41. Curtis Petersen

41. Curtis Petersen -RHP - 6'4 - 180lbs
(last year: NR)

When the Marlins drafted right hander Curtis Petersen in the 4^th round of the 2008 draft, there was a strong chance he would end up going to Nebraska instead of him signing with the Fish. This all changed once the Marlins offered him a $350,000 signing bonus. As a senior at Ryan High School, Petersen went 12-2 with a 1.03era and struck out 127 batters.

Scouts love the 6’4 right hander’s projectability and believe as he matures, his velocity should increase as well. Right now he works in the high 80s but can hit 92mph with his fastball. He has an above average fastball for an 18 year old and his changeup has the makings of a plus pitch as well. Petersen has a clean, repeatable delivery which should allow him to continue to throw his secondary pitches for strikes.

Petersen got knocked around, albeit in just 14 innings with the Gulf Coast League Marlins. The rest of the time he spent in extended spring training. Just 19, he’ll probably spend more time in the GCL next year, while also seeing time in Jamestown.

42. Tom Koehler

42. Tom Koehler -RHP - 6'3 - 235lbs
(last year: NR)

The Marlins drafted right handed pitcher Tom Koehler in the 18^th round of the 2008 draft. If not for his weight issues that he’s previously dealt with, the SUNY Stony Brook product would have been taken much higher. He lost nearly 40 pounds to trim down to his current 235 state. He’s since been able to keep the weight off and the Marlins believe they may have an absolute steal on their hands. In Koehler’s senior season, he had a 4.15era, 1.43whip in 93.1 innings of work. He struck out 111 and walked 45.

Koehler has excellent stuff, working his fastball in the 92-94 range with good sink to it. His slider has shown to be a plus pitch at times, and his changeup has the potential to be good as well. He even throws an overhand curveball but that is the weakest of his four pitches right now. He has a bit of a funky arm action, with an interesting wrap in the back that has affected his command in the past.

Tom is a starting pitcher right now and may very well end up that way but some scouts see him as a workhorse out of the bullpen. He’ll begin the year in Greensboro and will try to keep the ball in the park in the hitter friendly South Atlantic League.

43. Alejandro Sanabia

43. Alejandro Sanabia -RHP - 6'1 - 165lbs
(last year: 42)



The Marlins drafted Alejandro Sanabia in the 32nd round of the 2006 draft. The San Diego, native spent the 2005 season as part of the rookie league Gulf Coast Marlins pitching staff, going 3-1 with a 3.24 ERA in 11 appearances. Opponents hit just .169 off him while with the GCL Marlins. He shows a sinking fastball at 88-92mph that tops out at 93. He has a big slurve-like breaking ball and is working on a changeup. The changeup improved greatly from 2007 to 2008.

Stepping up from Jamestown to Greensboro was a big challenge for the 19 year old. In Jamestown, he was able to hold right-handed batters to a .212 average while walking just 9 and striking out 42. Obviously this meant that lefties killed him, which they did to a tune of .347. Pitching in Jamestown as an 18 year old, the late round pick certainly opened up some eyes in a much older league. Marlins vice president of player development and scouting Jim Fleming just raves about him, especially with his bounce back in the second half of the 2007 season after being hit hard in Jamestown early. He had a 5.80era before the break, and posted a 3.74era after, while batters hit just .224 off of him.

Sanabia took another step forward in his development in 2008. He held his own in the South Atlantic League, posting a 4.93era, .273baa and a 1.36whip in 96.2 innings. It seems as if he turned a corner late, as in his final 10 games he went 3-2 with a 3.78era. In those 52.1 innings of work, he gave up just 53 hits, walked 11 and struck out 41.

Still very young and quite raw, Sanabia should get a shot in high-A Jupiter where hopefully his secondary pitches keep on improving. With his stuff, he’s definitely a big time sleeper in this system.

