Posted on 11 April 2009
H/W: 5-11 195 lb. B/T: S/R DOB: 4/23/85
The Marlins acquired the young infielder as the centerpiece of a trade that sent highly talented right hander Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham to the Washington Nationals this past winter. Bonifacio struggled last season with the Diamondbacks and Nationals hitting .240 with 0 HR 16 RBI and 7 SB in 190 AB, but his numbers in spring training fell more in line with his minor league track record as he hit .279 with 13 RBI 14 runs scored and 5 SB in 24 games. Bonifacio has elite speed that he uses as a weapon on the basepaths and allows him great range in the field. He is adept with the glove and his arm strength is strong enough to place him at 3B. One area of his game that needs to improve is approach at the plate. Bonifacio has below average power, yet his swing is not conducive to playing a small game. He has struck out more than 100 times in four of the last five seasons and struggles to draw walks on a consistent basis.
2009 Projection: Bonifacio earned the starting gig as Florida's third baseman and responded with a 4-5 day which included an inside-the-park homerun, four runs scored, and three stolen bases. Bonifacio has the type of game similar to a Chone Figgins as an atypical, slap-hitting speedster who can play a variety of infield positions and generate runs once he is on the basepaths. His challenge for the Marlins is to become a player that can get on base more than 35% of the time, acting as a catalyst for Florida's powerful middle of the lineup.
Key Emilio Bonifacio Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Donruss Threads Auto #/1874
- 2008 Upper Deck Premier Auto #/99
- 2008 Upper Deck Piece of History Auto #/499
- 2008 Upper Deck Spectrum Auto
- 2008 SPX Auto
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Posted on 06 April 2009
H/W: 6-4 205 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 4/4/87
The Florida Marlins opted for a more cautious approach in developing their immensely talented outfielder than his previous employer, the Detroit Tigers. Cameron Maybin spent virtually the entire 2008 season at AA Carolina hitting .277 with 13 HR 49 RBI 21 SB and 73 runs scored in 108 games. His solid play earned him a September callup where he went 16-32 with 9 runs scored and 4 SB. Maybin's physical attributes are off the charts. He can put on a show in batting practice, launching 500 ft. HR's and has foot speed that rivals anyone in minor league baseball. Defensively, Maybin has the speed of a center fielder and the cannon arm of a right fielder. He made some strides with his plate discipline last season, earning 63 walks, but his 132 strikeouts were too high given his mediocre power numbers. Maybin has not quite figured out how to consistently translate his pregame power into game time production as he often opts to slap balls to the opposite field or beat out groundballs with his fleet feet. The Marlins are not too concerned at this time with that and do believe that the 22 year old will eventually become the 30-30 player that scouts have tabbed him to be.
2009 Projection: Strong spring numbers (.317 1 HR 7 RBI 15 runs scored) have earned him the starting nod in CF on opening day. The Marlins would like Maybin to continue to develop his top of the order skills, working counts and making consistent contact, rather than focusing on the power element of his game. He and 3B Emiliano Bonifacio should both get some time atop Florida's potent lineup. Keep an eye on his plate discipline as the season progresses, if he can continue to draw walks and limit his strikeout totals, he should gradually nudge Bonifacio out of the leadoff spot for good.
Key Cameron Maybin Baseball Cards:
- 2006 Bowman Prospects Auto
- 2006 Bowman Chrome
- 2006 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2006 Bowman Heritage Auto
- 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft
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Posted on 10 February 2009
H/W: 6-1 190 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 6/18/85
This University of Mississippi alum produced a rock solid stat line at AA Carolina this past season hitting .298 with 7 HR 74 RBI 34 SB and 84 runs scored. Coghlan is a highly polished player in just about every aspect of the game. His short, inside-out swing peppers line drives to all fields with the occasional gap power. He is a throw back player that gives a maximum effort both on an off of the field. He grinds out at bats and is a tough man to strikeout (67 BB/65 K in '08) which, when paired with his quickness, makes him a potent top of the order hitter. Defensively, Coghlan has decent range and an average arm which should fit well at 2B.
