Don’t forget to pick up your copy of the The 2024 Prospect Digest Handbook here.
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1. Noble Meyer, RHP
| FB | CB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | N/A | 60 | 55 | 40 | 55 |
Background: Beaverton, Oregon-based Jesuit High School is certainly no stranger to draft hype and hoopla. Just three years ago, in the midst of a lost COVID season, the Crusaders’ roster featured a promising, 6-foot-5, 190-pound right-hander with a big time fastball and oozing all kinds of potential. The Phillies saw enough from Mick Abel and used the 15th overall pick on the young hurler. Since then, Abel’s reached Double-A as a 21-year-old and established himself as a top prospect. Jesuit High School, which is home to several notable alums like Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra and Mike Dunleavy Jr., the third overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft, has another 6-foot-5, hard-throwing right-hander who eventually became an early first round pick. Enter: Noble Meyer. A two-way star for the Crusaders, Meyer was spectacular during his final prep season: he batted .373 with five long balls, 27 RBIs, and scored 17 runs at the dish. But his best work was on the mound. Meyer punched out a whopping 128 batters (vs. 19 walks) in 63 innings of work while tallying 0.33 ERA. Miami selected Meyer in the opening round, 10th overall, and signed him to a deal worth $4.5 million. The wiry righty made five brief starts between the Complex League and Low-A, posting a 15-to-7 K/BB ratio in 11.0 IP.
Scouting Report: Pre-draft scouting report:
“Easy premium velocity, Meyer was sitting in the mid- to upper-90s late in 2022. He backs up the plus offering with a wickedly darting, mid-80s slider, and a surprising strong changeup that may creep into plus territory as he matures. The changeup shows impressive arm side fade and sink at times. If he can consistently harness that movement, it’ll add a third swing-and-miss weapon to his repertoire. According to various reports, Meyer added a slower curveball to his weaponry in 2023, but I didn’t see it. Similarly to Mick Abel, the command is subpar, grading out in the 40 range. There’s #3-type upside here, but he’s going to have to hone in on the strike zone with a higher frequency as a professional for that to happen.”
Ceiling: 3.5-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
MLB ETA: 2027
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2. Max Meyer, RHP
| FB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 70 | 55 | 50 | 55 |
Background: The last first round pick under the Michael Hill era. Miami snagged the Minnesota ace with the third overall selection four years ago as part of the COVID-limited draft. One, by the way, that is wrought with utter disappointment across all of baseball. Meyer was a force to be reckoned with during his two-plus seasons with the Gophers, going from a shutdown closer into a legitimate collegiate ace. And the slight-framed right-hander blessed with one of the better sliders in baseball was able to make the transition into the professional ranks with relative ease. He would make 22 starts between Double-A and Triple-A during his first full season, averaging an impressive 10.5 punch outs and 3.4 walks per nine innings to go along with a 2.27 ERA. Heading into the following season, 2022, Meyer looked to be a key cog for the rebuilding, hopeful contenders, but a brief return from a month-long DL stint eventually gave way to reconstructive elbow surgery, knocking him out of commission the remainder of the year and all of 2023. When he returns in 2024, he’s likely to have his innings capped around 120.
Snippet from The 2022 Prospect Digest Handbook: There’s a strong #2 vibe to his potential with a non-zero chance he ascends to ace-dom.
Scouting Report: Without any new updates, here’s his scouting report heading into last season:
“Pre-elbow injury, Meyer owned – perhaps – the best fastball / slider combo among all starting pitchers in the minor leagues. His heater, a plus offering, sits in the mid-90s and would touch a few ticks high on occasion. It’s particularly difficult above the belt and in on hitters’ hands. His slider, of course, is the real story – a hard, biting upper 80s breaking ball that nearly perfectly mirrors the spin on his four-seamer, which only adds to its wickedness. Meyer will seemingly alter the break on the pitch, something opting for a tighter, more traditional slider. Other times, it’ll show more downward tilt – a la a power curveball. And, yet, other times it looks more like a hard cutter. Either way, though, they’re all one in the same. Meyer will also feature a rare – too rare, in fact – changeup that flashes plus at times. The former college reliever-turned-starter needs to throw it more often, particularly once he carves out a spot in the Marlins’ rotation – assuming there aren’t any setbacks in his recovery. A Sandy Alcantara / Max Meyer one-two punch atop a rotation would be lethal.”
