Marlins Hit List

Very similar to Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet, but purely Marlin related.

Starting Five

No. 1 Mike Stanton, RF Double-A Jacksonville Suns

Age: 20

What He’s Done: .338/.489/.789 (71ab) 9hr 20bb 19k

Gimme More: The 20 year old phenom is tearing apart the Southern League. He leads the league in OBP, OPS, homeruns, and RBI. He’s seemingly has nothing left to prove in Double-A especially with the news coming out that he has been intentionally walked a few times as pitchers are petrified of him. It’s only a matter of weeks (maybe even days) until he is down in New Orleans.

Editor’s Note: He just hit #10 as this was being written

No. 2 Alejandro Sanabia, SP Double-A Jacksonville Suns

Age: 21

What He’s Done: 2-0, 0.71era, 25.1ip, 17h, 1hr, 7bb, 23k, .185baa

Gimme More: Sanabia didn’t get too much pub coming off a solid season in Jupiter but he’s been absolutely lights out in 4 starts with Jacksonville. The main reason for taking his game to the next level appears to be his changeup that he has near perfected over the last 2 seasons. Keeping Southern League hitters off balance, Sanabia has yet to give up more than 5 hits in any game this season.

No. 3 Logan Morrison, 1B Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs

Age: 22

What He’s Done: .300/.383/.600 (40ab) 2hr 6bb 6k

Gimme More: LoMo came into Spring Training with a chance to win the everyday first base job but lost out to fellow prospect Gaby Sanchez. At the end of the day, this could be a blessing for everyone involved. Morrison has gotten off to a hot start in the Pacific Coast League but a collision with a player last week has put him on the 7 day DL with a shoulder injury. He is set to have an MRI this week.

No. 4 Ryan Tucker, SP Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs

Age:22

What He’s Done: 0-1, 2.70era, 16.2ip, 17h, 0hr, 4bb, 11k, .258baa

Gimme More: Tucker is starting to figure out that hitters in Double A and higher can sit on that 95mph fastball if that is the only pitch you can run through the strikezone. He now operates with a much improved slider and it is keeping hitters off balance enough for him to have some success early on in the season. It will be interesting to see if the organization keeps him in the AAA rotation, a place where he clearly looks more comfortable than out of the bullpen.

No. 5 Osvaldo Martinez, SS Double-A Jacksonville Suns

Age: 22

What He’s Done: .351/.438/.416 (77ab) 5xbh 11bb 11k

Gimme More: Coming off a disappointing season in Jupiter, Martinez has come out guns-a-blazin in Jupiter. He got a chance to go to his first major league camp in March and definitely opened some eyes with his smooth defense and baserunning prowess. He does a good job of working the count and while he doesn’t walk as much as you’d like, he’s well on pace to break his personal record for walks in a season.

Hey, it’s a start

Kyle Skipworth, C Low-A Greensboro Grasshoppers

Age: 20

What He’s Done: .217/.308/.435 (69ab) 3hr 9bb 22k

Gimme More: You can’t really sugar coat it. Right now, former 1^st round pick Kyle Skipworth has been a massive disappointment in everyone’s eyes. The good news is that he’s still extremely young but at some point it would be nice if he would produce some. He’s still striking out way too much but his walk rate is much improved and he is showing some good power at the plate. It goes without saying but the average needs to come up, especially considering that half his games are in a hitter’s park.

For Shame:

High-A Jupiter Hammerheads Hitters

Gimme More: There is no Jupiter player with atleast 23 at bats that has a .723 OPS or better. That’s absolutely pathetic. The poster boy might as well be prospect Jake Smolinski. The guy that better make us forget about Josh Willingham is hitting .200/.271/.320 in 75 at bats with just 1 homerun. He has 7 walks and 20 strikeouts. Here’s a guy that struck out just 45 times in 279 at bats last season.