2009 Projection: Dan Uggla is still the Marlins' second baseman...for now. The 2008 All-Star was shopped around in the offseason and could be a hot commodity at the trading deadline in July. This should give Coghlan ample time to complete his development at AAA before making his debut with the Fish at some point late in the season. His pedal to the metal style of play and all around skill set should make him a fixture atop Florida's lineup and in the hearts of Marlins fans for years to come.
Key Chris Coghlan Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects Auto
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft Futures Game Jersey
- 2007 Bowman's Best Auto
- 2007 Bowman Heritage
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Posted on 31 January 2009
H/W: 6-2 225 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 9/2/83
The former Miami Hurricane took a major step forward in his development last season by hitting .314 with 17 HR 92 RBI 17 SB and 42 doubles at AA Carolina. His superb showing earned him the opportunity to debut with the Marlins where he rapped 3 hits in 8 AB. Sanchez is a complete hitter who uses a disciplined approach at the plate to drive pitches to the gaps with decent power. He works counts well and is a good contact hitter (69 BB/70 K). Some scouts have criticized his shoddy conditioning and fringe athleticism in the past, but he seems to have worked dilligently prior to the '08 season to firm up his body and increase his speed. Sanchez plays both 1B and 3B defensively, though his soft hands and fringe average range profiles better at 1B where he should be a solid fielder. Despite his well-rounded game, Sanchez's skills are likely at their apex which, given his numbers, makes him a decent but not spectacular 1B prospect. However, the Marlins' organization feel good enough about his development that they let 30+ HR hitter Mike Jacobs leave via free agency in the off season.
2009 Projection: Spring training will provide Sanchez with ample opportunities to prove to the Marlins' brass that he is prepared to take the reigns at 1B this season. The window for Sanchez to succeed is small. While he is slated to be the starter this season over veteran Wes Helms and 2008 MILB HR champ Dallas McPherson, his hold on the 1B job will last only as long as the Marlins decide to wait until they usher super prospect Logan Morrison into the role. By that time, Sanchez will find him self in a new position or on a new team.
Key Gaby Sanchez Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects
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Posted on 29 December 2008
H/W: 6-2 180 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 8/28/89
If 2008 was an indicator of what should be expected of this young 3B, Florida Marlins fans have plenty of reasons to be excited. In 88 games at Low-A Greensboro, Dominguez batted .296 with 18 HR 70 RBI and 59 runs scored. Prior to the '07 draft, several scouts felt that Dominguez's best strengths rested in his Gold Glove caliber defensive abilities at the hot corner, drawing comparisons to Ryan Zimmerman and Mike Lowell. The offense, however, has come along quicker than anticipated as Dominguez uses his strong, athletic frame to drive balls with excellent pull power and good contact skills. As Matt's frame fills out, he should develop more power and less footspeed, which is fringe average already. Going forward, Dominguez still has some mechanical issues to iron out at the plate as he is culpable to pitches on the outer part of the plate and his plate discipline (23 BB/68 K) is still a work in progress. Regardless, Dominguez remains an elite 3B prospect with an even higher ceiling than what was projected when the Marlins selected him in '07.
2009 Projection: High-A Jupiter will be the likely destination for Dominguez this next season with a promotion to AA Jacksonville a distinct possibility if Matt continues his success. It is still unclear whether Dominguez will be a 15-20 HR guy or 25-30 HR player. If last season's August results (.333 10 HR 33 RBI) are any indication, then it would seem that the latter may even be a conservative estimate. The biggest key for Dominguez is to continue to replicate this performance against better pitching. Keep an eye on his BB/K ratio as that will be an indicator of whether or not he has addressed his culpabilities at the plate. His doubles totals might also shed some light on how he is handling pitches on the outer portion of the plate. In an organization that has historically had very good 3B, Matt Dominguez is the next to come along. Given his blend of defense, power, and athleticism, he could become great.