Ceiling: 3.0-win player
Risk: High
MLB ETA: Debuted in 2022
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3. Thomas White, LHP
| FB | CB | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 55 | 50 | 45/50 | 50 |
Background: There’s really no other way to start this off than this: “He’s the most talented pitcher at that age I’ve seen anywhere. And I’ve been everywhere, man.” The quip (which comes from a Boston Globe article by Mac Cerullo on 06/11/2023) is from Kevin Graber, a baseball lifer who’s worked in the Cape Cod League, in the Yankees’ organization as an associate scout and, currently, as the Cubs’ Double-A Manager. Graber, of course, also spent parts of 14-plus years at Phillips Academy, White’s soon to be alma mater. And the statistics back up that scouting. Well, at least it adds credence to it. Thanks to the COVID pandemic, White, like all of the 2023 class, lost his freshman campaign. But he had no issues transitioning to high school ball as a sophomore. Making five appearances for the Big Blue, the massive 6-foot-6, 210-pound southpaw tossed 16.2 innings with 36 punch outs, 12 walks, and a tidy 0.84 ERA. White followed that up with an even better performance during his junior season: he threw 27.0 innings with a 58-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio while allowing just one earned run (0.26 ERA). Gatorade named him the Player of the Year for the state of Massachusetts. For the first time. Last season the big lefty set a career best with 42 innings pitched, striking out 95 and allowing just 10 hits – though he somehow finished with a 1.66 ERA and a 5-2 win-loss record. Gatorade named him the top performer in the state. Again. Miami selected White with the 35th pick in the first round last July, signing him to a deal worth $4.1 million. The big lefty made three brief appearances between the Complex League and Jupiter after joining the organization, fanning seven and walking six in 4.1 innings of work.
Scouting Report: Pre-draft scouting report:
“Easy plus mid- to upper-90s fastball to the point it appears like White’s just playing catch. It’s a plus offering with good backend life. He complements the [pitch] with a wickedly slicing curveball, moving from 11-to-5 thanks to his three-quarter arm slot. He’ll also mix in a rare solid-average changeup, which he needs to trust more. The command’s not a particular strength. But it’s fixable. The big lefty lands on his heel with his front foot causing him to close off too early. It’s the same problem Randy Johnson had, among many others. One more thought: he could be a candidate to find another gear on the heater. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him as a Top 10 pick. He may not last long, but he seems like an ideal candidate for the Guardians. But the Reds, Marlins, and White Sox could snag him earlier.”
For what it’s worth: Miami paid White the equivalent of the 17th or 18th overall pick.
Ceiling: 2.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2027
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4. Xavier Edwards, IF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 55/60 | 30 | 60 | 50 | 55 | 45 |
Background: Taken by the Padres of San Diego near the backend of the opening round of the draft in 2018. They’d deal the slashing speedster to the other side of the country 18 months later, agreeing to send him to the Rays as part of the package for Jake Cronenworth. His stint in Tampa Bay’s system lasted slightly less than three years before he was dealt to Miami. Edwards spent the majority of his first season in the Fish’s organization with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in Triple-A. He batted a scorching .351/.429/.457 with 14 doubles, two triples, seven homeruns, and 32 stolen bases (in 36 total attempts). His overall minor league production, as measured by Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by 30%, his best showing since his extended stint in Low-A four years prior. Edwards also spent several cups of coffee in Miami as well, hitting a punchless .295/.329/.333 in 84 trips to the plate.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: At this point, Xavier Edwards is what Xavier Edwards has always been: a solid defensive player at multiple infield positions with a high contact approach at the plate.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, there have been 19 instances in which a 23-year-old hitter posted a 125 to 135 wRC+ with one club in any Triple-A league (min. 350 PA) – Xavier Edwards being one of them, of course. But here’s the impressive part: his strikeout rate, 6.9%, is nearly half of the second lowest K-rate rate (Chris Carter, 2006).