44. Brett Hayes

44. Brett Hayes - Catcher - 6'1 - 200lbs - Throws: Right - Bats: Right
(last year: 34)

One of my favorite prospects when the Marlins originally drafted him, Brett Hayes’ prospect status has been stagnant over the last few seasons. 2008 was a mixed bag for the former University of Nevada catcher. He was terrible with the bat in Carolina, sporting a .650 OPS but as usual he helped mentor the young pitchers at that level and was excellent behind the plate. He saw a promotion to Albuquerque for the final 37 games of the season. Like one would expect, his offense improved all across the board as he got his OPS up to .796.

Coming off a weak hitting season in Greensboro in 2006, Hayes opened up some eyes when he hit .338/.413/.462 out of the gate in Jupiter in 2007. This earned him a promotion to Carolina where he was outclassed by a mile. Southern League pitchers feasted on him bailing out early on breaking balls, as he hit just .234. When he did make contact, there certainly was not much power there as he only had 19 extra base hits in nearly 300 at bats.

The question coming into 2007 was not whether or not he could hit enough, but whether he could stay healthy enough. He missed nearly 2 months back in 2006 with a broken hamate bone, and hasn’t shown great durability throughout his short career. Now it looks like health won’t be a problem but can he hit enough to be an everyday starter.

Drafted in the second round of the 2005 draft, Hayes has always been known as a great athlete and it shows behind the plate. He has great mobility to go with a very good arm back there. At one point in college, he played some shortstop, so that should give you an example at just how athletic he is. He is also known as a very good game caller too.

So now Brett comes into 2009 with the same hitting issues he has had in the three seasons prior to this. His defense is major league ready, but if he can’t grasp hitting the ball, he’ll never get a serious look. He’ll more than likely begin the season in New Orleans and be the primary backstop down there. He could possibly see some time as a backup to John Baker this season, depending on what the Marlins organization does with the likes of Matt Treanor and Paul Hoover.

45. Tim Wood

45. Tim Wood -RHP - 6'1 - 185lbs
(last year: NR)

The Marlins drafted Tim Wood in the 44^th round (1310^th overall) of the 2002 draft. Early on, the Pima Community College pitcher of the year did not have any success in the professional ranks. His first three years in pro ball, he threw 123.1 innings, gave up 86 earned runs on 138 hits and 68 walks while striking out just 94 batters. Things started to turn for him in 2007, his second season in Jupiter. It was then that he was turned into a reliever full time. He made 17 appearances, throwing 26 innings. In that time span, he gave up 24 hits, 11 earned runs, just 1 homerun, walked 8 and struck out 26.

Even though he pitched well in 2007, the organization sent him back to Jupiter to begin the 2008 season. He would build off the season prior as he threw 40 innings and gave up just 25 hits and 1 homerun. He would see a late promotion to Carolina. Wood began to struggle in a much better league as he gave up nearly a hit per inning, although his walk rate and strikeout rate would improve.

Blessed with a 94-95mph fastball and a ridiculously nasty 86-88mph slider, Wood has all the tools to be a typical power-reliever. He’s been pitching in the pen out in the Arizona Fall League, trying to improve his command and its working as he has 0 walks in 11 innings of work. He’s battled injuries throughout his entire career but he could have a chance to crack the Marlins bullpen in spring training this season. If not, he’ll be in AAA New Orleans and could be on quickly if a bullpen spot arises early on in the season.

46. Dan Jennings

46. Dan Jennings -LHP - 6'3 - 190lbs
(last year: NR)

Another 2008 draftee out of the University of Nebraska, the Marlins nabbed left-handed pitcher Dan Jennings in the 9^th round and felt lucky to do so. They got him to sign for $145,000 before sending him to short season Jamestown. At 6’3, 183 lbs there is still room to add strength to the 21 year old. He split time between the starting rotation and the bullpen at Nebraska. In 23 games, he started 9 times. At one point during the season, Jennings had a 30.1 consecutive scoreless streak.

Right now his fastball is anywhere from 87-91mph and it’s most effective when he keeps it down in the strikezone, something he has had little trouble doing in his career. His best pitch would be his slider that is devastating against left-handed hitters. Jennings has a quick arm, a repeatable delivery and solid mechanics.