Key Matt Dominguez Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Draft Auto
- 2007 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/769
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Posted on 24 December 2008
H/W: 6-3 195 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 3/1/90
With the 5th overall selection in the 2008 MLB draft, the Marlins finally got their catcher of the future and he's a good one. Big, strong, and athletic, Skipworth evokes comparisons to fellow left-hand hitting backstop Joe Mauer. Skipworth's swing is fluid and generates good torque to drive balls out to all fields and, given more time, he should develop solid plate discipline which should let him hit for a high batting average. Kyle has a howitzer for an arm, but due to his size, his footwork and receiving skills are still quite raw. To make up for it, Skipworth is a good competitor and diligent worker who is devoted to his duties behind the plate. These characteristics give many optimism that Skipworth should develop into a solid, power hitting catcher that the Marlins have been seeking for years.
2009 Projection: Skipworth should get a complete season at Low-A Greensboro to improve on his lackluster '08 numbers (.208 5 HR 21 RBI 13 BB/46 K's in 43 games). The plate discipline is the key element holding back Kyle's ability to hit for a high average. Keep an eye on those numbers. Right now this is a kid with tons of projectibility, but not much performance. The path to the major leagues is littered with failed careers of high upside/low production guys. However, the Marlins organization is a reputably astute evaluator of talent and Skipworth should only enhance their reputation.
Key Kyle Skipworth Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/699
- 2008 Razor Exclusive Auto
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Posted on 24 December 2008
H/W: 6-2 190 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 10/10/89
The Marlins added to their stockpile of 5-tool outfielders with the selection of Galloway in the 8th round of the '08 draft. Isaac had a fine debut with the Marlins' GCL affiliate, hitting .286 with a HR 23 RBI 4 SB and 29 runs scored in 48 games. Galloway has a long and athletic frame that is projected to add above average power down the road. He makes good contact at the plate and has above average speed that should play well on the basepaths and in the outfield. His arm is very strong and would play well in RF. Galloway is a nice find in the 8th round, but he still needs considerable work with his pitch recognition and plate discipline. He garnered a lowly 4 BB/33 K ratio in the GCL, which will need to improve at higher levels. Also, though he is fast, Galloway does not move fluidly, which lead some scouts to believe that he will lose speed down the road as he builds his body.
2009 Projection: The Marlins may decide to send Galloway to extended spring training for more work before shuttling him to their short season Low-A team in Jamestown. They also may decide to challenge him by allowing him to play at full season Greensboro. Either way, the key to watch with Galloway is the development of his plate discipline and power output. The Marlins are chocked full of talented OF prospects with the likes of Cameron Maybin, Mike Stanton, John Raynor, Scott Cousins and Gregory Burns. For Galloway to progress, he needs to boost his power numbers and refine each of his 5-tools.
Key Isaac Galloway Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Bowman Draft AFLAC Auto
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/1099
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Posted on 04 December 2008
H/W: 6-2 185 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 3/20/90
The Florida Marlins selected Hand with their 2nd round pick in 2008 and Brad didn’t fail to impress compiling a 3-2 record with a 2.64 ERA and 21 BB/46 K in 47 innings at two short season stops. Perhaps even more impressive was the fact that he forced a GO/FO ratio of 3.65 and held hitters in the Gulf Coast and New York-Penn Leagues to a combined .212 average. Hand is exceptionally strong and has good velocity (especially for a southpaw) on his fastball at 90-94 MPH. His curve ball has a powerful downward spike to it and shows promise to be a plus pitch at the big league level. Hand is a good competitor and shows poise on the mound but he still needs to work on his pitching mechanics. Hand lacks fluidity which leads to lapses in control and the potential for injuries down the road. Additionally, Hand has not yet developed a third quality pitch. Failure to do so will likely relegate him to the pen as a situational lefty or late inning reliever down the road.
2009 Projection: Hand will get the opportunity to pitch a full season at Low-A Greensboro next season. The Marlins are fully stocked with young pitching prospects so they can afford to let Hand develop a third pitch and iron out some mechanical issues. Hand has good upside as a hard-throwing LHP. Watch to see how his third pitch (likely a changeup) develops and keep an eye on his walk totals. If he can continue to force groundball outs and can keep his K rates up, Hand should continue to ascend up the “Fish ladder”.
