With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Marlins' Top 30 prospects are projected to start:
1. Noble Meyer (MLB No. 53), RHP -- Jupiter (Single-A)
2. Thomas White, LHP -- Jupiter (Single-A)
3. Max Meyer, RHP -- Miami (MLB)
4. Victor Mesa Jr., OF -- Jacksonville (Triple-A) -- injured list (ankle)
5. Jacob Berry, 3B/1B -- Pensacola (Double-A)
6. Karson Milbrandt, RHP -- Beloit (High-A)
7. Yiddi Cappe, 2B/SS -- Beloit (High-A)
8. Kemp Alderman, OF -- Jupiter (Single-A) -- injured list (hamate)
9. Jacob Amaya, SS/2B -- Jacksonville (Triple-A)
10. Dax Fulton, LHP -- Pensacola (Double-A) -- injured list (Tommy John surgery rehab)
11. Luis Cova, OF -- Dominican Republic complex
12. Fabian Lopez, SS -- Extended Spring Training
13. Jacob Miller, RHP -- Beloit (High-A)
14. Dane Myers, OF/3B/1B -- Jacksonville (Triple-A)
15. Andres Valor, OF -- Extended Spring Training
16. Javier Sanoja, OF/SS/2B -- Pensacola (Double-A)
17. Brock Vradenburg, 1B -- Jupiter (Single-A)
18. Troy Johnston, 1B -- Jacksonville (Triple-A)
19. Anthony Maldonado, RHP -- Jacksonville (Triple-A)
20. John Cruz, OF -- Jupiter (Single-A)
21. Patrick Monteverde, LHP -- Jacksonville (Triple-A)
22. Juan De La Cruz, RHP -- Extended Spring Training
23. Mark Coley, OF -- Jupiter (Single-A)
24. Shane Sasaki, OF -- Pensacola (Double-A)
25. Will Banfield, C -- Jacksonville (Triple-A)
26. Joe Mack, C -- Beloit (High-A)
27. Josh Simpson, LHP -- Miami (MLB) -- injured list (elbow)
28. Ike Buxton, RHP -- Beloit (High-A)
29. Emmett Olson, LHP -- Jupiter (Single-A)
30. Nigel Belgrave, RHP -- Jupiter (Single-A)
Team to watch
Single-A Jupiter features a slew of 2023 Draft picks, highlighted by the Marlins' first two choices: first-rounder Noble Meyer (the best prep pitcher in the class) and supplemental first-rounder Thomas White (the top left-hander, college or high school). Other Hammerheads include the system's biggest power threat in outfielder Kemp Alderman (second round, currently on the injured list), first baseman Brock Vradenburg (third), left-hander Emmett Olson (fourth) and super sleeper outfielder Mark Coley (17th). Outfielder John Cruz, who arrived from the Yankees in the three-team Jon Berti trade in March, will make his organization debut in Jupiter as well.
Players we could see in MLB in 2024
Outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. is the top-rated prospect at Triple-A Jacksonville, though he's currently out with an ankle injury. Dane Myers made 17 outfield starts for Miami during a breakout 2023 season at age 27 and should return to the big leagues at some point. The organization's 2023 Minor league hitter (first baseman Troy Johnston) and pitcher (left-hander Patrick Monteverde) of the year could get their first callups. Right-hander Anthony Maldonado and his dastardly slider merit a look in the Majors, and catcher Will Banfield's defense and improving power may pay off with his first opportunity there.
New faces
Cruz and fellow outfielder Shane Sasaki (via the Rays) both arrived in last month's Berti deal, and Sasaki has been assigned to Double-A Pensacola. Venezuelan outfielder Luis Cova's combination of hitting ability and speed earned him a $1.4 million bonus in January and he'll break into pro ball in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League.
On the shelf
Mesa rolled his left ankle during Spring Training and missed the start of the Triple-A season. He'll undertake a brief rehab assignment at Jupiter this weekend before getting activated by Jacksonville. Left-hander Dax Fulton had his second Tommy John surgery in four years last June and likely will miss all of this season. Alderman broke the hamate bone in his left hand and should join the Hammerheads in May. Lefty reliever Josh Simpson is on Miami's injured list after coming down with elbow discomfort in late February and will began his rehab at Jupiter this weekend.