Projected by some to be a reliever in pro ball, Jennings has yet to pitch out of the bullpen in his short professional career. He’ll begin the year with former Nebraska teammate Johnny Dorn in Greensboro, and like Dorn, he will be a starting pitcher. Jennings got knocked around a bit in Jamestown, so it will be interesting to see if he can bounce back from his interesting debut, especially in a hitter’s league like the South Atlantic League.

47. Jose Ceballos

47. Jose Ceballos - Catcher - 6'1 - 190lbs - Throws: Right - Bats: Right
(last year: 40)

An international signee, Jose Ceballos is considered to be a pretty big sleeper in the Marlins organization. For the second season in a row, he spent most of his time in the Gulf Coast League and extended spring training. His offensive numbers still have yet to impress but at just 18 years old, the front office still raves about this kid. Physically, he compares to a thicker version of Jorge Posada. He has shown to be a great defensive catcher and blocks balls in the dirt better than anyone in the system. He has just an average arm but with improved footwork and release, his ability to nab would-be baserunners has been improving. When rehabbing pitchers would make a stop in Jupiter, Ceballos was usually the man to do their catching.

Offensively, he needs alot of work but that is to be expected of such a young player. Contact is an issue for him right now, but he shows some real good raw power. Management loves his makeup as he is always asking questions and trying to improve. He was given a bunch of English DVDs from catching guru Tim Cossins, in hopes that he would be able to improve his ability to communicate, although those skills were already decent. Being so young, his body is obviously going to change so you don’t know if he will be a catcher long term. He’ll start the season as a 19 year old and should finally begin at a level higher than the GCL. Depending on where Kyle Skipworth is, it could be Jamestown or even Greensboro.

48. Ryan Anetsberger

48. Ryan Anetsberger - 1B/3B - 6'2 - 210lbs - Throws: Right - Bats: Right
(last year: 47)

A 15^th round pick out of Illinois State University in the 2007 draft, the Marlins felt like they got a bit of a sleeper on their hands in Ryan Anetsberger. When he first showed up on the Illinois State campus, he was a thin shortstop known more for his glove than his bat. Ryan eventually grew into his frame at the hot corner and turned himself into a legit bat with good gap power. The glove and arm combination was still there too.

The Marlins liked how he looked in the Cape Cod League, and were more impressed after he was named the MVP at the National Baseball Congress World Series from another summer league. In his final season at Illinois State, Ryan hit .328/.398/.484 with 5 homeruns in 186 at bats. That performance got him named to the 2^nd team All-Missouri Valley Conference. The Marlins decided to skip the Gulf Coast League with him and have him go straight to short season Jamestown once he signed. In 222 at bats with the Jammers, he hit .266/.331/.446 with 7 homeruns and was selected to the NYPL All Star Team.

Anetsberger spent the year in Greensboro and put up disappointing results. He couldn’t hit for average and he didn’t show signs of slugging in a hitter’s paradise but he did show a positive walk rate. His season was cut to only 69 games because of nagging injuries including a broken bone in his right hand. 2009 is going to be a big year for Ryan. He’s now moved to 1^st base because of Matt Dominguez and he’s going to be playing in a much harder setting for hitters, the Florida State League. It will be interesting to see if he can finally put things together here as a 23 year old down in Jupiter.

49. Johnny Dorn

49. Johnny Dorn - RHP - 6'3 - 210lbs
(last year: NR)



The Marlins drafted righthanded starter Johnny Dorn in the 15^th round of the 2008 amateur draft out of the University of Nebraska. Heading into the NCAA playoffs in 2008, he led all active Division I pitchers with 36 wins. He was also named to the First-Team All-Big 12, as well as being a semifinalist for the Howser and Golden Spikes Award. He was dominant as a senior at Nebraska, going 6-2 with a 2.45era and a 1.04whip in 106.1 innings of work. He struck out nearly 1 per inning as well.

In his freshman year, Dorn strained his elbow in the 2005 College World Series and saw his velocity go down the following two seasons. In the spring of 2008, his velocity had him back in the high 80s-low 90s fastball. While his four seamer isn’t anything more than an average pitch, Dorn utilizes an above average slider as his out-pitch. He also has shown potential in his big looping curveball as well as his changeup.

