher. Batting: Jorgensen has a good knowledge of the strike zone and fair discipline at the plate. He also has shown a bit of gap power, however, it has become apparent that his hitting is what is going to hold him back in his quest to become a starting catcher in the majors. Ryan has a tough time with off-speed and breaking pitches and doesnt turn on fastballs like a major league quality hitter should. Basically, he just doesnt make consistent enough contact. Base running and Speed: Jorgensen has below average speed and is not a threat on the base paths Defense: Ryan Jorgensen just might be the best defensive catcher in the minor leagues. He has a strong arm with laser like accuracy. His technique behind the plate is first rate and he has a natural ability to handle pitchers. Projection: Despite his excellent defensive ability, it is now obvious that Jorgensen will never hit well enough to be a starting major league catcher. He can however still become a more than adequate backup catcher if his team understands and accepts his limitations. Estimated Time of Arrival: Jorgensen was signed by the Marlins to join their 40 man roster for spring training in 2004. While it is doubtful that he will make the team this year. There may be an opportunity in perhaps a year or two to assume the backup job as Mike Redmond gets up in age. Ryan will start the 2004 season at either Double A Carolina or Triple A Albuquerque. Year Team AVG R HR RBI 2B SB BB SO OBP SLG 2003 Carolina .242 28 6 34 16 1 30 53 .337 .403
March 18, 200420 yr Author #39 Tanner Rogers Tanner Rogers Vital Stats: Position: C DOB: January 11, 1985 Birth Place: Denver, CO. Height: 6'0 Weight: 185 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Drafted by the Marlins in the 8th Round(233rd Overall) of the 2003 amateur draft out of Columbine High School in Littleton, CO. Overview: One of the philosophies of the Marlins front office when it comes to player development is to draft high school players that are considered tools prospects, rather than actual statistical performers. A tools prospect is a player that is highly rated because of his physical attributes and physical maturity projection as opposed to his statistical production. Tanner Rogers is a prospect who fits this category. Rogers was not only the starting catcher for Columbine High Schools baseball team, but he was also awarded Colorados High School Football Player of the Year award for his achievements as an option quarterback for their undefeated, Class 5A state champion football team. Which was also ranked 11th in the nation by a high school sports publication. In his senior season, Rogers rushed for 2,174 yards and 32 TDs. In the state championship game alone he rushed for 259 yards. Tanner also passed for another 600 yards and 8 TDs in his senior season. He was heavily recruited by the likes of college football powerhouses such as Nebraska, Washington, Colorado, and Colorado State. Rogers first love however is baseball, and he turned down the opportunity to play big time college football when he signed a six figure deal with the Marlins. Batting: Rogers has above average strength for his age and has above average bat speed so he does show good power potential. His swing doesnt have much lift so he is more of a line drive hitter at this point. But that can easily be tinkered with. In his first stint in pro ball with the Gulf Coast Marlins in the rookie league, Rogers seemed to be overwhelmed by the higher quality of pitching. This however was not unexpected as Tanner was never fully devoted to baseball because of his football commitments in high school. Along with the fact that Tanner was one of the youngest players in the league going against many pitchers who were anywhere from 2 to 4 years older than him and had college ball experience. The biggest problems that Rogers faced in the rookie league was learning how to handle off-speed and breaking pitches, the quality of which he probably had never seen at the high school level in Colorado. He also tends to get caught up in trying to pull the ball too much. He needs to learn how to manage the strike zone by being more selective, and taking what the pitcher gives him by going with the ball to the opposite field. The Marlins feel that with a full time commitment from Rogers and the coaching that will come with it that he can translate his raw tools into production. Tanner is also a very confident young man so this slow start in his development will not deter him. Base running and Speed: With his success as an option quarterback that was recruited by schools like Nebraska, you would be right in assuming that Rogers has speed to burn. As he develops as a catcher it is questionable how long that his speed will stay with him. Defense: Rogers moves well behind the plate but still needs to improve his technique and catching fundamentals. His throwing arm is only average but he does have an extremely quick release which helps make up some of the difference. Tanner has soft hands and he sets up and receives the ball extremely well for someone with as little experience. Overall, he doesnt project to be a gold glove caliber fielder but he does have the athleticism and natural aptitude to be