Arquette comes in at No. 2 in Marlins' new Top 30 prospects
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A year ago, the Marlins overhauled their system via trade acquisitions. The organization didn’t make as big of a splash this time around, but it is already seeing its 2024 moves impact the big league club with catcher Agustín Ramírez, center fielder Jakob Marsee and third baseman Graham Pauley starting on a daily basis.
Marlins prospects still down on the farm, meanwhile, continue to be led by MLB Pipeline’s No. 21 overall prospect Thomas White. Of late, the 20-year-old southpaw has been shutting down opposing lineups with Double-A Pensacola. After him is seventh overall pick Aiva Arquette, who recently made his professional debut at High-A Beloit. Three other Draft selections join Arquette in Miami’s updated Top 30.
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And then there are the player development success stories with the introductions of right-hander Kevin Defrank (2025 international class), outfielder Luis Cova (’24 international class), outfielder Fenwick Trimble (‘24 Draft), right-hander Liomar Martinez (’22 international class) and left-hander Nate Payne (’24 Draft).
Here’s a look at the Marlins’ top prospects:
- Thomas White, LHP (MLB Pipeline’s No. 21 overall prospect)
- Aiva Arquette, SS (No. 39 overall)
- Joe Mack, C (No. 76 overall)
- Robby Snelling, LHP (No. 80 overall)
- Starlyn Caba, SS
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list:
Jump: Kevin Defrank, RHP (Preseason: NR | Midseason: 9)
When the Marlins signed Defrank, who turned 17 on Monday, he ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 40 overall international prospect and was considered one of the best pitching prospects to come out of the Dominican Republic in a few years. Through his first nine starts in the Dominican Summer League, the 6-foot-5, 202-pounder has a 2.89 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP across 28 innings.
Fall: Carter Johnson, SS (Preseason: 10 | Midseason: 26)
Johnson, whom the Marlins selected in the second round and signed well over slot last summer, came with the reputation as one of the top prep bats in the 2024 class. The 19-year-old middle infielder has been unable to live up to the hype thus far, with a .546 OPS through his first 516 plate appearances in professional baseball -- all for Single-A Jupiter -- where he has faced competition several years older.
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New to the list
Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization:
No. 2: Aiva Arquette, SS (Draft, First round)
No. 7: Cam Cannarella, OF (Draft, Competitive Balance Round A)
No. 13: Brandon Compton, OF (Draft, Second round)
No. 22: Max Williams, OF (Draft, Third round)
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 55 -- Cam Cannarella (Andrew Salas)
Power: 60 -- Kemp Alderman (Aiva Arquette)
Run: 70 -- Dillon Head
Arm: 60 -- Joe Mack (Alderman, Arquette)
Defense: 70 -- Starlyn Caba
Fastball: 70 -- Josh Ekness (Kevin Defrank)
Curveball: 60 -- Nate Payne (Dax Fulton)
Slider: 65 -- Thomas White
Changeup: 60 -- Keyner Benitez (Defrank)
Control: 60 -- Adam Mazur