Again, we know exactly what to expect out of the former first rounder: tremendous bat control, very little – if any – power, and plus-plus, game-changing speed. Edwards has traditionally bounced around the infield throughout his career, seeing playing time at shortstop, and second and third bases. But last season the Marlins expanded his defensive versatility and pushed him out to centerfield. Above-average glove on the infield dirt and the initial work in the outfield is promising. Dee Strange-Gordon’s three years in Miami were the best of his career. It looks like the organization may be able to catch lightning in a bottle twice. In terms of big league ceiling think: .290/.320/.370.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Low to Moderate
MLB ETA: Debuted in 2023
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5. Dax Fulton, LHP
| FB | CB | CH | Command | Overall |
| 55 | 55 | 50 | 40/45 | 45 |
Background: Another piece of Michael Hill’s final draft class – a parting gift of sorts. Hill’s mid-summer amateur talent infusion was remarkably strong, by the way, especially considering the way COVID wrecked the prep and college seasons. Miami snagged the 6-foot-7, 235-pound left-hander in the second round, 40th overall, and signed him to a deal worth $2.4 million. Fulton would make his anticipated professional debut the following season, reaching High-A after just 15 games with Jupiter. He would finish the year with an 84-to-38 strikeout-to-walk ratio in only 78.1 innings of work. The following year Fulton spent time at two separate levels again, making 20 starts back with Beloit and another four appearances with Pensacola. He averaged 11.4 strikeouts and just 3.2 walks per nine innings during his sophomore campaign. Last season, with Fulton lightly rapping at the club’s big league door, he began with seven appearances in Double-A, but ended abruptly thanks to a barking elbow. It would eventually require surgery, though not full blown Tommy John surgery. Surgeons braced his ulnar collateral ligament.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: Fulton, in spite of his big frame, consistently throws strikes – though he will deal with random bouts of wildness. There’s a lot to like about Fulton as a pitching prospect, but he’s not an elite prospect. He’s tracking like a #3 /#4 hurler during his peak.
Scouting Report: A quality three-pitch mix that – likely – slides Fulton towards the back of Marlins’ rotation in the coming two years. Above-average 94-mph fastball, above-average, tightly spun curveball, and an improved changeup. A consistent strike-thrower through the 2022 season, Fulton’s command – particularly his fastball command – backed up noticeably last year. It’s difficult to say if the elbow woes contributed to it at this point. He’s likely going to miss some time in 2024 due to recovery. #4 / #5 type ceiling with a slight uptick in command.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2025
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6. Jacob Berry, 3B
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50 | 45 | 35 | 50 | 50 | 45 |
Background: Prior to the draft two years ago, the Marlins owned the sixth overall pick three separate times. And each of those occasions the front office swung and missed – without a doubt. In 1995, the franchise went with high school outfielder Jaime Jones, nabbing him in front of Todd Helton and Geoff Jenkins. Jones was one just one of three players taken among the first 17 selections to not make the big leagues. Thirteen years later the organization went with prep catcher Kyle Skipworth with the sixth overall pick. And the former Patriot High School star spent all of four games – and just three plate appearances – in the Bigs. Five years later, in 2013, the Marlins nabbed UNC star third baseman Colin Moran, who tallied a negative Wins Above Replacement total in 502 career games. And – unfortunately – their latest choice with the sixth overall pick is floundering – badly – in the minor leagues. Jacob Berry split the last two seasons in college between Arizona and Louisiana State University, hitting a combined .360/.450/.655 with 28 doubles, five triples, and 32 homeruns in only 116 total games. But he’s struggled to maintain a consistent production line since entering the minors. He batted .264/.358/.392 in 33 games with Jupiter during his debut. Last season, he put together an aggregate .233/.284/.388 showing in 107 games with Beloit and Pensacola, belting out 24 doubles, eight triples, and nine homeruns. His overall production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, was 17% below the league average mark.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: He’s too lumbering to play third, so he’s likely headed towards the outfield or first base full time. Ryan Braun without the speed. If he provided defensive value, he’d be a lock as the #1 – though he’s still in conversation.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only two 22-year-old hitters met the following criteria with one club in any High-A league (min. 300 PA): 75 to 85 wRC+, a sub-6.0% walk rate, and a 20% to 22% strikeout rate. Those two bats: the immortal Aderlin Rodriguez and – of course – former collegiate slugger Jacob Berry.