Hangin’ in There:

Chad James, SP Low-A Greensboro Grasshoppers

Age: 19

What He’s Done: 0-3, 4.30era, 14.2ip, 13h, 1hr, 7bb, 14k, .232baa

Gimme More: The Marlins 2009 1^st round pick was thrown right into the fire this year by making his debut in Greensboro. Although his era isn’t sparking now, his peripherals are quite sexy. As one of the younger players in the South Atlantic League, James has held his own in 3 starts and in his previous start he went 6 innings, giving up just 4 hits while walking 2. Of course him being on the 7 day DL right now, doesn’t help matters, it will be interesting to see if he can continue to build off this strong start to his career.

What’s A Man Gotta Do?:

Brad Stone, SP/RP Low-A Jacksonville Suns

Age: 26

What He’s Done: 1-1, 2.89era, 18.2ip, 11h, 0hr, 6bb 10k, .167baa

Gimme More: Since being drafted in the 12^th round by the Marlins back in 2006, Brad Stone has done one thing. That would be getting hitters out. He has pitched at every level of the organization besides the bigs and sports a career 2.71era, 1.16whip in 282.2 innings of work. It looks like he’s just organizational filler at this point which is a shame as he’s proved that he can be an effective arm out of the bullpen in the minor leagues.

Marlins Top 50 Prospects

No write ups this year, and I realize it's nearly May but here are Future Fish's Top 50 Marlins prospects heading into the 2010 baseball season.

1. Michael Stanton
2. Matt Dominguez
3. Logan Morrison
4. Kyle Skipworth
5. Chad James
6. Jake Smolinski
7. Gaby Sanchez (ML roster)
8. Scott Cousins
9. Ryan Tucker
10. Brad Hand
11. Bryan Petersen
12. Kyle Kaminska
13. Alejandro Sanabia
14. Jhan Marinez
15. Jose Ceda
16. Bryan Berglund
17. Dan Jennings
18. Isaac Galloway
19. Kyle Winters
20. Marcell Ozuna
21. Jay Buente
22. Steven Cishek
23. Edgar Olmos
24. Tom Koehler
25. Chris Leroux (ML roster)
26. Thomas Hickman
27. Pete Andrelczyk
28. Graham Johnson
29. Arquimedes Caminero
30. Hunter Jones
31. Jay Voss (traded to Detroit for Nate Robertson)
32. Garrett Parcell
33. Johnny Dorn
34. Tom Wood (ML roster)
35. Brett Sinkbeil
36. Jeff Allison
37. Kris Harvey
38. Jai Miller(DFA'd, now with KC)
39. Curtis Petersen
40. Rodolfo Encarnacion
41. John Raynor (drafted by Pirates in Rule V, recently DFA'd)
42. Wade Korpi
43. Blake Brewer
44. Josh Hodges
45. Chase Austin
46. Marquise Cooper
47. Kyle Jensen
48. Elih Villanueva
49. Carlos Paulino
50. Erick Carillo

End of season review: Hitters

NOLA (AAA)

Cameron Maybin
August - 56 AB, .286/.328/.429 (.756), 4/11 BB/K, 1 SB
Season - 298 AB, .319/.399/.463 (.862), 3 HR, 26 2B/3B, 38/58 BB/K, 8/2 SB

Was banged up a little bit which explains the decreased ABs. He is now with the MLB club for the rest of the season. All and all, a pretty good year in AAA. If he hits 60+ extra base hits hits in the majors over 650 AB, he’s going to be one hell of a player. Hopefully more of them turn into homeruns, and those SB numbers go up as well, but this was an excellent year for Cam. He should be penned into center field in 2010.

Gaby Sanchez
August - 66 AB, .318/.458/.576 (1.034), 5 HR, 15/5 BB/K
Season - 298 AB, .292/.377/.470 (.847), 14 HR, 38/42 BB/K, 5/0 SB

Organization won’t let him play at the MLB level, but he continues to rake. The BB/K is pretty excellent, and this could be a .775-.825 OPSing player at the big league level. Which is a very solid starter. Morrison may have more upside, but it should be his job to lose in Spring training for 1B. He deserves the opportunity.