Like many college kids, Dorn was clearly in control in his 16 starts in the New York-Penn League. And like many of those who have dominated in Jamestown, it will be a test for him to keep the ball in the park when he begins his season in Greensboro for 2009. Not many pitchers at that level have as refined a second pitch as he does so he could continue to have success, which would make the feat even more impressive in a hitter’s league.

50. Pete Andrelczyk

50. Pete Andrelczyk - RHP - 6'1 - 185lbs
(last year: NR)

The Marlins drafted righthander Pete Andrelczyk in the 5^th round of the 2008 draft. He was previously drafted in the 32^nd round of the 2007 draft by the Orioles, but decided to go back to school which turned out to be the right decision. The 6’1 righthander would become the closer for Coastal Carolina in his senior year and became a hot topic for scouts when his velocity took a jump.

Andrelczyk throws a low 90s fastball that can hit 95mph. He also utilizes a hard slider sitting between 83-85mph with late moving action that is tough on righthanded batters. He has closer stuff but right now all he is doing is living off his talent and not actually pitching. After dominating the New York-Penn League, he had a brief debut in the SALLY and got torched. Even while getting hit around, he still managed to strikeout 29 in 25 innings of work while with Greensboro. He reminds some scouts of Tim Hudson in his windup and delivery.

Andrelczyk has closer stuff and should be key cog in either Greensboro’s or Jupiter’s bullpen in 2009. Being a college kid, the 23 year old could be on a relative fast track especially if he begins in Jupiter to start off the year.

Number 1 Prospect in Baseball: Matt Wilson

Matt Wilson, 1b Born: Oct. 20, 1985. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 185.

Drafted: University of Florida, 2006 (42nd round). Signed by: Blackout Pact.

Background: The Mariners had the No. 5 overall pick in the 2006 draft, but their best choice turned out to be their 42nd-rounder. They signed Wilson, a bigger than life kid out of the University of Florida, for $260,000 a year later as a draft-and-follow. Had he not signed, "The Fulcrum" as he has been affectionately called by peers, projected as a top-five-rounds talent for the 2007 draft. He led the Rookie-level Arizona League with seven homers in his pro debut, but a major leg infection knocked him out in mid-August of his 2006 follow-up. He re-established his prospect credentials in 2007, when he became the first righthanded hitter to top 20 homers for high Class A Wisconsin since Jay Buhner in 1987. He turned his second straight 20-homer, 100-RBI campaign in 2008 at Double-A San Antonio, this time in a pitcher's park. Strengths: No active player resembles Wilson, not entirely. He's not an intimidating 6-foot, 185 pounds, yet he exhibits strong bat control instead of always selling out for power. In fact, he takes pride in his ability to hit for average and focuses on taking the ball to center and right field when pitchers work him away—and that's despite having the raw power to rival any player in the system. He generates this massive power from his wrists, but others believe he gets his power from his piercing blue eyes. He has tightened his strike zone and closed holes in his swing each season. Wilson is athletic for his size and an average runner under way. He throws very well and shows surprising agility and hands at first base, where he has average potential as a defender. Wilson's advocates think he has sufficient range and instincts to play an outfield corner, though he has played just two games there as a pro (both in 2007). He has done a good job monitoring his weight since ballooning to nearly 285 pounds after his layoff in 2006. Weaknesses: Despite incorporating a stride and a sense of timing in his swing in 2007, Wilson still has a tendency to hit with dead hands because he uses a minimal load to his swing. That cuts into his home run production, but it does make him less susceptible to hard stuff on the inner half. He hasn't shown much power against lefthanders the last two seasons, as he has struggled to stay back on their backdoor breaking balls. He's much more comfortable facing righthanders, even sidearmers and submariners, because they tend to work him hard inside and he can just react. Wilson will need to continue to make conditioning a priority. He has slowed a bit since signing and isn't quick out of the batter's box. The Future: After refining his batting eye in the Arizona Fall League, where he posted a .430 on-base percentage, Wilson is ticketed for Triple-A Tacoma. He may learn to play left field, though Seattle has yet to make a final decision. At first base, he's blocked by minor league all-star Bryan LaHair. But if Wilson continues to produce like he has the last two seasons, the Mariners will find room in their lineup for him. Getting rid of Richie Sexson last year was a step in the right direction for this middling franchise.

