Marlins Minor League Stars Dealing With Injuries
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Marlins major league squad is expected to be bad this year, but the hope is that several key players in the minors will help the team succeed in the future. But, several of those players are starting the season on the disabled list.
The Marlins are very high on outfielder Christian Yelich and he has routinely been ranked in the Top 100 prospects in the Majors and sometimes as the Marlins' top prospect. He's supposed to start in Double-A ball this season, but is dealing with plantar fasciitis, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
In another outfield position in Double-A, the Marlins are expected to start another Top 100 players in Jake Marisnick. He was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in the massive trade from last November. Marisnick is a classic five-tool player, but he's out with a fractured hand. His fellow outfielder, Marcell Ozuna, another top prospect is also dealing with a broken hand as well.
Yelich is expected to make his way to Miami the fastest. Yelich, 21, put on a hitting display in spring training hitting .364 with five home runs and 14 RBI's in 44 at bats. Yelich is expected to eventually take over the centerfield position with the Fish.
Bringing up Yelich would give the Marlins two-thirds of a solid, but young outfield to build around. Yelich would join All-Star Giancarlo Stanton in the outfield, assuming the Marlins don't try to sell Stanton to the highest bidder rather than giving him a rich contract extension.
Eventually, assuming Stanton can be kept in Miami for a few more years, Miami could field one of the best outfields in the Majors if Marisnick or Ozuna can live up to their potential.