Jai Miller
August - 91 AB, .253/.346/.495 (.841), 6 HR, 11/35 BB/K
Season - 323 AB, .282/.353/.502 (.855), 15 HR, 35/99 BB/K, 6/3 SB

Nothing has changed report to report. Still too many strikeouts. This is the next in the Reggie Abercrombie-Charlton Jimerson line of AAAA toolsy outfielders who will get a few shots in the bigs, but probably aren’t good enough to hold down a backup job because lack of contact. Jai has to be on our 25 man roster in 2010, as he is out of options, so it’s likely he is back for Spring Training 2010 and he must win a job to stay in the organization.

Alejandro De Aza
August - 58 AB, .293/.379/.534 (.913), 2 HR, 6/15 BB/K, 0/2 SB
Season - 258 AB, .295/.359/.508 (.867), 8 HR, 23/51 BB/K, 8/5 SB

Impressive numbers. I still don't like him that much but he should get a shot at a roster spot in Spring '10.

John Raynor
August - 85 AB, .306/.388/.459 (.847), 2 HR, 10/19 BB/K, 4/2 SB
Season - 423 AB, .258/.327/.362 (.689), 6 HR, 39/114 BB/K, 18/8 SB

Ending strong which is nice to see. He’ll be more than likely placed on the 40 man roster before the Rule5 draft and sent back to NOLA in 2010. Those strikeouts are a bit worrisome though.

Brett Hayes
August - 68 AB, .176/.250/.235 (.485), 1 HR, 6/20 BB/K
Season - 322 AB, .239/.281/.323 (.604), 4 HR, 20/66 BB/K, 2/0 SB

Up with the club for September, back to NOLA in April as our 3rd catcher. After this year, he has no chance at the backup roll for 2010. The lack of bat is scary.

Brett Carroll
August - 76 AB, .276/.329/.539 (.869), 5 HR, 6/16 BB/K, 0/1 SB
Season - 103 AB, .233/.295/.427 (.722), 5 HR, 8/23 BB/K, 0/1 SB

BC is out of options after this season, so he will more than likely be the Marlins 4th or 5th outfielder for next year. Hopefully they give him more playing time, as he clearly is the best defensive outfielder in the organization and he has power potential. If he can OPS a mid 700 in a platoon role, that’s a very good player to have around.

JACKSONVILLE (AA)

Bryan Petersen
August - 98 AB, .337/.411/.510 (.921), 3 HR, 13/7 BB/K, 1/6 SB/CS
Season - 410 AB, .302/.375/.422 (.797), 7 HR, 49/66 BB/K, 12/12 SB/CS

He’s been on fire for three months, but the fact he is an outfielder, and pretty much a corner outfielder, makes that lack of HR pop a bit concerning for the longterm. The BB/K and average easily suggest he’ll hit MLB pitching, but even if it’s .290/.360/.440, we’re talking an average OF as the HIGH, with no real longterm potential to turn into an above average producer (which is the goal of every position). I think by 2011, he and Cousins will be in a platoon in LF/RF (depending on where Stanton and Morrison land), but I can only get excited in a “Matt Murton” kind of way, and not as a future starter kind of way.

Logan Morrison
August - 99 AB, .293/.393/.434 (.828), 1 HR, 16/17 BB/K, 3/2 SB/CS
Season - 257 AB, .280/.419/.459 (.878), 8 HR, 61/42 BB/K, 7/3 SB/CS

It’s pretty exciting that his “bad” month is “Chris Coghlan.” Because of the low quantity of ABs, I’d like to see him play winter ball somewhere in the DR, and then get 200 PA in NOLA before the inevitable callup. He will be placed on the 40 man roster by the Rule5 draft.

Scott Cousins
August - 93 AB, .269/.340/.495 (.834), 3 HR, 10/19 BB/K, 5/4 SB/CS
Season - 463 AB, .259/.322/.443 (.765), 39 2B/3B, 12 HR, 42/99 BB/K, 26/9 SB/CS

Ending strong. The strikeouts are a big concern, and you’d like to have seen an extra 15-20 BB on the year, but this was an OK year. Not the breakout we hoped, but he still holds his own and shows enough promise to potentially turn into a longterm starter. Look at the huge quantity of XBH, the speed, and remember he is the second best defensive outfielder we have next to BC. He will be going to the AFL, and probably promoted to AAA next year. He will have to go on the 40 man roster before the Rule5 draft too.

