Florida Marlins Top-15 Prospects of 2010, No’s 6 – 15

ALSO SEE – Florida Marlins Top Prospects, No’s 1 – 5

Grades are based on a prospect’s projected value over the course of his career and how likely it is that prospect will fulfill his projected value. Various factors are accounted for including upside, red flags, actual performance, and closeness to the majors. See the 2010 Prospect Primer for more information as it relates to prospect grading and philosophy.

Hitters must have 100 or fewer Major League ABs to qualify for this list. Starting pitchers must have 50 or fewer Major League innings to qualify for this list. Relief pitchers must have 25 or fewer Major League innings to qualify for this list. Ages are listed as of May 1st, 2010. Levels are based on the highest level in which a prospect played in 2009. All grades are subject to change based on any new information I receive before the season starts.

If you need to reach me in any way, please contact me via e-mail or post a comment at the bottom of the page and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. The first two prospects are available for everybody to read.

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Player Grades
Fastball – 55 Now | 65 Future
Slider – 45 | 50
Change-Up – 45 | 50
Control – 45 | 50
Command – 45 | 50
Pitchability – 40 | 45
ETA – 2010
Final Grade – B-/C+

Body Type – A stocky type build

Stuff

Fastball – Sits in the low 90′s as a starter, but can dial it up to 96 in shorter stints…plus life and carry through the strike zone

Slider – Rates anywhere from below average to slightly above…when it’s on, the spin is tight and the break is late. When it’s not, the pitch is flat and he leaves it up in the zone or he overthrows it and buries it in the dirt.

Change-Up – A solid pitch with some sink

Scouting Report

Ryan Tucker was injured for most of last year after undergoing surgery on his left knee. Tucker appeared in the Majors before in 2008, but he struggled.

Tucker hasn’t really put everything together. He does nothing great, but he doesn’t do much poorly either. While he’s been a starter for almost his entire career, he profiles best as a reliever.

Tucker needs to improve the consistency of his slider and his command. When he gets in trouble, Tucker has a tendency to let it fly and overthrow.

He’s had make-up issues in the past, but they seem to be behind him. That being said, he has to work on his poise while on the mound.

Best Case Outcome – Set up man out of the bullpen

More Likely Outcome – MIddle reliever

Player Grades
Fastball – 50 Now | 55 Future
Curveball – 60 | 60
Change-Up – 40 | 50
Control – 45 | 50
Command – 40 | 50
Pitchability – 40 | 55
ETA – 2013
Final Grade – C+

Body Type – He’s a pretty good athlete, but doesn’t have a real projectable body

Stuff

Fastball – Sits anywhere from 89 – 93 with good sink

Curveball – Comes out of his hand looking like a fastball…gets good wrist action on the pitch…tight spin and late break and clocked in the low – mid 70′s

Change-Up – Still in development

Scouting Report

I don’t think you could have a worse April than Brad Hand did last year. He posted an 18 ERA, a BABIP against of .538, and a 23.7 BB%.

But Hand bounced back with pedestrian months in May and June before taking off in July and August. He missed bats at a much higher rate in those months, but he still needs to get his walks down.

Overall, his numbers ended up being quite solid, especially for a 19 year old in his first season of full season ball.

Hand has some mechanical issues to work out….for instance, his head sorta jerks to the side when he accelerates his arm forward and he lands stiffly on his front leg. However, his arm works well.

Hand was better against left handed hitters than right handers and that is in part because he doesn’t have much of a change-up to work with.

Best Case Outcome – No. 4 starter…maybe a bit better if everything goes right

More Likely Outcome – A set up man out of the bullpen

Brief Summary on Prospects 8 – 14

8. Scott Cousins | CF | Grade – C+ – An athletic center field with good tools across the board…production has been more solid than great

9. Kyle Skipworth | C | Grade – C+/C – Terrible results so far, but he’s still young and he still possesses a pretty left handed swing…gets one more year to get things going

10. Bryan Petersen | OF | Grade – C+/C – Limited upside outfielder has good discipline and on-base skills

11. Bryan Berglund | RHP | Grade – C – Projectable right hander with three potentially average or better pitches, all of which he controls well

12. Isaac Galloway | CF | Grade – C – Toolsy outfielder started out hot, but was exposed as the year wore on

13. Marcell Ozuna | RF | Grade – C – Little talked about outfielder posted good numbers in the GCL and has some solid tools to go along with his production

14. Jhan Marinez | RHP | Grade – C – Small pitcher with a big arm…if his command should improve, he could advance quickly

15. Jose Ceda | RHP | Grade – C – Missed all of last year with a shoulder injury, but he has a big time fastball and has past performance on his side…needs to get in better shape

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HONORABLE MENTIONS (in no particular order) – Dan Jennings (LHP) | Jai Miller (OF) | Kyle Jensen (OF) | Garrett Parcell (RHP) | Josh Hodges (RHP) | Chris Leroux (RHP) | Curtis Peterson (RHP) | Arquimedes Caminero (RHP) | Jake Smolinski (2b) | Ramon Benjamin (LHP) | Jay Voss (LHP) | Steve Cishek (RHP) | Pete Andrelczyk (RHP) | Jay Buente (RHP) | Rodolfo Encarnacion (RHP) | Edgar Olmos (LHP) | Alejandro Ramos (RHP) | Brent Keys (OF)

ALSO SEE – Florida Marlins Top Prospects, No’s 1 – 5

UP NEXT – New York Mets Top Prospects, No’s 6 – 15

Other References and Resources Used for This Article – First Inning and Minor League Splits