It’s not all doom-and-gloom for the former early round pick. After starting tragically slow in 2023, Berry, who “hit” a lowly .172/.215/.287 over his first 44 games, rebounded to slug .273/.330/.457 with 28 extra-base hits over his final 63 contests. It’s not exactly a dominant level of production, especially considering his lofty draft status, but it’s something to build upon. It’s very…Colin Moran-esque. And Berry basically repeated that similar production line during his stint in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .265/.329/.441 in 17 games with Peoria. He’s still without a true defensive home, but he looked adequate at either corner infield spot. Average hit tool, but the power – unquestionably – has been a disappointment with wood bats. At this point, just two years removed from his dominant showing in college, Berry is tracking like a Quad-A bat or low end starter without a true standout tool, which is shocking, frankly.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate to High
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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7. Kemp Alderman, LF/RF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 40 | 60 | 30 | 50 | 50 | 45 |
Background: A highly touted bopper coming out of Newton County High School in 2020, the well-built corner outfielder earned three All-State selections and was ranked as a top 50 prospect in the country by Perfect Game. Alderman, who lost his final prep season due to the COVID pandemic, looked overwhelmed during his abbreviated foray into the SEC a year later. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder batted .125/.125/.313 in 16 plate appearances, whiffing a whopping 11 times. But after shredding the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League that summer (.319/.413/.681), Alderman settled in nicely as a key contributor in Ole’ Miss’s lineup as he mashed .286/.388/.522 with 15 doubles, 11 homeruns, and a pair of stolen bases. And, once again, he handled the summer competition: he batted .291/.382/.491 with six doubles, two triples, four homeruns, and four stolen bases in 30 games with the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders. This season Alderman put it all together as he bashed .376/.440/.709 with 14 doubles, 19 homeruns, and five stolen bases. He finished the season with a 41-to-26 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Fish grabbed the slugger in the second round, 47th overall, and signed him to $1.4 million deal. He struggled through his 34-game cameo with Jupiter, batting .205/.286/.316 with eight doubles, one triple, and one homer.
Scouting Report: Per the usual, my pre-draft write-up:
“Consider the following:
Since 2011, only three SEC hitters batted at least .365/.430/.700 with a strikeout rate between 15% an 19% in a season (min. 200 PA): Brent Rooker, a 2017 first round selection by the Minnesota Twins, Charlie Condon, a sophomore sensation for the Georgia Bulldogs last season, and – of course – Kemp Alderman.
Cut from the physical mold of New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso, Alderman owns impressive thump with the ability to slug 30 or more homeruns in a season. Power to all fields. Quick hands. Not pull happy. Alderman shaved off some serious percentage points on his strikeout rate this season, trimming it down from 24% in 2022 to [less than] 17% in 2023. He’s going to battle some contact issues in the minor leagues, but the power will help compensate. Lower tier starter.”
Ceiling: 1.0- to 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2025/2026
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8. Karson Milbrandt, RHP
| FB | CB | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 50 | 50/55 | 40 | 45 |
Background: Aftersnagging collegiate slugger turned mediocre minor league bat Jacob Berry with the sixth overall pick in 2022, the Marlins’ front office brass ripped off 11 consecutive pitchers in rounds two through 12. The first hurlers they selected were prep aces, nabbing Liberty Union High School right-hander Jacob Miller in the second round and swinging back around to snag Liberty High School youngster Karson Milbrandt. Taken with the 85th overall pick that summer, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound righty split time between Jupiter and Beloit during his first extended taste of the minor leagues, throwing an aggregate 95.1 innings of work, posting a 93-to-50 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He tallied a 5.00 ERA and a 4.04 FIP. Milbrandt averaged 8.7 strikeouts and a whopping 4.7 walks per nine innings.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: There’s close to league average potential, but he needs to improve one of the breaking balls and trust the changeup more often. I had a second round grade on the young right-hander heading into the draft.
Scouting Report: Unlike his 2022 draft-mate Jacob Miller, Milbrandt’s heater took a leap forward during his first full year in the Marlins’ system, going from the low 90s to consistently sitting 95 and touching 96 rather frequently. It’s a plus pitch, but the command needs to improve. He’ll mix in an average-ish curveball, which sits in the low 80s. And his changeup looked noticeably improved, so much so, in fact, that it may actually be better than his breaking ball. He’s tracking like a backend arm but has a higher ceiling than many of the club’s other young arms. Obvious reliever risk is the command doesn’t jump up to a 45 in the coming years.