Mike Stanton
August - 100 AB, .210/.281/.390 (.671), 4 HR, 11/34 BB/K
Season AA - 278 AB, .234/.310/.453 (.763), 14 HR, 27/93 BB/K, 1/1 SB
Season A+ - 180 AB, .294/.390/.578 (.968), 12 HR, 28/45 BB/K, 2/2 SB

I’m going to say a .763 OPS as a 19 year old in AA is pretty impressive. Obviously need to see the whiffs go down, walks go up, and add at least 50 points in average, but he held his own which is all you can ask for. He will probably start 2010 in AA again, and if he comes out like he did in Jupiter this year, see a summer promotion to AAA. I still think the first we see him is a September callup in 2010, and maybe become a starting option if everything goes perfect summer 2011. I think it’s likely he’ll be a top 5 overall prospect in MLB when Baseball America releases their new list in the fall.

Matt Dominguez
August/Season AA - 82 AB, .183/.280/.280 (.560), 1 HR, 11/19 BB/K
Season A+ - 381 AB, .262/.333/.420 (.753), 11 HR, 38/68 BB/K, 1/0 SB

Brutal promotion, but he was tearing up A+ (had a horrible start, awesome end of his team in Jupiter which explains the low overall line. Also remember park factors). He will begin in AA next year, and probably stay there the entire season.

JUPITER (A+)

Literally no one of interest.

GREENSBORO (A)

Thomas Hickman
August/Season - 76 AB, .355/.473/.750 (1.223), 7 HR, 16/22 BB/K, 2/2 SB

Blast from the past is killing baseballs. Very old for this level, I’m guessing they move him to Jacksonville to start 2010 and maybe he can reclaim some of his prospect status. If you don’t know who Hickman is, he was considered a “Hermida Lite” when drafted because he walks a ton. But Hickman also likes to strikeout every 3rd AB which really hurts his prospect status.

Jake Smolinski
August - 44 AB, .409/.458/.545 (1.004), 2/8 BB/K
Season - .285/.380/.449 (.829), 7 HR, 36/44 BB/K, 2/5 SB

Got banged up a little, but was ending the year really strong before he did. I hope this is not a trend where he is injury prone, because when he plays he produces pretty well. Very solid season in GBO coming back from a major arm injury. He will probably open in Jupiter and start comparing comparisons to Coghlan if he relatively repeats the success of this season.

Isaac Galloway
August - 95 AB, .263/.283/.368 (.651), 1 HR, 6/28 BB/K, 7/2 SB
Season - 313 AB, .265/.293/.380 (.673), 3 HR, 12//83 BB/K, 14/8 SB

All tools. Way too many Ks. He probably repeats Greensboro. It’s to early to tell, but this may be the next Greg Burns who everyone loves athletically, but just doesn’t put it together as a player. But he’s very young so this could turn around real quick.

Kyle Skipworth
August - 17 AB, .235/.316/.647 (.963), 2 HR, 2/4 BB/K
Season - 264 AB, .208/.263/.348 (.612), 7 HR, 18/91 BB/K, 1/2 SB

Got hurt, but he hit some HR. Anything positive. He will start again in Greensboro, and it just has to be better. He’s the biggest bust of the 2008 draft as of right now.

JAMESTOWN (A-)

No one of interest.

GCL Marlins (R)

Marcell Ozuna
August - 91 AB, .264/.349/.396 (.744), 2 HR, 13/26 BB/K
Season - 214 AB, .313/.377/.486 (.863), 5 HR, 22/52 BB/K, 4/2 SB

Slowed down a bit, but looking OK. That’s a lot of strikeouts, but he’s extremely young. He’ll probably get some time in Jamestown and Greensboro next year where the real talent evaluation will begin.

A more in-depth look at the Marlins pitchers headed out to the desert

As of today, the three pitchers the Marlins are sending to the Arizona Fall League are all relievers. There's a very good chance that if healthy, the fourth Marlins pitcher sent will be Kyle Winters, but he is still recovering from surgery.

