As the 2025 MLB Draft quickly approaches, the Prospects Live team wants to make your life as easy as possible. In this series of articles, I'll be providing team-by-team analysis of their recent draft trends, their available draft capital for 2025, any areas of the draft they've heavily targeted, as well as a few names in this year's class that might fit into their historically preferred archetype.
Max Ellingsen
This analysis isn't sourced for the upcoming year, nor is it a guarantee the organization won't pivot from what they've done in the past. Simply put, this article aims to provide an in-depth look at teams and their recent draft classes to try and decipher trends that could help uncover players your favorite team might be targeting. It's far from a perfect science, but I've done my job if it makes things easier to follow on draft day.
Miami Marlins
- 2025 Bonus Pool Value - $15,187,400 (7th)
- Top 100 selections - 7, 43, 46, 78
The Marlins have plenty of draft ammo for 2025 and seem primed to make an impact on a system that could certainly use a boost. Though trending positively after several major trades in recent years, a big time draft could set the Marlins up for years to come.
2024 Draft Overview
The Marlins took a buy low opportunity on PJ Morlando ($1,300,000 underslot) in the first round of 2024, ultimately parlaying those savings into their second rounder Carter Johnson ($1,200,000 overslot) and securing two preps they felt had a nice ceiling to them. I liked Comp B rounder Aiden May ($240,000 underslot) out of Oregon State and they filled out their middle rounds with Gage Miller (slot), Fenwick Trimble ($40,000 underslot), Grant Shepardson ($470,000 overslot), and Payton Green (slot). They were able to mix in the top end high school talent with Shepardson to give them an intriguing trio of prep talent while supplementing those pricey signings with toolsy, up the middle talent out of college. Early returns on the youngsters have been rough and there’s been some unfortunate injury news with this class, but it’s far too early to make any definitive conclusions just yet.
2023 Draft Overview
Miami went for a deal with top prep arm Noble Meyer ($980,000 underslot) at ten overall, however they ultimately went with an even bigger splurge in Comp A and took the other top prep arm in Thomas White ($1,780,000 overslot). This move took a big dent in their overall bonus pool and forced them to be relatively conservative the rest of the way, however they landed some interesting big conference performers in Kemp Alderman ($430,000 underslot), Brock Vradenburg (slot), Emmett Olson ($150,000 underslot) and Andrew Lindsey ($90,000 underslot). Additionally, I liked the move of snagging Josh Ekness (slot) in the 12th. He’s been a solid pickup and I think he’s got a real good shot of being a big leaguer.
2022 Draft Overview
Though first rounder Jacob Berry ($40,000 underslot) hasn’t worked out exactly to plan for the Marlins, Jacob Miller (slot) and Karson Milbrandt ($750,000 overslot) have been solid pieces for this system since being drafted out of high school. Marcus Johnson followed ($35,000 underslot) out of Duke while Josh White (slot), Jared Poland ($155,000 underslot), and Kyle Crigger ($200,000 underslot) followed him. A lot of this draft was reliant on the top three picks carrying the load (as most drafts are frankly), however with Berry being a bit of a dud and the other two prep arms showing good not great promise, it was tough for this draft to be a truly special draft. If there is a saving grace, this draft was not done by the current front office and doesn’t really reflect what the new regime is prioritizing, but it’s important organizational history nonetheless.
Early Round Demographics
This new scouting department has heavy ties to Tampa Bay’s organization, and they’ve made it clear they’re bringing a similarly creative approach to Miami when it comes to drafting. They’ve cut major deals the previous two years and are betting on major high school talent in the process. Big names with long track records of success have seemingly been made a priority, with the natural extension of tools over polish coming from a lot of high school talent being selected. Their college selections have mirrored this to an extent, though I wouldn’t say it’s as stark as it is with the prep talent. Look for Miami to move major money around early and aim to land two or more top prep talents in this class.
Late Round Demographics
It’s been kind of rough for the Marlins in the later rounds, but they’ve had the most success with relief types as of late. They’ll mix in the occasional low stakes high schooler here and there, but for the most part it’s college talent they’re hoping to unlock in some capacity. Whether they choose to push a high school talent a bit lower and take advantage of one of the bigger bonus pools in this year’s draft or not is unclear, but it wouldn’t shock me if we saw a slight modification to their strategy given their iffy hit rate.
Names to Know
Eli Willits, High School SS - If Willits makes it to the seventh pick, I would be floored if he’s not the pick. Up the middle traits, ability to hit, plenty of projection; He wouldn’t save them any cash, but he’s their best shot at a top line prospect in this draft.
Gavin Fien, High School 3B - Fien checks a lot of boxes for what Miami has prioritized in recent years. As the summer’s top offensive performer in the high school ranks with a tantalizing combination of hit and power, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see the Marlins take a shot on him. He might even save them some cash in the process.
Seth Hernandez, High School RHP - I have very little idea as to where Hernandez will end up landing, however Miami seems like a reasonable place if he were to slide a bit on draft day. He’s got the most upside in the class, but as a prep right hander, he’s just about the riskiest demographic you can find atop the draft. There’s plenty of give and take here, but Miami needs impact and has shown a willingness for prep pitching in the past.
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