Florida Marlins Top 20 Prospects for 2008

by John Sickels on Dec 16, 2025 12:28 AM EST in News Comment 50 comments

All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change.

Cameron Maybin, OF, Grade A-
Ryan Tucker, RHP, Grade B
Aaron Thompson, LHP, Grade B
Chris Volstad, RHP, Grade B
Gaby Hernandez, RHP, Grade B
Chris Coghlan, 2B, Grade B
Matt Dominguez, 3B, Grade B
Eulegio De La Cruz, RHP, Grade B-
Brett Sinkbeil, RHP, Grade B-
Gaby Sanchez, 1B, Grade B-
Kyle Winters, RHP, Grade C+ (major sleeper)
Sean West, LHP, Grade C+ (want to see if healthy)
Dallas Trahern, RHP, Grade C+
Scott Cousins, OF, Grade C+
John Raynor, OF, Grade C+
Hector Correa, RHP, Grade C+
Logan Morrison, 1B, Grade C+ (intriguing power prospect)
Burke Badenhop, RHP, Grade C
Steve Cishek, RHP, Grade C
Mike Stanton, OF, Grade C (seems way too raw to me to rank higher)

Other Grade C guys (interchangeable with those above) include Derek Blacksher, Greg Burns, Brett Carroll, Jesus Delgado, Harvey Garcia, Kris Harvey, Kyle Kaminska (a sleeper), Torre Langley, Jai Miller, Bryan Petersen, Garrett Purcell, Jameson Smith, and Graham Taylor.

Lots of Grade B pitchers here. Tucker, Thompson, Volstad, and Hernandez are all guys that I like, don't get me wrong, but each of them has at least one serious questionmark on their profile that keeps them out of the B+ category for me at this time. See if you can guess that those issues are for each of them.

Of course, full statistics and reports on over 1,000 other players will be in the 2008 Baseball Prospect Book, now available for pre-order. Ships the first Monday in February!

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Comments

A-

So Votto is just as good as Maybin......as a prospect...

by mlbfan30 on Dec 16, 2025 1:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

No Doubt

Did you see Votto rake at the end of last season. With his swing with very few holes, good strike zone judgement, and mature approach Votto looks to be an All-Star.

by kennythered on Dec 16, 2025 3:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Grading

I imagine position and defensive ability also go into grading a player. By all accounts, Maybin is said to be a future gold glover at a high stress position (not the highest, but highest nevertheless).

The internet's latest attempt at understanding what is going on inside baseball - http://theoutsiderslook.blogspot.com

by bheikoop on Dec 16, 2025 1:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Votto

He is excellent Defensively also and I think it is obvious that 1b is the most underrated defensive position because a good 1b (like DLee for ChiC) can save a lot of your infielders. Votto will be well above average just like Maybin in Center. Gold Gloves are also way overrated because they normally don't even go to the best fielder at the position.
Votto also has a much higher floor, though maybe not a higher ceiling, than Maybin. Maybin could continue to K way too much and bulk up because he is still very youngand become no more than Preston Wilson(without his one Sterioud year). Votto's floor is being a Will Clark type.

by kennythered on Dec 16, 2025 2:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Gold Gloves, Votto and Maybin

I'm aware of the gold glove issue. Although, winning a gold glove or being a gold glove winner is assumed as being the top defensive player at said position. The BBWA don't always get it right, but they try.

I've never heard anything of Votto's fielding. I know he is an excellent hitter, but the assumption is that if a player is playing 1B its because they are not very strong fielders. That aside, the positions up the middle are the most difficult and traditionally the most important. I forget the order off the top of my head but it is something along the lines of SS-2B-C-CF-3B-RF-1B-LF. That is to say, 1B is one of the easiest or least important positions.
An interesting note. Without getting into too much detail I noticed that of the top 5 teams by defensive efficiency in 2007 (Toronto, Boston, ChicagoN, New YorkN and San Diego - as per baseballprospectus.com) four have a top fielding 1B (as per thehardballtimes.com defensive win shares). Not scientific or concrete, simply amusing.
Don't get me wrong, I like Votto on the team and the ballpark he is in.

As for Maybin, its too soon to tell exactly what type of hitter he will become. He has played excellent in his short stint in the minors and the strikeouts may be an 'issue' - that is if you feel strikeouts are an issue, most believe they are just another out.

Question, why is it you set Votto's floor at such a high level, however Maybin, whom has had by all accounts a superior minor league track record, is set at a replacement level type?