Jay Voss: Big 6'4 lefty, combined 2-1 with a 2.79era, .222baa in 48.1 innings between High-A and Double A. Has struck out 43, walked 17 and given up 39 hits. Marlins signed him for $80,000 as an 8th round pick in the 2007 draft. He pitched mostly as a starter in 2007-08 before becoming a fulltime reliever in 2009.

Jay Buente: Drafted by Marlins in the 14th round in 2006 out of Purdue University. 6'2 righty, combined 4-2 with a 3.01era, .234baa in 74.2 innings between Double A and Triple A. Career 3.31era, 1.26whip in 163.2ip coming into 2009.

Garrett Parcell: Combined 1-0 with a 0.53era, .143baa in 33.2 innings between High-A and Double A. Was one of seven San Diego State Aztecs to be taken in the 2007 amateur draft. There were some that believed the Marlins selected him too high, as he was expected to last past the 12th round. In his final season at SD State, he only threw 9.2 innings, giving up 7 runs on 11 hits while walking 5. The low inning total was due to an arm injury which hampered him throughout the season. Before transferring to San Diego State, Garrett spent two seasons at Cypress Junior College, leading the team in saves both seasons, striking out 25 batters in 24 2/3 innings pitched his sophomore year. He was named to the All-Orange Empire Conference second team during his junior college career. Prior to the Marlins drafting him in 2007, Parcell was drafted in the 41st round by the Seattle Mariners in 2004 before deciding to attend SDSU.

The 6′5 Parcell has an easy delivery with a classic 3/4 arm slot that allows him to repeat his throwing motion. His fastball runs in the high 80s, low 90s range but it’s his 2 other pitches which allow him to miss as many bats as he does. He can throw his changeup as low as 69mph and his curveball in the mid 70s. He mixes all 3 pitches in well and that led to him to great success in his first tour of duty in Jamestown in 2007.

Marlins headed to the Arizona Fall League

Marlins will play for the Mesa Solar Sox (along with prospects from the Angels, Cubs, Red Sox, and Twins) with Bo Porter managing

We have 4 spots for pitchers, but only have used 3 at this point (Kyle Winters is probably the 4th choice, depends on his health)

Jay Buente, Jay Voss and Garrett Parcell

Matt Dominguez will go along with Michael Stanton, Bryan Petersen and Greg Burns

Greg Burns is on the taxi squad, meaning he will only be activated on Wednesdays and Saturdays.



Arizona Fall League Player Eligibility
Roster size is established at 35 players per team.
Each major-league organization is required to provide seven players subject to the
following eligibility requirements:
• All Triple-A and Double-A players are eligible provided they are on
Double-A rosters no later than August 17.
• Two players below the Double-A level are allowed for 2009.
• Foreign players are allowed as long as the player is not on his native
country’s primary protected player list.
• No players with more than two years of credited major league service
as of August 31 (including major league disabled list time) are eligible
except a team may select one player picked in the most recently
concluded Major League Rule 5 Draft.
• Each team is allotted 20 pitchers but only 15 are designated “eligible”
each game day.

Arbitration Files: The Bullpen

Matt Lindstrom
2007-2008, 134 G, 6-7, 5 S, 33 Holds, 124ish IP, 3.10ish era, 1.38ish whip, 105 K
2009, 41 G, 36 IP, 2-1, 14 S, 3 H, 5.75 era, 1.69 whip, 29 K
Reasonable Projection Season Line - 50 G, 45 IP, 3-2, 20 S, 5 H, still really high era/whip
Career - Around 185 Games, 170 IP, sub 4 era, 1.45ish whip, 25 saves, 40 holds

Leo Nunez
2005-2008 106 G, 160 IP, 9-7, 0 S, 10 H, 5ish era, 1.40ish whip, 110ish K
2009 58 G, 53.1 IP, 3-4, 14 S, 13 H, 4.05 era, 1.24 whip, 49 K

Reasonable Projection Season Line - 75 G, 70 IP, 4-5, 15 S, 18 H, 3.50 era, 1.20 whip, 70 K
Career - Around 185 Games, 230 IP, mid 4 era, 1.40 whip, 15 S, 30 Holds

