Marlins select OF Scott at No. 13

Elite speed prospect has committed to UF

The Miami Marlins have another top prospect in their system, and he’s a Florida product.

With the No. 13 pick during Monday night’s draft, the Marlins selected outfielder Connor Scott from Tampa Plant. Scott, 6 foot 4 and 180 pounds, was rated by Baseball America as the third-best outfield prospect in this year’s draft.

The left-handed hitting Scott possesses elite speed, projects as a center fielder and is committed to the University of Florida. Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said Scott was “the complete package in our eyes.”

“This is an impact center fielder in our minds who will play above-average defense, hit for average, hit for power,” Hill said.

Hill said the organization has been aware of Scott since his freshman year at Plant, when he was a teammate of Kyle Tucker, a first-round pick of Houston in 2015. Scott was also one of the prospects that worked out for the Marlins recently, Hill said.

While Scott also sits in the low-90s as a left-handed pitcher, Hill said Scott’s future would be in the field using his speed and not on the mound with his arm.

“We talk about tools that show up every day and speed is one of those tools,” Hill said. “In Connor, we were so excited because you talk about an above-average runner who we think is going to be an aboveaverage bat. He’s going to hit for power. In spacious Marlins Park, we know you have to be able to cover ground. To know that we’ve got a guy with his skill set, we couldn’t be happier.”

When asked for a major-league comparison, Hill brought up current Marlins center fielder Lewis Brinson — the top-rated prospect acquired over the winter — and said Scott’s speed and power potential