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.