Reynel Pinto
2006-2008 - 151 G, 153 IP, 4-9, 2 S, 36 H, high 3 era, low 1.40s whip, 150ish K
2009 - 56 G, 47 IP, 3-1, 9 H, 2.87 era, 1.51 whip, 46 K
Reasonable Projection Season Line - 70 G, 60 IP, 4-2, 2.90 era, 1.50 whip, 60 K, 12 H
Career - Around 220 Games, 220 IP, mid 3 era, 1.45ish whip, 2 Saves, 45-50 holds, 200+ K

Scott Proctor
2008 - 38.2 IP, 6.05 era, 1.68 whip
2009 - Injured
Career - 262 G, 297 IP, 16-10, 1 S, 48 H, 4.42 era, 1.40 whip, 256 K

A basic primer of recent RP comparables.

Years 4-5-6 salary trends

Grant Balfour $.500, $1.4
Scott Downs $.705, $1.025, $2.25
Brian Shouse - $.725, $.975
Frank Francisco $.775, $1.6
Jason Grilli $.8
Jason Frasor - $.825, $1.125, $1.45
Matt Thornton $.875, $1.325
Dan Wheeler $.930, $2.1, $2.8
Matt Guerrier $.950k, $1.475
Jesse Crain $1.05
Heath Bell $1.2
CJ Wilson $1.85
Mike Gonzalez $2.25

Let’s start from the top. Mike Gonzalez was awesome in Pitt, doing sub 3 era, 1.22 whip over 50 innings, got 24 saves in year 3. If Lindstrom gets every save here on out, he can match the saves total (and Gonzalez prior years were loogy-holds years, so this is similar to Lindstrom as well), so this is the PEAK. However, Lindstrom has the double era, and the atrocious most recent season. So let’s find a less awesome Gonzalez.

CJ Wilson in 2008 - 24 S, 6.02 era, 1.64 whip, and the two years prior very solid 115 IP of work at a 3.5 era, 1.30 whip, 22 H, etc. Career wise, CJ pitched 2005-2008 in 184 G, mid 4 era, 1.40+ whip, 24 S, 27 H, and around 170 K. This kind of looks like Lindstrom. Except Lindstrom has better career ERA rates (ballpark factor, but I don’t know if arbiters will care for that argument), and more holds which are becoming slightly more ‘sexier’ as agents find ways to get middle relievers paid.

To show how dramatic these save stats are, look at Heath Bell, unquestionably great. He is coming off back to back seasons which combine into 175 IP, a 1.10 whip, a low 3 era, an absurd 57 holds, 2 Saves, and 173 K. He makes less than CJ Wilson, because CJ Wilson has 20 more saves. Yea, the save stat is stupid.

Basically, going to stop with Lindstrom right here, and I am very surprised at where I am projecting this number. Based on CJ Wilson, Lindstrom is going to get paid quite handsomely. He has a better overall resume than CJ. The only thing CJ has is, more saves in year 3. This projection is based on Lindstrom getting 5-6 more saves, but overall isn’t probably going to change much if he doesn’t get him. The change would move from the medium to the low.

Low - $1.65 million. He does not get any saves the rest of the year
Medium - $1.85 million. He gets CJ’s contract and his better career rates make up the gap of not getting more saves in year 3
High - $2 million. Lindstrom is balls awesome the rest of the year and gets more saves.

So let’s move down to Leo Nunez now. Who is getting saves to. He is 1/2 the saves of everyone else, low teens.

Wheeler in 2006 had a 9 S/25 H year, and career wise had 14 saves entering arbitration. 4th year arbitration got him $930K, and he had really wicked back to back 70 IP, 2.50 era, 1.05 whipish seasons leading up to that. RP are insane! I love how CJ Wilson makes twice the money as Wheeler because he got 15 more saves. So, Leo does not have Wheeler’s resume, but he may end the year with some more saves if the Marlins opt to pitch him as closer versus Lindstrom. Let’s end Leo here, and assuming no horrific era explosion

Low - $1,000,000. Leo gets no more saves
Medium - $1,300,000. Leo gets 5-6 more saves.
High - $1,600,000. Leo gets 10 more saves.