The internet's latest attempt at understanding what is going on inside baseball - http://theoutsiderslook.blogspot.com

by bheikoop on Dec 16, 2025 3:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess

I value upper minor league production. Maybin has had no chance I understand that but that still leaves many question marks. Votto has proven himself at these levels answering the questions. On Votto's defense, he started his career as a catcher/3b/cof and was moved to 1b in the lower minors where he has been stellar. (He still plays some corner OF and may even see time in Left on days Dunn is given off ).
I also think you help to prove my point that 1b is one of the most underrated positions on defense. A guy like Overbay or DLee or AGonzales can save a ton of throwing errors during a season. Yes the errors wouldn't go towards them during the season because they are bad throws but if they are saved then it only helps your team overall.
I live in Cincinnati and I love Votto but I love Maybin too as I competed against him while he played for Midland and we are the same age(he used to kick my butt) but I just feel Maybin is a lot more projection than Votto. I hope they both succeed but Maybin is by no means safe and the Marlins should have gotten more for Carera and Willis.

by kennythered on Dec 16, 2025 3:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lowrie

So Lowrie and Maybin are both A-.....I don't think they are in the same class.

by Buchholzz on Dec 16, 2025 9:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ehhh

Who cares, if any of those guys pan out they'll waste their first few seasosn tolling for a craptistic team that draws less than some minor league teams and then get traded.

ok that's harsh, but seriously it's hard to get too hyped about a farm of a team that apparently isn't commited to winning either long term or short term.

by RollingWave on Dec 16, 2025 2:59 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Whatever

And who is your team? Because I'd bet good money that the Marlins have more World Series titles in the last ten years than your team using this method. :-)

by Patrick Bateman on Dec 16, 2025 3:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That's no reason to

not build something called like... a fan base.

it's the only way for the Marlins right now. but it should not be this way. there's no real excuse to not be able to build up a reasonable attendence so that they could at least afford some big contracts going foward.

And don't give the football town bullshit. the Marlin's attence soared during 04 and 05 compare to the rest of the years, so year people are willing to pay to see the team when they're actually competing.

by RollingWave on Dec 16, 2025 5:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Phillies fan in Miami

Have you ever sat and watched a baseball game in Miami during the summer? Whew!!!

by smittybanton on Dec 20, 2025 10:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sink Sunk

You are really biased against Sinkbeil... I remember last year you admitted to having a "bad feeling" about him, an irrational dislike. He should be higher.

by Chief on Dec 16, 2025 3:15 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agree with John

I dont like sinkbeil, just a bad feeling about him. Plus he didnt do anything to impress me at a ball as a college draftee

by FishHead on Dec 16, 2025 1:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

this isn't an objective thing

Personal dislikes are part of it

by nms on Dec 16, 2025 1:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

JS...

...what makes Kyle Winters a major sleeper? I'm not disagreeing, I've just never heard of him.

Pret-ty, pret-ty, pret-ty good.

by uga007 on Dec 16, 2025 4:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Volstad Lite

Winter's a tallish righty with heavy stuff, athletic build, fairly clean mechanics etc, and another product of the '05 draft (5th round, out of HS). He lit up the NYP in '06 but his performance slipped a bit at Greensboro last year. He's not yet getting consistent grounders like Volstad though.

Laugh while you can, monkey boy!

by Anton Sirius on Dec 18, 2025 11:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

given the Marlins strategy

of trading costly players for prospects, this is pretty bad. While they have a lot of pitching prospects, they don't have much upside. They are lacking for offensive prospects.

I really think the commissioner needs to step in stop this team team from imploding. Oh wait, he already did that to my team. Nevermind.

Seriously, it looks like this team will stink until they get a new stadium, and even then I don't know if they can become a sustainable franchise.

by vaclipper on Dec 16, 2025 5:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well

You have to remember that Hanley Ramirez is already the best shortstop in the National League.(maybe not defensively, but offensively)

Also Andrew Miller and Cam Maybin have a great chance of becoming solid big leaguers.

Anibal Sanchez was also looking like a #2 starter last year then injuries got him this year. Nothing you can do about that.

by UncleBuck44 on Dec 16, 2025 1:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also

Dont forget Josh Johnson who will be out almost all of next season, but in 2009, this team may be making a run for the world series again. The marlins build their teams around great pitching and defense and solid hitting. Cabrera's defense is bad at third. I agree that cabrera is the guy to build a franchise around, but with the "financial" restraints, this team got potential gold glove defense in center and another frontline pitcher (though I wish they would have got porcello).

Speaking of porcello, I thought about that, why didnt the marlins up their offer and throw in kevin gregg and maybe a upper level prospect and get porcello thrown in? I know porcello cant be traded for a full year after the draft, and I know a PTBNL must be named in 6 months, but why not wait a month for this trade and get procello in their? If the tigers wanted it enough, they would wait.

by FishHead on Dec 16, 2025 2:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That wouldnt work

for the Tigers.