2008 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB San Antonio (AA) .324 .403 .517 494 74 160 24 4 21 103 52 89 11

Marlins 2008 Top 50 in Review

50. Jarrett Santos
Bounced between Jupiter, Carolina and Albuquerque, compiled a 9-5 record with a 3.66era, .269baa. Currently pitching for Criollos de Caguas (Puerto Rico). 6ip 4h 2r(2er) 1bb 2k, .182baa

49. Spike McDougall
Big let down after last years .840 OPS in Boro, just a .724 OPS in Jupiter, 42bb to 117k

48. J.T. Restko
Traded to Texas for pitcher Jeremiah Haar

47. Ryan Anetsberger
Disappointing season for the Illinois State standout, .719OPS in Boro, broken thumb cut his season to just 257 at bats.

46. Garrett Parcell
Followed up dominant '07 Jamestown performance with 3.49era, 17sv, .255baa All Star performance in Greensboro

45. Chris Mobley
Most underrated reliever in the system, 2.93era, 58.1ip, .224baa in Carolina

44. Bryan Petersen
Breakout season, .301/.381/.541 in 300 ab in Boro before 12 game callup to Carolina. Finished season in Jupiter with a not so hot .265/.339/.355

43. Burke Badenhop
Hit around in his major league debut, 6.08era, 47.1ip, 1.61whip, never made it back up after demotion/injury

42. Alejandro Sanabia
Took a step back as righties went from hitting .212 to .278 off him. In 19 starts, he had a 4.93era, .273baa, 19bb to 75k. Had 25 inning scoreless streak in late July.

41. Justin Jacobs
Sweet swing has yet to show results as he hit just .230/.305/.391 in 235 at bats. 23bb to 57k

40. Jose Ceballos
Spent most of the year in extended spring training. In 114 at bats between GCL, Jupiter and Boro, Jose hit .246/.294/.342

39. Rodolfo Encarnacion
Did not throw a pitch in 2008 (shoulder)

38. Andrew Paulauskas
Threw just 10 innings this season in the GCL, 20h 21r(19er) 8bb 10k .408baa

37. Jeff Allison
A real bright spot overall, even if his numbers are unspectacular. He went 9-8 with a 5.22era, .260baa. Clearly got tired down the stretch too.

36. Jameson Smith
Disappointing year with the bat, .234/.340/.292. Had a horrific first 2 months, scorching June, horrific final 2 months.

35. Andy Jenkins
The ultimate utility man has met his match in Carolina as he hit just .259/.305/.380. The power just never came around (25xbh in 347ab)

34. Brett Hayes
Poor year offensively, .256/.297/.411 in 297 at bats combined between Carolina and Albuquerque. This is with a boost in his numbers because of a .796 OPS in the PCL

33. Steven Cishek
Unlucky in Boro, 3-5 with a 4.66era in 75.1ip. He gave up 69 hits, walked 34 and struck out 75 with a .246baa.

32. Don Czyz
Breakout year for him before going down with injury on June 4th. In 30.2ip, 2.35era, .217baa, 6bb and 37 strikeouts

-----Edit: Retired after tearing tricep

31. Kris Harvey
In 209 at bats, hit .148/.228/.287 with 6hr 21bb 71k. Marlins since turned him into a pitcher, 10.1ip 13 11r(8er) 10bb 7k .325baa between GCL and Boro

30. Todd Doolittle
Dominant at times in Carolina, had a 5-3 record with a 3.27era, 44ip and a .229baa. He gave up 38 hits 20 walks and struck out 61

29. Torre Langley
Struggled in Boro, .209/.249/.345 with 14 walks and 45 strikeouts

28. Chris Leroux
Solid first half, dominant second half, .208baa (.225baa on the year)

27. Thomas Hickman
He's been getting the Jeremy Hermida comp since he was drafted, but he has yet to put up any kind of numbers. This year in Boro showed some improvement with a .231/.338/.429 line in 338 at bats