So now we’re down to Pinto, just an ordinary non-save getting relief pitcher (that happens to love putting baserunners on like they're going out of style).

I like Thornton here, for similar career rates (3.79, 1.35 whip, tons of holds, Under 5 Saves pre year 4), the lefty factor, and games played. Pinto has played a lot for a RP. He’s not as good as Thornton from the whip factor, so he probably won’t get all the way to him, but you can see the range of all of these guys falling into the 700-850k range, so that seems safe for pinto.

Low - $750k. Whip hurts him
Medium - $850k. All the games played add up to one of the higher RP comps.
High - None.

So now we’re at Proctor. He made $1.15 in 2008, coming off 180 IP and an absurd 135 games over 2006-2007. All good rates, around a 3.50 era, 1.30 whip, 45 holds, a save, etc. Really nice workhorse reliever, and it shows you that ‘saves’ aren’t determinative because he got over Wheeler’s 9 saves, with an extra 50 innings of work or so. Then in 2009, he was non-tendered because he sucked, and was surely going to get a bump to the $2-2.25 million range. Marlins signed him for $750k.

I cannot think of any awesome RP for two years, crappy relief pitcher for 1 year, injured for entire next season, and then 6th year arbitration eligible RP comp. If you can, awesome. So I’m just going to guesstimate looking at some of those 6th year salaries (Guerrier and Frasor $1.4, Downs $2.2, Wheeler $2.8), where Proctor would land. Career good, recent two years bad. He’d at least get over $1 million. Maybe even a bit higher. But I’m going to just wild guess about $1.2 million. Making him a clear DFA for this organization.

Thomas Hickman : Revenge of the Fallen

I don't really know what the title of this article means, but I liked it. So whatever.

With the 63rd overall pick in the 2006 draft, the Marlins selected outfielder Thomas Hickman. A two way player in high school, the Marlins decided he was more projectable as a hitter, so pitching was quickly scrapped from his resume. Like many left handed hitters, he has a smooth stroke and allows ball to travel deep before centering them. His first 175 professional at bats with the Gulf Coast League Marlins were promising as he hit .263/.377/.411. After that season, some in the Marlins organization began calling him "Baby Hermida” because of his swing and good eye at the plate.

Signing for $575,000 out of Pepperell HS in Georgia, Hickman hit .183/.278/.256 in 164 at bats while in short season Jamestown. On the one hand, he again showed a strong walk rate; on the other hand, he also struck out at an astronomical pace. Making any kind of contact was an issue for Thomas, and when he did get a hit, rarely did he provide any power. Not blessed with blazing speed, he’ll be relegated to one of the corner outfield spots, although he has good instincts. Because of his strong arm, to go along with promising power, he could develop into a real good right fielder. These things were also said about the Marlins current right fielder, Jeremy Hermida. Of note in his season in Greensboro in 2008, his OPS improved every month, culminating in a .872 August. He also managed to have a .250 increase in OPS (.897) with runners on base as opposed to the bases empty in just about the same amount of at bats.

Because of his youth and his walk rate, there is still a bit of promise for Hickman as scouts believe as he matures and gains more muscle, he will show significant gap and homerun power. He has a good confidence about him and the Marlins love his makeup. Many believe he will be a prototype 2 hole hitter in the majors, but he needs to make better contact. Just 21 years old, Thomas should have spent most of this season in High-A Jupiter, but only saw 70 at bats where he hit .129/.274/.229 with an amazing 33 strikeouts. He then got hurt (when you swing and miss so often, you're bound to sprain something) and when he returned, he went back to Low-A Greensboro. Since his return, Hickman has been en fuego hitting .333/.467/.729 in his first 15 games in the SALLY. He's walked 12 times while striking out 12 times in that span.

Yea, him repeating Greensboro is not impressive at all but considering how bad he was earlier in the year, it looks like there's still some potential with Hickman after all. We'll have to see how he finishes his season as there is just a few games left in the minor league year. He was Future Fish's 26th ranked prosect to start 2009, he'll probably be in the same company heading into 2010.