a good one. Projection: As of right now, Tanner Rogers is an extremely raw prospect. But he has an amazing amount of athleticism and the tools that could one day turn him into a very special player. He has a large impressive frame for a 19 year old and physically projects to be a plus prospect. The question that remains is how well he develops as a hitter because the Marlins would like him to remain a catcher but wouldnt be against him becoming an outfielder if he doesnt progress in the field as a catcher. Estimated Time of Arrival: Rogers just turned 19 years old in January, and as previously mentioned, is extremely raw, so his development is only in its infancy. The Marlins really think highly of this kid and they will be patient with him. Expect him to possibly see more time in the Gulf Coast League and then move up to Jamestown depending on how he hits. Year Team AVG R HR RBI 2B SB BB SO OBP SLG 2003 Gulf Coast .181 5 2 8 2 1 10 29 .255 .266
March 18, 200420 yr Author #38 Phil Akens Phil Akens Vital Stats: Position: Pitcher DOB: August 9th, 1982 Birth Place: Bel Air, Maryland Height: 6'6 Weight: 200 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Drafted in the 13th Round (371st overall) in the 2000 amateur draft out of Fallston High School, MD. Overview: Phil Akens had a very successful 2003 season in which he dispelled many questions and doubts about his ability. He would be a lot higher on this list if there werent still so many questions that remain. In 2003, Akens led the Marlins farm system in innings pitched. He started the season at low A Greensboro and earned a mid-season promotion to high-A Jupiter of the Florida State League. Phil pitched well in both places ending the season with a 13-9 record with an ERA just a shade over 3.00. He also led the Marlins system with 165.2 IP and had a fantastic K/BB ratio but only an average at best k/IP ratio. Another quality statistic is that he only yielded 4 homeruns in those 165 innings. Repertoire: Akens limited repertoire is probably the biggest reason why he is still not getting recognized as a top prospect by the Marlins front office brass. Akens throws a quality fastball that is occasionally clocked as high as 95 mph, although it is more consistently in the 90-92 range. The problem however is that Akens doesnt really have a quality second pitch, let alone a third. He throws a breaking ball that scouts consider well below average. In 2003, Phil developed a decent change up that he had very good success with but he still needs to develop a better breaking ball. A fastball/change-up only combination will just not get it done against major league hitters. Style: Akens takes a good approach on the mound. He is not afraid to go after a hitter and he keeps the ball down in the zone so he gets a lot of ground ball outs and doesnt give up the long ball. Early in his career he had some serious issues with control but it appears that he has moved past them by learning not to over-throw on every pitch. Projection: Right now, Akens would like to remain a starter but it may be possible that he could find a role as a set-up guy. Phil pitched a lot of innings in 2003, possibly because the Marlins wanted to see whether his slender frame could withstand the work. He passed that test and his numbers were very strong. 2004 is going to be a very important year for him as he will pitch against better quality hitters at Double A Carolina. Right now, scouts dont feel that he can have success against top quality hitting. Double A will give him a better chance to prove them wrong. Estimated Time of Arrival: Phil Akens is a former 13th round pick who was drafted as a raw project because of his size and quality fastball. In his 4 years in pro ball there has been progress, but there are still many questions. Sources say that he is emotionally immature. But he is still only 21 years old (will turn 22 in August) and he is not on the fast track. Because of that, he still has time to grow emotionally and as a pitcher. Keep your eye on him in 2004 as he will either move way up this list or fall off completely. Year Team G GS IP W L SV H BB SO ERA 2003 Greensboro 16 16 100 7 6 0 89 28 70 3.15 2003 Jupiter 11 11 65.2 6 3 0 67 14 43 2.88
March 21, 200420 yr Author # 37 Ryan Baker Ryan Baker was part of the trade that brought Tim Spooneybarger to the Marlins for Mike Hampton. Find out more about this pitching prospect and what role he may have on the team in the future in this edition of the Marlins Insider's Top 50 Prospect Countdown. Ryan Baker Vital Stats: Position: Pitcher DOB: March 20th, 1978 Birth Place: Linthicum, Maryland Height: 6'0 Weight: 200 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Traded to the Marlins from the Braves in 2002 as part of the Mike Hampton/Tim Spooneybarger deal. Overview: Baker is not a guy that wows scouts with anything in particular. His stuff is average and he is not particularly athletic nor does he project an imposing physical image on the mound. But for some reason Baker has had good success in the minors. Repertoire: Baker throws a sinking fastball that is clocked in the 88-91 range, and an average slider. Neither of these pitches are of plus quality but when Baker is on he is