26. Logan Morrison
As if him destroying Boro in 2007 wasn't enough, he demolished the FSL to a tune of .332/.402/.494 with 57bb to 80k. Playing the outfield in the AFL, has a 1.208 OPS in 87 AB

25. Kyle Winters
Solid in Jupiter. 6-4 with a 3.68era, .242baa in 110 innings. 50bb to 65k

24. Jesus Delgado
Got hit hard in AAA, much better in AA. 5-2 with a 3.45era, .229baa in 57.1 innings. Saw 2 innings of a major league call up

23. Graham Taylor
Continued to baffle hitters between Jupiter and Carolina going a combined 13-7 with a 3.40era, .274baa in 164ip

22. Greg Burns
Huge disappointment for me, .244/.351/.326. Still like the walk rate (61) but has struck out 143 times in 377 ab.

21. Harvey Garcia
Did not throw a pitch in 2008 (shoulder)

20. Jacob Marceaux
When he finds the plate, he's devestating in AA (.222baa). Walked 39 his first 39 innings, just 3 his last 20 innings.

19. Scott Nestor
claimed off waivers by Philadelphia

18. Jai Miller
It was expected that Miller would tear up the PCL, this wasn't the case as he hit .267/.349/.472 in 434 at bats. Was called up to the bigs, struck out in his only at bat

17. Brett Carroll
Hit .418/.480/.896(slg) in 67 at bats in AAA. Saw 17 at bats, in 25 games with the Marlins. Couldn't find a groove. Hurt his shoulder crashing into the wall, and missed much of the remainder of the year

16. Dallas Trahern
Sinkerball wasn't sinking much in the PCL. Went 5-11, with a 6.16era and a .315baa in 111ip

15. Hector Correa
Second year in a row he got smacked around in the SALLY (10ip 15h 8r(7er) 1bb 9k). Battled nagging injuries all year long

14. John Raynor
Followed up awesome Boro campaign with impressive Carolina one: .312/.402/.489 48sb

13. Gaby Sanchez
Won MVP of the Southern League, hitting .314/.404/.513 in 478 at bats. Even stole 17 bases

12. Mike Stanton
One of the youngest players in the SALLY, his .293/.381/.611 line is beyond impressive. Easily a top 10-12 positional prospect in baseball

11. Eulogio de la Cruz
Decent season in the PCL, 13-8 with a 4.34era, .253baa in 147.1ip. Got hit hard in 9 innings of major league work

10. Scott Cousins
Missed about a month and a half because he smashed into a wall and got hurt.... still put in a solid 191 at bats in Jupiter: .304/.370/.513. Real intriguing 5 tool prospect

9. Sean West
All the way back from torn labrum surgery. 6-5 with a 2.41era, .224baa in 100.2ip in Jupiter

8. Matt Dominguez
Started season late due to mono, still had nice season anyway. .296/.354/.499 in 345 at bats

7. Gaby Hernandez
Traded to Seattle for LHP Arhur Rhodes

6. Ryan Tucker
Absolutely dominant in Carolina this year with a 5-3 record, 1.58era and a .195baa in 91 innings. Got hit hard in 6 starts with Marlins, sent down and became set up man.

5. Chris Coghlan
Strong showing in Carolina, .298/.396/.429 with 34 stolen bases, 67 walks and just 65 strikeouts in 483 at bats

4. Brett Sinkbeil
Massive disappointment. 5-9 with a 5.02era, .306baa, 143.1ip

3. Aaron Thompson
Another disappointment, had trouble repeating his delivery and eventually ended up missing 2 months due to injury. Finished 2-5 with a 5.62era, .331baa in 81.2ip. In the bullpen right now in the AFL, should still remain a starter

2. Chris Volstad
The former first round pick went 4-4 with a 3.36era and a .251baa in 91 innings at Carolina. He struck out 56 and walked 30. Phenominal in the Marlins rotation going 6-4 with a 2.88era, .240baa in 84.1ip

1. Cameron Maybin
A real streaky hitter, Cam hit .277/.375/.456 in 390 at bats in Carolina. Spent some time on the DL. Called up to the bigs, got 16 hits in 32 at bats. Still an elite prospect.