This story was excerpted from Christina DeNicola's Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
How fast is Marlins No. 8 prospect Dillon Head? The type of fast that could steal home if the opportunity arose.
But nearly a year ago, Head underwent left hip surgery. Would he still possess plus-plus speed (80 grade on 20-80 scouting scale at the time of the injury) post-procedure?
Entering Sunday, the now-20-year-old Head is tied for the second-most steals (18) in the Florida State League. He has been caught just twice. Consider him back to form.
"It was difficult,” Head said in March about the time missed. “I've been playing this game all my life, and I never had to sit out for injury like that. But I think that time away from the game was needed, so I was able to regroup, refocus, come back even stronger.”
Ahead of the 2023 MLB Draft, few prep stars could match the MLB Develops product’s combination of hitting ability and pure speed, according to MLB Pipeline’s scouting report. That unique skill set enticed the Padres enough to select Head 25th overall.
Prior to Single-A Lake Elsinore’s game in San Jose last May, however, Head tweaked his hip. The club planned on getting it checked out following the series, until Head became the headliner of the four-prospect haul for Luis Arraez.
Head would try to play through it with his new organization, but he lasted just five games -- three at Single-A Jupiter and another two on rehab assignment with the Rookie-level Marlins -- before undergoing season-ending surgery.
Not quite what Head envisioned for his first full professional season.
"Obviously it's frustrating, but everything happens for a reason,” Head said. “God put me in that situation for a reason. So, you just take everything and learn from it and get better at it.”
Head recovered quickly and used the offseason to perform baseball activities back home in Illinois. He even stopped by the Marlins’ Dominican Republic Academy for the organization’s development camp.
The time away allowed Head -- a self-described “fast, twitchy person” -- to figure out how to move as efficiently as possible. His wheels give him impressive gap-to-gap coverage, something he takes pride in (60-grade field tool).
The hard work was rewarded this spring, when the Marlins invited Head to play in their March 22 split-squad Grapefruit League game. He started in left field and went 1-for-4 with a two-run single.
"Really good athlete, powerful runner,” manager Clayton McCullough said during the spring. “I know everybody's excited for Dillon to be able to get out of this thing healthy and go get some at-bats and play. That's probably the biggest thing now for Dillon. The speed and ability to play center field is exciting. More than anything, unfortunately, he has missed some time last year, and so this year, you know what? Get those reps back.”
Since then, Head has been one of Jupiter’s top performers. He leads the Hammerheads in runs (25), hits (35), triples (five) and is tied for the lead with two homers; he is tied for second in games (38) and ranks third in RBIs (17) and walks (20).
Head’s speed not only benefits him on the bases and field, but also at the plate. He can beat out infield hits and turn infield grounders into base hits by racing out of the left-handed batter’s box.
"Just so happy to see him back on the field, the amount of work he put in the rehab dynamic and getting his body in a position to be out there every day and playing,” director of Minor League operations Hector Crespo said. “Defensively, being able to play all three [outfield positions], but just seeing him go get a ball in center field in the gaps is as advertised. And then offensively, happy with his at-bats, just continuing to put the ball in play and making sure that he's swinging at the right pitches, continuing to impact the ball the way he has, utilizing speed once balls get to the gap.”