able to get a lot of outs as hitters have trouble making solid contact. Last year in Double A Carolina, Baker appeared to have control issues as he allowed a high number of walks. We dont think that he necessarily had issues of control but rather that the higher quality of hitters in Double A had the discipline to lay off his low stuff. Style: The key to Bakers success is keeping the ball down and while not necessarily over-powering hitters with his stuff, he gets them to hit weak ground balls for outs. As previously stated, his 2003 season in Double A mightve confirmed scouts concerns about Bakers ability to get good hitters out. If Ryan is going to have success against better quality hitters, he has to learn to better set up his sinker and slider by going after hitters. The only problem with that is that if he challenges hitters he may be setting himself up to get hit hard as he doesnt have an over-powering pitch to use. Projection: While Baker does not have a future as a starter in the major leagues, he does have the possibility of becoming a decent middle reliever in the majors if he continues to show that he can get hitters out without giving up runs. Estimated Time of Arrival: Baker will probably spend another season at Double A Carolina with a possible promotion to Triple A Albuquerque. Ryan has been effective at all levels during his career, if he continues to show that he can get the job done he might be a mid-season call-up in 2005 if the Marlins need a band-aid in their bullpen. Year Team G GS IP W L SV H BB SO ERA 2003 Carolina 44 1 64 5 2 4 54 38 56 2.95
March 21, 200420 yr Author # 36 Mike Nannini Mike Nannini was acquired as part of the deal that sent Derrek Lee to the Cubs in exchange for Hee Seop Choi. He has already gotten an opportunity to show his stuff this spring as a member of the Marlins 40 man roster. Find out how well he did and how he might fit into the Marlins plans for the 2004 season in this edition of the Marlins Insiders Top 50 Prospect Countdown. Mike Nannini Vital Stats: Position: Pitcher DOB: August 9, 1980 Birth Place: Las Vegas, Nevada Height: 5'11 Weight: 190 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Traded to the Marlins from the Cubs in 2003 as part of the Derrek Lee/Hee Seop Choi deal. Overview: Mike Nannini was once considered one of the top pitching prospects in the Houston Astros system. But after a dismal 2002 season, scouts soured on him and he was dealt to the Chicago Cubs. Mike rebounded in 2003 with a very solid season. Repertoire: Nannini is not a power pitcher. His fastball is only mediocre being clocked only in the 87-89 mph range. His breaking pitches however are extremely effective. He throws a nasty combination of curveballs, sliders, and change-ups that keeps hitters off balance which actually helps make his average fastball more effective. Nanninis greatest strength as a pitcher is his magnificent control and knowledge of situational pitching. Style: Because he doesnt have the over-powering hard stuff, Nannini must rely on keeping hitters guessing by effectively changing speeds, relying on his breaking pitches, and having pin point control. Throughout his career, his K/BB ratio and K/IP have been very good even though he isnt a hard thrower. Projection: Although his lack of size and big league heat have many scouts doubting him there are many scouts that compare him to a Rick Reed type of pitcher. That is one that uses the stuff he has effectively by knowing how to pitch. Estimated Time of Arrival: Nannini earned himself an invitation to the Marlins 2004 40 man Spring Training Roster. So far this spring he has been very effective in middle relief making 2 appearances with 4 IP. In those 4 innings Mike has given up no runs while yielding only 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 2. Nannini will probably start this season in Triple A Albuquerque but could earn a mid-season promotion in 2004 to help bolster the bullpen as a middle reliever. Year Team G GS IP W L SV H BB SO ERA 2003 West Tennessee 31 24 154.0 10 9 0 155 47 158 3.62
March 23, 200420 yr Author # 35 Robert Andino Local high school product Robert Andino impressed the Marlins front office enough to convince them to use a 2nd round pick to get him. What factors led them to hold this prospect in such high regard? Find out in this edition of the Marlins Insider's Top 50 Prospect Countdown Robert Andino Vital Stats: Position: SS DOB: April 25, 1984 Birth Place: Miami, FL. Height: 6'0 Weight: 170 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Drafted by the Marlins in the 2nd Round (52nd overall) in the 2000 amateur draft Overview: Robert Andino was drafted by the Marlins out of Miami Southridge High School. During most of Andinos senior season, Southridge sat on top of the USA Todays High School National Rankings. Only a loss to Hialeah High School in the Class 6A state finals prevented Southridge from finishing #1 in the country and capturing the schools first state title. Instead, Southridge finished 32-2 and #9 in the USA Today rankings. Going into the draft, Robert expected to go somewhere between the 3rd and 6th round. The Marlins however felt strong enough about the local talent to make him a 2nd round pick. The fact that Andino is a shortstop worked to his advantage in the selection process being that quality shortstops are such a rare commodity and when teams have a chance to get one they will reach a little to do so. While Robert Andino does have several aspects of his game that are already of plus quality, he is still has to be considered more of a tools prospect at this point as he is more of an athlete than a baseball player. Batting: Andino does have a fluid swing and generates enough bat speed to have some scouts believing that he could generate decent power as his body matures, but right now there are serious questions as to whether he will ever be a quality hitter. His plate discipline is horrible, and some scouts question whether his strength will mature enough to be able to drive the ball against major league quality pitching. For the 2004 season, Robert needs to learn how to better manage the strike zone, becoming more disciplined in taking walks and getting on base more. He would also be wise to try and re-define his approach at the plate. He should learn to focus on simply making contact and putting the ball in play then making something happen with his speed rather than constantly trying to drive the ball with authority. Andino also needs to work on his upper body strength regardless of what approach he takes. He has an athletic frame but he needs to spend time in the weight room to fill himself out. Base running and Speed: Andino is a plus runner but many scouts wish that he had the extra step that would take him from good speed to great speed. As evidenced by his very poor steals success rate in 2003, Robert has to better learn to read pitchers so that he can make full use of his running ability. Defense: When the Marlins drafted Andino in 2002, VP of Player Development Jim Fleming had this to say about Andino, He can really catch the ball. He has very good hands and a very strong arm. There is no question among scouts that Andino is already an above-average all around fielder. He is very fluid in his motions, his footwork and technique are very natural, and he has outstanding range. Most scouts use one word to describe Roberts fielding, and that word is smooth. As previously stated, Andino has an above-average arm. In fact, he has been clocked in the mid-90s. Projection: Even though Andino has not shown the ability to hit at the pro level, there are many scouts that are still very intrigued with his talents. His strong fielding and his athletic frame have some believing that Andino can develop into a Jimmy Rollins type of SS. Rollins coincidentally was Roberts favorite player growing up. Those that support him argue that he has the athletic ability to develop and he is still young so time is on his side. It is also worth noting that if Robert doesnt show progress with the bat this season there may be a possibility that the Marlins might convert him into a pitcher because of his strong arm. There are also rumors floating around that the Marlins sent Andino home last year before the season was over as a disciplinary action for breaking team rules. Estimated Time of Arrival: Right now, Andino can not be projected to be on the fast track as he has not shown any ability in the batters box. He will more than likely spend another season at low A Greensboro. The Marlins might only be willing to give him one or maybe two seasons to improve his hitting before they contemplate making a pitcher out of him. Year Team AVG R HR RBI 2B SB BB SO OBP SLG 2003 Greensboro .188 45 2 27 17 6 46 128 .266 .252
March 23, 200420 yr Author #34 Nic Ungs Nic Ungs Vital Stats: Position: Pitcher DOB: September 3, 1979 Birth Place: Dyersville, Iowa Height: 61 Weight: 220 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Drafted by the Marlins in the 12th Round (362nd overall) of the 2001 amateur draft. Overview: In 2003, Nic Ungs was awarded the Florida State League Pitcher of the Year and he was also recognized as having the best control in the Marlins organization. Ungs has had success at every level he has competed in from college days at Northern Iowa all the way up to his short stint at Class AA Carolina. In 2001, his first year in pro ball, Ungs had an unbelievable 40/0 K/BB ratio in 61 innings of work. This got the attention of a lot of scouts. He has continued to put up extremely impressive K/BB ratios every year since. The problem that most scouts have with him is that his K/IP ratio is considered weak. Repertoire: Ungs throws a fastball, a curveball, a slider and change-up. The problem with all of these pitches is that none of them are of plus quality. His fastball is average, being clocked in the 87-88 mph range and his breaking pitches arent considered knee bucklers. Style: Ungs may not have the greatest of stuff but what he does have is pin-point accuracy. His style can best be categorized as a control-finesse approach. Nic is a smart kid who understands how to pitch and how to work the ball around the strike zone so that he can maximize the effectiveness of his pitches. Prior to his stint at Double A, Nic always maintained a very impressive H/IP ratio. But once he got to Double A, his ratio in this department noticeably jumped. For the scouts that doubted Ungs this is a clear vindication of their belief that his approach while effective against the lower caliber hitters of low minors could not stand-up to the better quality hitters of the higher levels. Projection: Nic will most likely start this season at Double A Carolina. Once again he will be faced with the finesse pitcher litmus test of the better quality hitters that Double A ball presents. To get back the attention of the organization Nic is going to have to prove that he is more than just a control pitcher whose effectiveness will decline as he rises through the system. If he improves on last years showing he could earn a ticket to Triple A Albuquerque by seasons end. Estimated Time of Arrival: If all goes well for Ungs this season he could earn an invite to next years spring training. Nic does have his supporters within the organization who dont believe that just because he is a control-finesse pitcher that he should automatically be disregarded as a prospect. Those supporters feel that if he continues to prove he can get people out, he should be able to show whether he could do it at the highest level. He should be considered a prospect unless he proves otherwise, and he shouldnt be discredited strictly based on his style. There have been many talented pitching prospects in the past with the best stuff one could want and couldnt get guys out. Year Team G GS IP W L SV H BB SO ERA 2003 Jupiter 18 17 113.1 8 3 0 92 14 80 1.99 2003 Carolina 10 10 58.2 3 4 0 61 8 37 3.53
March 24, 200420 yr Author #33 Chip Ambres Chip Ambres Vital Stats: Position: SS DOB: December 19, 1979 Birth Place: Beaumont, Texas Height: 6'1 Weight: 190 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Drafted by the Marlins in the 1st Round (27th overall) in the 1998 amateur draft Overview: Ambres is now going into his 6th season in the Marlins organization after being their 1st Round selection in the 1998 draft out of Westbrook High School. The selection of Ambres was a decision that was made by the former front office, however, that management group had the same belief in drafting tools prospects out of high school. Ambres is a prospect that is high on natural skills and athletic ability rather than actual baseball production. In high school, Ambres was an option quarterback who was accomplished enough to receive a full scholarship to attend Texas A&M. Despite his tremendous athletic ability, Chip has not been able to translate that into success in the minor leagues. Scouts however are still very hesitant to give up on him partly because he has had his development stunted due to injuries. He had nagging hamstring and knee injuries during his first few years which limited his playing time. Then late in 2002 he suffered a broken leg which delayed the start of his 2003 season and effected his over-all conditioning for the season. The main reason why most scouts refuse to give up on Ambres is that they love his make-up just as much as his athletic ability. Ambres is considered one of the hardest working, most intelligent, and most likeable individuals in the Marlins organization. Plus, when he has been healthy he has shown tremendous ability and certain levels of marked improvement. Batting: Chip has tremendous plate discipline which is evidenced by his high walk counts. The biggest weakness he has right now is that he has trouble making consistent enough contact. He just swings through too many pitches. Although, at times he has shown that he is better than that. His outstanding showing in 2002 in the Arizona Fall League got the attention of a lot of scouts. Ambres hasnt shown a tremendous amount of power to this point but in 2003 there were indications that it was finally coming around. Base running and Speed: Ambres is a plus speed runner but his leg injuries have taken some of his speed from him. Despite those injuries, Chip still runs very well. Reason probably being is that his legs are extremely well built. A lesser athlete mightve been even more effected but Chip has bounced back well considering the nature of his 2002 broken leg injury. Defense: Ambres is a very fine fielder. His speed gives him good range to track down a lot of balls others wouldnt get. He also takes good approach angles and is equally adept at both coming in and going out on fly balls. His only weakness in the field is that his throwing arm is considered below average. Because of this, he projects as a LF, where his weak throwing arm will not be as much of a detriment. Projection: 2004 is a crucial year for Chip Ambres. For the first time in several years he will go into the season 100% healthy. He will be expected to finally come through on his potential and improve his offensive consistency and overall power and break through on his first round talent. He is still only 24 years old, and the Marlins still being intrigued with his talents, are willing to be patient with him. Estimated Time of Arrival: Chip received an invitation to participate in Spring Training with the big club in 2004. He handled his time on the expanded roster well by getting 2 hits in 5 at bats against major league pitching. He was optioned back down to Triple A Albuquerque for the 2004 season. It is very likely that if he shows progress this season he could end up being called back as part of the 40 man roster and the chance to compete for a roster spot in 2005. Year Team AVG R HR RBI 2B SB BB SO OBP SLG 2003 Carolina .258 75 10 55 23 9 72 81 .376 .439
