Marlins tab experience, pick seven college stars on Day 2

The Miami Marlins’ theme for Day 2 of the 2019 MLB Draft: Experience.

The Marlins made eight picks Tuesday, which included Rounds 3-10 of the 40-round event. All but one of their picks were college seniors or redshirt juniors.

“While it wasn’t a specific item that we were trying to address ... we have a lot of young players in this organization,” Marlins director of amateur scouting D.J. Svilhik said. “When you take some college payers like this and you insert them into the organization, it gives them an opportunity. These guys were selected for their talent, but when you add that piece in, it makes everyone better in the organization.”

The college-heavy approach follows suit with Day 1, when the Marlins selected power-hitting outfielders JJ Bleday from Vanderbilt and Kameron Misner from Missouri with their first two picks before selecting defense-savvy high school shortstop Nasim Nunez in the second round.

Here’s what you need to know about the Marlins’ eight selections on Tuesday.

ROUND 3 (82): WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY OUTFIELDER PEYTON BURDICK

Burdick, a 22-year-old outfielder, ended 2019 as a second-team All-American and the Horizon League Player of the Year after hitting .395 with 13 home runs, 18 doubles, 63 RBI and 74 runs scored over 56 games. He struck out just 108 times in 788 plate appearances.

ROUND 4 (111): NORTH CAROLINA STATE FIRST BASEMAN EVAN EDWARDS

Edwards brings another power-heavy left-handed bat to the Marlins organization. He hit .315 with 29 home runs, 108 RBI and 103 runs scored over 120 games at NC State during the last two years after starting his career at Spartanburg Methodist College.

ROUND 5 (141): ALISO NIGUEL (CALIF.) HIGH SCHOOL PITCHER EVAN FITTERER

Fitterer, a UCLA commit, was rated as the No. 74 overall prospect by MLBPipeline and Baseball America wrote that he is “expected to be an expensive sign.” The 6-3 righthanded pitcher went 9-1 with a 0.97 ERA, 82 strikeouts and 21 walks in 65 innings as a high school senior. His fastball is regularly in the mid-90’s.

ROUND 6 (171): DALLAS BAPTIST PITCHER MD JOHNSON

Johnson is a 6-6 senior pitcher who went 10-2 with a 2.76 ERA over 16 starts for Dallas Baptist this year. His fastball sits around 89-92 mph and goes up to 95 mph. He struck out 110 batters and walked 29 in 100 innings this year.

Miami The Marlins have focused on adding bats to the organization in their second draft under CEO Derek Jeter. They are also leaning more toward college players than in the past.