One, Kevin Gregg isnt making up that difference in talent.

Two, Porcello cant be traded yet by rule.

by alskor on Dec 16, 2025 2:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know porcello can not be traded yet

Read what I wrote. You say gregg doesnt make up the difference in talent, Cabrera is worth more than miller, maybin, and spare parts. Plus they threw in willis. Giving the tigers gregg, plus maybe aaron thompson maybe, Will give detroit a nice setup man for jones.

by FishHead on Dec 16, 2025 3:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also

The commissioner is not going to stop the Marlins from selling off their top players for prospects and by accumulating draft picks by letting good players walk.
They won a World Series that way.

Once the Marlins feel the young players are all there, they'll make a nice splash or two in free agency(like Ivan Rodriguez in 2003) to get the final pieces and then they'll go and win another World Series. I expect it to happen in 2010.

by UncleBuck44 on Dec 16, 2025 4:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Andrew Miller

Wonder what his grade would be if he qualified? Would he be an A- or B+?

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again.

by Savoy on Dec 16, 2025 10:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Vanden Hurk as well

Curious where both would rank and grade if both were eligible.

by filter on Dec 16, 2025 11:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

IMO,

Vanden Hurk's MLB break-downs cant bode well for a potential grade...

--http://yankeesfuture.wordpress.com Bobby Mcnally (alias)

by bobbymcnally on Dec 16, 2025 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Vanden Hurk still made MLB hitters miss

He still struck out 82 batters in 81 2/3 innings. Like someone already said, he is only 22 years old, and he started in the Majors before he even pitched in AA. Yeah he got rocked in the majors, but he also had some great starts, including 6 no hit innings against Atlanta.

He started the Futures game as well. Really, if it weren't for injuries to the Marlins starters, the Holland Hammer would have been in the minors and kept his prospect status. In his 65 2/3 innings in the minors last year, he had 75 k's. He is younger than Sinkbeil, and a year older than the other top prospects of the Marlins (Volstad, Tucker, West, and Hernandez). He outperformed Volstad and Hernandez in AA (Vanden Hurk pitched 10 more innings in AA than Volstad and had 36 more strikeouts and a BAA of .219 compared to Volstads .252.)

by filter on Dec 16, 2025 4:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sigh

Using only a young pitcher's first 50+ innings as a big leaguer as some kind of definitive sample of what they will be in the future? Aren't people on this site smarter than that?

by AucklandGM on Dec 16, 2025 5:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Me too!

I'd like to know where Andrew Miller would fit as well. What say you John?

by snuffy on Dec 16, 2025 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I Think

He is a B+ but he is slightly lower than Bailey. I feel like he is still a lot of projection but he should be right around the age where he should become a solid starting pitcher. I only see Miller as a number 3 starter in the MLB's. He could be a solid 2 for his highest upside but I never see him being an Ace. The Marlins should have gotten more for these two players.

by kennythered on Dec 16, 2025 3:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Coghlan

Coghlan looks like a very exciting hitter to me, and I'm wondering about his defense.

I see Coghlan was moved from 3b to 2b, and spent some time at DH in 2007. BA writes, "He has improved his pivot and footwork around the bag, and his aptitude and work habits are excellent. He has an average arm." (That sounds like a summary of someone who's not even "okay" at the position yet to me.) I read that he suffered from a hernia in 2007, was that the reason for the DH time? How does he rate out eventually as a defender? Average at 2b? Below-average at 2b? Average at 3b? Better than these options?

by BobbyMac on Dec 16, 2025 12:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I dont know about second

but he was moved from third to second because he was so good at third in college and rookie ball that it was thought he could play a tougher position.

His 3b D projected as above-average to great.

by nms on Dec 16, 2025 1:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Miller

If he were on this list, would he rank as an A, A- or B+?

The internet's latest attempt at understanding what is going on inside baseball - http://theoutsiderslook.blogspot.com

by bheikoop on Dec 16, 2025 1:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Don Czyz

OK, so I am a KU baseball fan, just to get that out of the way.

I am surprised to not see Don Czyz getting any love here. His work in 2007 at High-A was solid.

66.1 Innings, 74 hits, 15/72 BB/K, 0.68 HR/9.

Czyz was the college relief pitcher of the year in 2006 at Kansas and seems to have made the adjustment to pro ball.

What is holding him back from being rated a prospect? His age (23)? Will he have an entry in the book?

by James Quinn on Dec 16, 2025 2:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Friday Night! by Vanden Hurk

Anyone seen him or can give a little insight about him other than what we can get off websites?

by Sox Puppet on Dec 16, 2025 2:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Vanden Hurk

Vanden Hurk is my favorite of all the Marlin's young pitchers. Disregard the numbers, I actually watched him play every single game. The kid has great stuff, he combines a + fastball with movement with a wicked 12-6 breaking curve that made some of the best hitters in baseball look stupid last year.