March 26, 200420 yr Author #32 Kevin Hooper Kevin Hooper is a prospect of small proportions. The Marlins list him at 5'9, 155 lbs. and that could be overly generous. Scouts however don't discredit him because they compare him to another player of smaller dimensions that has had tremendous success in the major leagues. Find out who in the latest edition of the Marlins Insider's Top 50 Prospect Countdown. Kevin Hooper Vital Stats: Position:2B-SS DOB: December 7, 1976 Birth Place: Lawrence, Kansas Height: 59 Weight: 155 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 8th Round (236th overall) of the 1999 amateur draft. Overview: The Marlins drafted Hooper in 1999 after his standout career at Wichita State University in which he was named All-America as a 2B in his senior season. He was also a key member of the record setting 1998 Wichita State team that set all-time offensive records for runs per game (12.1) and doubles per game (3.21). Hooper was a key contributor to the runs record as he led the nation in runs scored per game (1.77) in 1998. That year Kevin was among the national leaders in 13 offensive categories. In his 5 years in the Marlins system Kevin Hooper has continued his role as the teams spark plug by being among the league leaders in steals and runs scored in each of his stops along his development trail. Kevin Hooper does not wow anyone with his tools. But he is a hard worker, he does all the little things, and understands how to play the game. Batting: Hooper is not at all a big man. The team very generously lists his height at 59, although 57 is probably more accurate. That being said, Hooper understands exactly how his size defines his role and he doesnt try to do anything more than he is capable of. He knows his job is to get on base by any means necessary and that means to try and keep the ball on the ground and use his legs to get himself on base. He swings in a slap action motion and tries to work the ball to all fields. He is also an above average bunter which has helped him get quite a number of infield singles. Kevin has neither homerun nor gap power. He only had 9 doubles and 1 homerun in 2003. 117 of his 131 hits in 2003 were singles. One cause for concern for Hooper in 2003 was that in his second Triple A season his stats slid downwards across the board, most importantly on-base percentage. Base running and Speed: Hooper has good speed but by no means is he a blazer. On the base paths his good judgment and intelligence gets him his steals as opposed to just his speed. He very rarely makes poor decisions on the base paths. Defense: Defense is where Hooper really shines. He doesnt have amazing quickness or does he have a strong arm but he just simply gets the job done. Kevin played 2B in college but has primarily played SS in minors. In the 2000 season with the Kane County Cougars, Hooper led the Midwest League in fielding percentage for an infielder. Projection: Because of his diminutive size, tireless work ethic, baseball intelligence, and all-around style of play Kevin Hooper has been compared repeatedly as a David Eckstein type. While those comparisons can be justified to a certain extent, Eckstein does have a lot more gap power than Hooper does and while Hooper does have plate discipline and a good batting eye, his walk rate is well below where it should be. Estimated Time of Arrival: Hooper was invited to the Marlins spring training as part of their 40 man roster where he went 4 for 17 for a .294 average in 9 game appearances. He was just recently optioned back to Triple A Albuquerque for the 2004 season. Hooper is now 28 years old so his clock is ticking and the Marlins have several UTL player type prospects in their system that have probably passed Hooper in the eyes of the Marlins front office. There are however many scouts that feel that Hooper is worthy of a roster spot on a major league roster right now. He probably will never get that chance with the Marlins but it may come with someone else soon. Year Team AVG R HR RBI 2B SB BB SO OBP SLG 2003 Albuquerque .266 77 1 54 9 25 35 62 .325 .305
March 30, 200420 yr Author #31 Todd Moser LHP Todd Moser may be 27 years old but the Marlins front office still keeps him in the picture as a promising prospect. Find out why in this installment of the Marlins Insider's Top 50 Marlins Prospect Countdown Todd Moser Vital Stats: Position: Pitcher DOB: October 28, 1976 Birth Place: Davie, Florida Height: 6?5 Weight: 190 lbs. Bats: Left Throws: Left Acquired: Drafted by the Marlins in the 14th Round (416th overall) of the 1999 amateur draft. Overview: Todd Moser was drafted by the Marlins after the 1998-1999 season in which he was received All-American honors. Moser was the leader of the Owls pitching staff who led FAU to an NCAA record tying 34 consecutive victories in the 1998-1999 season. FAU finished that season with a 55-9 final record before going down to the University of Miami in the finals of the NCAA regionals. Repertoire: Moser throws a two-seam fastball, curveball, slider, and a change-up. His fastball is mediocre at best topping out at 88 mph, and his curveball and slider are decent. His change-up however is a his best and most highly effective pitch. Style: Todd Moser is considered a finesse pitcher. That being said he is at his best when he is changing speeds and working locations. He is not going to overwhelm hitters with his hard stuff but his fastball can be made more effective when he has his change-up working. Projection: Being a lefty finesse pitcher and carrying an imposing presence on the mound because of his large frame (6?5), Moser gets a lot of comparisons to former Marlins LHP Mark Redman. The major differences between the two are that Redman?s fastball has a little more giddy-up to it and his 12-6 curveball is a lot more effective. Moser also would be well advised to work on better developing his upper body as he is a little slight in the shoulders. Also, he tends to lose confidence in himself when he starts to get hit a little bit. His biggest strength is that he has very fine control and has always maintained low BB/IP ratios. His K/IP ratio numbers however are not at all impressive. Estimated Time of Arrival: Moser is now 27 years old but the Marlins are willing to be patient with him because nagging injuries have limited him almost every year in the system and he had a serious elbow injury in the 2001 season which delayed his progress by a full year. Todd has only had one season in which he started more than 20 games and pitched in more than 100 total innings. Plus, big lefty prospects always get a little more patience from management than a right-hander would. When he has pitched he has been successful. He got his first crack at the Double A finesse pitcher litmus test in 2003 and while his H/IP numbers did increase he more than held his own. He participated in the 2003 Arizona Fall League where he worked in middle relief which is probably where the Marlins are now projecting his possible role with the big team. Moser will start out this season with another go-around at Double A Carolina with a possible mid-season promotion to Triple A Albuquerque. With a quality season in 2004 he could earn an invite to next year?s spring training. Year Team G GS IP W L SV H BB SO ERA 2003 Jupiter 5 5 30.0 3 1 0 25 7 24 1.50 2003 Carolina 18 18 97.2 6 4 0 107 29 87 3.41
April 12, 200420 yr Author #30 Mike Flannery Relief pitcher Mike Flannery played a critical role in the Carolina Mudcats 2003 Southern League Championship. That role earned him an invite to spring training in 2004. Michael Flannery Vital Stats: Position: Relief Pitcher DOB: September 20th, 1979 Height: 6'1 Weight: 205 lbs. Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Drafted in the 33th Round (986th overall) in the 1999 amateur draft out of Gloucester County Community College Overview: Mike Flannery came into the Marlins system as a starting pitcher but after three years of only moderate success he was converted to the closers role so that his ?live? arm could best be utilized. Since his move to the bullpen, Flannery?s stock has elevated immensely as he has become one of the better relief pitchers in the Marlins organization. In 2003, Flannery?s role as a dominant game-ending closer was vital to the Carolina Mudcats run to the Southern League Championship. Repertoire: Flannery throws a two seam fastball which regularly hits 90-92 on the gun. He also throws a plus slider and an average quality curveball. Style: Flannery is at his best when he uses his fastball to set up his plus slider as his out pitch. While his fastball is good, it is not quite overpowering but when he has his slider going he is very effective. As a closer, he is not quite a strikeout pitcher because of his lack of overpowering stuff, but he keeps the ball down and thus gets hitters to hit the ball on the ground for easy outs. He only gave up 1 homerun in 58 innings pitched in 2003. Projection: Flannery may be a closer in the minor leagues, his lack of overpowering stuff will probably remove him from being a closer in the pros. Although there are some closers in the majors whose style is very much like Flannery?s approach, Keith Foulke for example, but Foulke has much better control and a lot sharper of a slider as well as an excellent curveball. Therefore, unless Flannery shows remarkable improvement he would probably be best suited for middle relief at the major league level. Estimated Time of Arrival: Mike Flannery received an invite to the Marlins Spring Training in 2004 and made two game appearances yielding non-impressive results. Mike pitched 2 innings and gave up 4 hits and 2 earned runs with 1 walk and 1 strike out. Flannery will spend the 2004 season with the Albuquerque Isotopes. Triple A will be a good indicator as to whether he can have success against high quality hitters. If he continues to have success he may earn a call-up as early as this year. If he doesn?t get called up this year he will almost certainly receive another invite to Spring Training in 2005. Year Team..... G GS IP W L SV H BB SO ERA 2003 Carolina 56 0 58.1 7 3 23 42 26 50 2.31
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