Organization Ranking: 24
I've ranked every farm system, as well as the top 100 MLB prospects for 2015. Below, I've ranked at least the top 10 prospects, plus an overview of the system and any other names of note beyond the top 10. I also discuss any prospects who might help the big league club in 2015, one or two prospects whose stock has taken a big hit in the past year, and a sleeper prospect who I think can jump into the main top-100 list for 2016.
Non-Insider subscribers: Check out the free Tampa Bay Rays top-10 prospects report to see what these entail.
Top 10 prospects
1. Tyler Kolek, RHP
2. J.T. Realmuto, C
3. Justin Nicolino, LHP
4. Jose Urena, RHP
5. Avery Romero, 2B
6. Trevor Williams, RHP
7. Jarlin Garcia, LHP
8. Isael Soto, OF
9. Casey Soltis, OF
10. Adam Conley, LHP
Overview
The Marlins' system tends to rank low because they promote their prospects to the majors fairly quickly, which isn't a negative for the major league team as long as the front office (and the fans) are willing to wait for a player to finish developing while facing big league competition. They've also traded their top two prospects from last year (yielding Dee Gordon and Jarred Cosart), traded two other top-10 guys in the deals for Aaron Crow and Mat Latos and sent Domingo German to New York in the Nate Eovaldi-Martin Prado trade, all of which hurts their system but has significantly improved the major league team.
Nicolino is one of the highest-floor pitching prospects in baseball, with outstanding command and control of three average or better pitches. He threw just over 13 pitches per inning in 2015, fewer than the MLB leader in that category, Clayton Kershaw. The changeup is plus, and the curveball is above-average; he added a slider/cutter in 2014 as well that might end up an average weapon. He just doesn't miss bats, which limits his ceiling. Urena, on the other hand, has the stuff to miss more bats, and his control is uncanny: In four straight seasons, he's walked exactly 29 batters, even though his innings totals increased each year. He's up to 94 mph with sink and a future-plus changeup, with a vastly improved breaking ball in 2014. Romero has made himself adequate at second base, and could see some time at third with Moran gone, but anywhere he plays he'll be offense-first. Williams is a durable fourth- or fifth-starter type, primarily fastball-change as the Marlins try to find him a consistent breaking ball, with the slider more likely than the curve. Soltis is a great athlete who can run and handle the bat well, a potential regular as long as he can stay in center. Conley is a low-slot lefty with a good changeup who's had some health issues and ultimately profiles in relief.
Beyond their top 10, it's a little shallow. Left fielder Austin Dean (11) can hit but might not have the power to profile in a corner. Anfernee Seymour (12), born in the Bahamas, is one of the fastest men in the minors, and the Marlins are trying to convert him to shortstop and teach him to switch-hit. Their 2014 draft also yielded athletic second baseman Brian Anderson (12) and shortstop Justin Twine (12), the latter an 80 runner and former football player who has a long way to go with the bat.
2015 impact
Realmuto is just a phone call away if Jarrod Saltalamacchia gets hurt, and both Nicolino and Conley could see time either in the back of the rotation or, in Conley's case, in the bullpen once there's a need for a lefty.
The fallen
Colby Suggs was Miami's second-round pick in 2013 and appeared to be one of those quick-to-the-majors college relievers who often turn out to be made of iron pyrite. Suggs' stuff wasn't as sharp this year and he struggled with command and control, posting a 5.09 ERA with poor peripherals as a 22-year-old in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League.
Sleeper
The Marlins left Jarlin Garcia exposed to the Rule 5 draft and probably were very fortunate that no one took him; you'd think a lefty who throws 90-94 with a hard mid-80s slider and never walks anyone would have caught some front office's eye. Perhaps teams didn't scout him later in the year, as he posted a 1.03 ERA over his last seven starts and finished the summer with a 22-inning scoreless streak. His changeup will show average, and he had an above-average curveball in 2013 that he couldn't find last year. Soto is the sleeper to be a sleeper some day, with a 70 arm and a chance for 70 raw power in right field even though he's only about six feet tall and not huge.