He needs to work on his change, endurance and pitch selection, but he will be a very good pitcher in this league. If his endurance doesn't improve, I think Aaron Heilman is a great comparison. If he does start improving in the late innings (remember, he is only 22) his upside is extremely high as a starting pitcher.

by Patrick Bateman on Dec 16, 2025 3:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mostly agree with this

I like Volstad a little better than VandenHurk, based on what I saw of both at AA, but they're both on track to be solid rotation starters. Volstad's more polished and does a better job with pitch selection than does VandenHurk, and I think VandenHurk's frame and mechanics make him a bit of an injury risk.

Mike Emeigh http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/minor_key/

by MikeE on Dec 17, 2025 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm a fan of Volstad B+

High GB%
Good K rates
Low BB's.

What is Volstad's weakness? Stuff?

by cubsfan2883 on Dec 16, 2025 3:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I think Volstad could be better than Miller in the long run. I'm not sure who I would compare him to but I feel like there are many wins in his ML future.

by kennythered on Dec 16, 2025 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

I feel everyone on this site, including john, severely underrates volstad. I guess we will have to wait until he proves us right in the bigs before we can say anything though

by FishHead on Dec 16, 2025 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know why but

I like hearing who people would compare prospects to, who do you think Volstad is like?

by kennythered on Dec 16, 2025 3:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

comp

Volstad has the potential to be VERY similar to a Roy Halladay, in so many ways. (Stuff, mechanics, Body type, draft position) Check out how similar they are, its somewhat eerie.

by sully10x on Dec 16, 2025 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So...

we should expect a flame out followed by a demotion to the low minors?

by alskor on Dec 16, 2025 3:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Roy Halladay

I see roy halladay in him. All you hear on this message board is k and walk rates. I love k rates just as much as the next person, but so many times I get let down by a prospect whos era is in the 5's but strikes out 12 per inning. I like the GO/AO ratios

by FishHead on Dec 16, 2025 5:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cant be that many times youre let down.

K rates correlate best with career length.

If you only focused on GO/AO ratios instead youd end up being dissapointed a lot more often.

by alskor on Dec 16, 2025 5:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Volstad still strikes out a good amount of people

16.4 % of batters isn't a bad clip. Volstad is a lot better than John's giving him credit, and he's certainly way better than Alan Horne.

by cubsfan2883 on Dec 16, 2025 6:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Way better of a prospect than alan horne. And I do not ONLY use GO/AO, i think me and everybody else uses a little of everything. Im just saying so many people disregard GO/AO and if you are not striking out 9 per inning than your not a good prospect. High groundball ratios lead to lower pitch counts, more innings, and more potential wins. These type of pitchers save bullpens and do a lot for big league rotations.

by FishHead on Dec 16, 2025 7:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I see a Derek Lowe type pitcher

a reliable #2 starter with front end stuff. who relies a lot on his D, and will probably win 125-150 Games in a mid to long career.

And that's certainly a lot better than I can project for Alan Horne, who is SNTS.

John, out of curiousity what was your comment on Horne last year and what was his grade? He wasn't in the Yankees top 20 from last year. Last years Horne was tyler Clippard, everyone was all like Tyler Clippard, omg Tyler Clippard, and now everyone is like omg Alan Horne omg.. It'll pass.

by cubsfan2883 on Dec 16, 2025 7:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dominguez and Coghlan

Tough to grade Dominguez based on 15 minor league games, and I guess some people will react to the performance line and wonder how he got a B, but I like him more than I like Coghlan. I saw Coghlan play in Greensboro early in the season, and I think he's your basic Craig Counsell clone, with a little more pop. Dominguez will hit, and will hit for power, eventually.

Mike Emeigh http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/minor_key/

by MikeE on Dec 17, 2025 12:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

cc

I think he's your basic Craig Counsell clone, with a little more pop.

That sounds like a pretty good player to me. If he can play a good second base, and I think he can given what I saw at the AFL, though I'm not a scout, then Coghlan will have a good major league career. I know I'm in the minority, but I like him better than that Red Sox infield prospect who's been getting a lot of mention on this blog.

by bolton on Dec 18, 2025 8:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

de la Cruz

Just my old English major/proofreader genes showing, but according to baseball-reference.com de la Cruz's first name is spelled "Eulogio," not "Eulegio." That probably won't change his grade, though. <g>

by dwill66 on Dec 17, 2025 2:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs