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Fighting Billfish: Marlins 1st round choices since birth

After reading about the Reds last 1st round picks since 1990, I decided I would do one for my beloved Florida Marlins.

and without further adieu....

1992: 28th - Charles "CJ" Johnson - Catcher - University of Miami

Currently: Being shopped by the Colorado Rockies, no one seems to want his ginormous contract.

Johnson played with the Fish from 1994-1998, in which 31 games in he was moved to LA along with a bunch of other all stars for Mike Piazza, who was eventually traded to the Mets. CJ came back to the Fish as a FA in 2001, but then was moved to the Rockies the winter of 2002 for Juan Pierre and Tim Spooneybarger(via ATL)

MLB Exp: 11+(1169 games)

Analysis: CJ was everything he was cracked up to be. He won a GG 4 times from 1995-98. He was also a 2 time all star(1997+2001). He was a pivotal member of the 1997 Championship team.

1993: 27th - Marc Valdes - RHP - University of Florida

Currently: No idea. Has not been in the majors since 2001 when he was last granted free agency.

Valdes made his debut in 1995, but clearly couldn't hack it. He was selected off waivers by the Expos in the winter of 1996.

MLB Exp: 6 years(144 games, 22 as a starter)

Analysis: Bust. Only had one season of his 6 with an ERA less than 4.00

1994: 5th-Josh Booty-3B-Louisiana State University

Currently: No clue. Maybe he is trying to catch on with a football team. He was a stud QB for LSU back in the day.

Josh was up with the big club in 1996 where he had 2 at bats, 1997 where he had 5 at bats, and 1998 where he had 19 at bats. Hey, he had a career .367 OBP.

MLB Exp: 3 years(13 games)

Analysis: Bust. After realizing he was not "the man" in baseball, he left and hooked on with a couple of NFL teams.

1995: 6th-Jaime Jones-OF-Rancho Bernardo HS, San Diego, CA

Currently: Not sure, but last year he was with the Royals AA team, Wichita.

Jones just never got it together in the minors and has since bounced from the Marlins, to the DBacks and now the Royals.

MLB Exp: None

Analysis: Bust

wow what a run the Marlins went on in those 3 years

1996: 9th-Mark Kotsay-OF-Cal State Fullerton

Currently:Starting his 2nd season patrolling CF for the Oakland A's.

Kotsay dominated in college, with some gaudy numbers .422-21-90. He was also named Baseball America's college player of the decade.  Mark came up with the Fish in 1997, and would become starter in 1998. Was eventually shipped off to the Padres for Matt Clement and Eric Owens.

MLB Exp: 8 seasons(1016 games)

Analysis: One of the better CF in baseball today, Kotsay sports a career .287/.343/.425. Although he never developed into the power threat he was in college, he still shows pop on occasion. After trading Kotsay for Clement, the next year they shipped Clement to Chicago for Dontrelle Willis who won ROY and helped the Marlins to their 2nd title.

1997: 12th-Aaron Akin-RHP-Cowley County Community College

Currently: No Clue. This is becoming a trend.

I cant find anything on him anywhere. The only thing I can find is that Baseball America rated him as the hardest thrower in the draft and this snippet(thanks Hugg) The Marlins' first pick in 1997, right-handed pitcher Aaron Akin, is 2-4 with a 5.03 ERA at Single A Brevard County. Akin has permitted 67 hits and 21 walks in 53 2/3 innings for the Manatees.... That was in 2000, he was still in A ball.

MLB Exp: None

Analysis: B-U-S-T

1998: 27th-Chip Ambres-OF-West Brook HS, Beaumont, TX

Currently: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Red Sox this passed offseason
As cliché as it gets, he never "put it together" while with the Marlins. His career batting average is .253 and he never made it passed AA ball in 6 minor league seasons

MLB Exp: None

Analysis: Up to right now, he is a bust. I guess we will have to see if he ever gets going but I doubt it

1999: 2nd-Josh Beckett-RHP-Spring HS, Spring, TX

Currently: Part of the 2 headed monster of aces the Marlins have (along with AJ Burnett)

Beckett made his debut with the big club in 2001 and was everything as advertised. Everything but the blisters. Luckily for him and the Marlins he seems to have shaken what was putting him on the DL every few weeks.

MLB Exp: 4 seasons(77 games, 74 starts)

Analysis: Although he is just a .500 career pitcher in the majors(26-26), he showed the world what kind of pitcher he can be in 2003 when he was named WS MVP for the Marlins. He has all the makings of a Cy Young if he can just stay healthy.

2000: 1st-Adrian Gonzalez-1B-Eastside HS, Chula Vista, CA

Currently: Adrian is a Texas Ranger, he will probably need another ½ year in AAA before sticking with the big club.

Gonzalez was progressing nicely in the farm system although it seemed that Jason Stokes had passed him on the fast track to the majors. The Marlins were in the thick of things the summer of 2003 and desperately needed another reliever, so Adrian was shipped off to Texas, along with Will Smith and Ryan Snare, for Ugueth Urbina

MLB Exp: 1 year(42 at bats)

Analysis: He could take over at 1B soon for the Rangers if they ever decide where to move one of their million hitters

2001: no pick that year, chose Garrett Berger in 2nd round

2002: 11th-Jeremy Hermida-OF-Wheeler HS, Marietta, GA

Currently: Should be starting his first season at AA Carolina for the Marlins.

Hermida was recently named #18 in Baseball America's Top 100 overall prospects.

MLB Exp: None.... Yet

Analysis: So far so good. Hermida should be on the fast track to the majors and could start Opening Day in RF for the Marlins in 2006

2003: 16th -Jeff Allison-RHP-Veterans Memorial HS, Peabody, MA

Currently: Oy Vey, trying to get over his addiction of the Oxycontin

Who knows if he will ever get back to playing ball again...

MLB Exp: None

Analysis: As of right now, Huge Bust. He was supposed to be the next Josh Beckett

2004: 27th-Taylor Tankersly-LHP-University of Alabama

Currently: Single A ball for the Marlins

`Tank' was rated as the Marlins 7th best prospect by Baseball America this year. He pitched well for Jamestown over the summer

MLB Exp: None

Analysis: So far so good.

0 recs  |  Comment 4 comments

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Go Fish
Nice work Ramp.

Given the ownership turnaround, it's hard to spot any trend or philosophy from just those picks.

The present management tends to go for the best player available early with a focus on a prospect's athletic ability. More interestingly is the club seems to be developing a for its minor league system. New pitchers are being taught to add curves and change-ups to their repertoire. Position players are expected to be versatile, it seems. Really, it's too soon to say that.

Again, great work Ramp.

by rferry on Mar 3, 2005 6:43 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Thanks rferry
Nigel Wilson.... he was the Marlins first pick in the expansion draft?

by Maverick on Mar 3, 2005 7:02 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

good ish
Nice job.  I look forward to seeing some of Tank this year in Greensboro.  I really really hope that Allison can get his life and career back on track.  He's got electrifying stuff.

by AR44 on Mar 3, 2005 7:26 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

nice post
Interesting to see the selections remembering there have been three different groups running this team. That 2000 draft was so thin you guys should take a look at that full draft sometime.

by Jhonny Peralta on Mar 3, 2005 7:45 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

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