Ceiling: 1.0- to 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2025
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9. Victor Mesa Jr., CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 40 | 40 | 50 | 50 | 60 | 40 |
Background: The Marlins revitalized the fan base when they signed Cuban brothers Victor Victor Mesa and Victor Mesa Jr in late October 2018, with the former receiving a massive $5.25 million and the latter $1 million. That’s where the story takes an abrupt plot twist. Victor Victor Mesa, the older brother, has cobbled together a minor league career .233/.289/.289 slash line – hardly the expected production line that comes with a fat bonus. The younger brother, though, has been quietly, methodically plodding through the club’s farm system. After hitting .284/.366/.398 as a 17-year-old in the Complex League in 2019, Mesa Jr. held his own two years later in Low-A (.266/.317/.402). He followed that up with a bit of a disappointing performance in the Midwest League in 2022, batting a punchless .244/.323/.346 in 121 games. Last season, the front office continued to push the 6-foot, 195-pound outfielder through the minors as they sent him up to the fires of Double-A, the true proving ground. And, surprisingly, the Cuban import showed improved thump – though Pensacola’s homer-inducing home park certainly helped. Mesa slugged .242/.308/.412 with 24 doubles, two triples, and a career-best 18 homeruns. He also swiped 16 stolen bases. His production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, fell 9% below the league average mark.
Snippet from The 2023 Prospect Digest Handbook: He’s going to go as far as the batting averages will take him. Above-average speed, below-average power that project to eventually get to a 40-grade, won’t walk a ton, and a good, maybe even borderline great, glove in center field.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only two 21-year-old hitters met the following criteria with one club in any Double-A league (min. 350 PA): 85 to 95 wRC+, a 6% to 9% walk rate, and 21% to 24% strikeout rate. Those two bats: Matt Moses and Victor Mesa Jr. Moses, a former 1st round pick by the Twins, spent parts of four years in Double-A and accrued just 48 games in Triple-A.
The majority – or, perhaps all – of Mesa’s value is wrapped up into his ability to go get ‘em in the outfield. He’s a plus centerfielder despite lacking premium speed. But he can certainly chase ‘em down with the best of them. Offensively speaking, it’s a tale of below-average skills: hit tool, power, etc… On the right team he could serve as a leather-minded fourth outfielder. One most teams he’s a fringy fifth outfielder.
Ceiling: 1.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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10. Will Banfield, C
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 35 | 40 | 30 | 40 | 60 | 40 |
Background: There weren’t a whole lot of things that went right in the Marlins’ farm last year. Sure, their system burped up Eury Perez, but Max Meyer remained MIA, Victor Mesa Jr. continued to track like a backup outfielder, Yiddi Cappe was beyond abysmal. But Will Banfield’s quiet leap forward at the plate in Double-A, the minors’ true testing ground, was one of the more pleasant surprises. Taken in the second round out of Brookwood High School all the way back in the 2018, the same draft class that added the likes of Miami immortals like Connor Scott, Osiris Johnson, and Tristan Pompay, Banfield barely hit his weight – and oft-times hasn’t – over the first four years of his career. Last season, though, his first with Pensacola (which is important to recognize), the 6-foot, 215-pound backstop batted .258/.302/.472 with 25 doubles, two triples, 23 homeruns, and a trio of stolen bases. His production line, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, was exactly the league average mark.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
Since 2006, only two 23-year-old bats posted a 95 to 105 wRC+ with a sub-6.0% walk rate and a strikeout rate between 23.5% to 24.5% with one club in any Double-A league (min. 350 PA): Dominic Fletcher and Will Banfield.
It doesn’t take long to figure out why the Marlins continued to (A) stick by Banfield’s side despite looking like the minor league version of Mario Mendoza at the plate and (B) shove him through the system despite such poor offensive showings. It’s his defense, obviously. It’s elite. His glovework is among the best in the minors at any position, at any level. So the fact that his bat is showing any type of life is just icing on the cake. There’s plenty of reason to remain bearish on Banfield’s offensive production moving forward – he spent half of last year playing in Pensacola’s bandbox – but he’s going to spend six-plus years as a strong backup at the big league level.
Ceiling: 1.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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All statistics were provided via the following website: Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, TheBaseballCube, BaseballProspectus, ClayDavenport.com, Baseball America, and X-user @mk237700 (for compiling Statcast Data)