Key Brad Hand Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Auto
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/447
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Posted on 03 December 2008
H/W: 6-5 205 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 11/8/89
Stanton made a big statement in '08 at Low-A Greensboro hitting .293 with 39 HR 97 RBI and 89 runs scored. Stanton has prolific power potential that could easily translate into 40 HR per season at the MLB level. Stanton's tall and strong frame evokes comparisons to Hall of Famer Dave Winfield. Similar to Winfield, Stanton is an extremely good athlete with a strong arm and long strides that cover large swathes of range in RF. Stanton has also shown that he is an intelligent hitter and his work ethic has been lauded by several within the organization. Like many young power hitters, Stanton strikes out in bunches (153 in '08) but his desire to improve and his overall talent should help him to mitigate these numbers as he progresses. Stanton has rapidly become one of baseball's elite OF talents, and he should pair nicely with Cameron Maybin in Miami for many years to come.
2009 Projection: Stanton should begin the season at High-A Jupiter with the potential to jump to AA Jacksonville. Stanton is an elite prospect who should move quickly through the Marlins' farm system. Watch to see how he addresses the challenges of being a fast track player. The power numbers will always be there for Stanton, but watch to see if he can maintain his batting average and decrease his K totals.
Key Michael Stanton Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft Auto
- 2008 Donruss Threads Auto #/465
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Posted on 15 November 2008
H/W: 6-2 190 lb. B/T: L/L DOB:1/22/85
Cousins spent the first part of the season battling injuries at High-A Jupiter. When he returned to action, he hit well (.304 9 HR 29 RBI 11 SB in 194 AB) before earning a late season promotion to Carolina where he hit .264 with a HR and 9 RBI. Cousins has a 5-tool skill set with a smooth left-handed swing that produces above average power, and his speed is well above average, though he is still learning how to read pitchers Cousins has great range and above average arm strength that could serve him well in either CF or RF. Moving forward, Cousins still needs Read the full story
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Posted on 15 November 2008
H/W: 6-2 215 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 8/25/87
Morrison made big strides with his plate approach this season hitting .332 with 13 HR 72 RBI and 38 doubles at High-A Jupiter. While his longball totals were nearly cut in half from last season, his walk and strikeout rates both improved. Morrison's employs a smooth left hand swing that can drive the ball to all parts of the ballpark prompting many baseball officials to believe that he can be a .300 hitter with 30+ HR power at the major league level. Morrison is an Read the full story
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Posted on 03 November 2008
H/W: 6-1 205 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 4/9/86
Peterson forced his way into the Marlins' outfield picture with a superb three-stop performance in '08. Peterson has a solid and athletic frame and a line drive swing that produced more leverage and power than he mustered in his entire career at Cal-Irvine which produced only 5 HR. This leap is noteworthy especially since his power increase had no effects on his base stealing acumen. Peterson is an above average Read the full story
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Posted on 01 November 2008
H/W: 6-2 185 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 1/4/84
Raynor skipped a level in '08 and still found a way to fill the stat sheet with some impressive numbers. For the second consecutive season, Raynor was able to hit above .300, have an OBP of over .400, score over 100 runs and steal almost 50 bases. Raynor has good gap power that can generate double digit HR pop at the top of the lineup with a slew of doubles and triples as well. He is a lethal weapon on the basepaths with a nearly 90 percent SB% dating back to his days at UNC Wilmington. Raynor has the range and glove to play CF, though his below-average arm and the presence of Cameron Maybin will likely push him to LF. One area of Raynor's game that needs improvement is his strikeout rate. Though he walked 62 times, Raynor punched out 122 times. Some of this can be attributed to the challenge of jumping a level, though the number is still high for someone who will likely be a 10-12 HR hitter at the major league level. Raynor is playing for the Mesa Solar Sox in the AFL this fall and has performed very well.
2009 Projection: Raynor's stock has risen with his solid AFL showing and he will get a long look this spring for a potential roster spot with the Marlins. LIkely, Raynor will head to AAA Albequerqe for more seasoning before a mid season call up with the Fish. Raynor has the potential to be a top of the order player in the mold of Johnny Damon or Kenny Lofton.
Key Rookie Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2008 Donruss Threads Gold Signature Auto #/575
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H/W: 5-11 195 lb. B/T: S/R DOB: 4/23/85
