Ranking the Miami Marlins’ Top 10 Prospects Heading into 2014

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Ranking the Miami Marlins’ Top 10 Prospects Heading into 2014

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Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

There are more than a few things in the recent history of the Miami Marlins that leave a bad taste in fans mouths. One such move would be the huge trade between they and the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012 that send most of the core of the roster away in favor of prospects. While moves like that don’t do much for immediate winning potential, there are good things about those type of deals.

Whenever a team continuously gets themselves into a position to trade a top player for several prospects, they are bound to improve their farm system quickly. That has been the case for the Marlins. Already we have seen some of the guys ranked in their top ten prospects at the major league level and we are bound to see more in the year to come.

Part of the charm of having a team of young players is that there is always a chance for something wonderful to happen as it did with young Rookie of the Year Jose Fernandez in 2013. Obviously expecting something like that year in and year out would be drastic but it would not be a stretch at all to say the Marlins could have at least one rookie of the year candidate each season for a while.

Here is an overview of the top ten guys that could soon be potential rookies of the year for the Marlins. Some will not be arriving for a few years and some have already made a splash. Leave a comment below with any additions to what I have here.

David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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10 – Angel Sanchez

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Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Sanchez came over in the Ricky Nolasco deal with the Dodgers and though his minor league career has been up and down, looks to be a positive possibility for the Marlins in the next few years.

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9 – Brian Flynn

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Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Flynn might have been pushed back a bit with a touchy MLB debut but his 6’-7” frame as well as his ability to hit the mid-90s with his fastball both suggest that the bigs have not seen the last or the best of him.

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8 – Avery Romero

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Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Romero is still quite young but the Marlins already are looking to fill a middle infield slot with him within the next couple or few years. They liked his bat well enough to sign him for more than he was worth at the time out of high school. He has done little to suggest their move was a mistake.

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7 – J.T. Realmuto

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Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Realmuto has some hitting development to do yet but he could move towards the major leagues fairly quickly if his offense surges forward. The defensive part of this backstop’s game is already a huge plus, especially his arm.

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6 – Jose Urena

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Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

This is an exciting young pitcher for certain. His fastball is plus with life. Give him a year more to develop further stuff behind it to support it and we could be looking at a top half of the rotation guy.

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5 – Adam Conley

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Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Conley is basically a fastball, changeup guy right now with a slider coming along. Still, considering the fastball is a plus pitch with sink or cut to it, he could be seen in a Marlins uniform during the 2014 season.

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4 – Colin Moran

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Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Moran is a good third baseman who already has the hitting ability to survive at the MLB level. Take a year to develop all of his skills just a bit more and he will be a big leaguer that his uncle, B.J. Surhoff will be proud of.

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3 – Justin Nicolino

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Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

Nicolino is one of many that came from the Blue Jays in the monster deal. His stuff projects well right now. Do not be surprised if he makes a sizable splash at the major league level during 2014.

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2 – Andrew Heaney

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Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Heaney has the stuff to make it to the major leagues fast even though he was only drafted in 2012. In fact he could project into the pitching staff of the Marlins sometime during the 2014 season, even the start of it.

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1 – Jake Marisnick

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Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Marisnick got a lengthy look at the major leagues in 2013. While his big league numbers don’t match those of his minor league potential just yet, there is plenty of reason to believe that they will very soon, probably towards the start of the 2014 season.

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