Top prospects hit the big stage at Marlins Park

MIAMI — After spending the summer playing in minor league stadiums across the country, the Marlins’ top young prospects were treated to a big league experience on Wednesday afternoon.

For the first time in franchise history, Miami hosted one of its instructional league games at Marlins Park. Facing a Washington Nationals instructional team, the teams played to a 1-1 tie in 10 innings.

Instructional league lasts two weeks into October and gives teams a further opportunity to develop their younger prospects. Games usually take place at minor league facilities — for the Marlins, their High-A compound in Jupiter — but Miami elected to give its players the chance to compete in a major league stadium.

“It has a big influence,” said pitching prospect Jorge Guzman of playing at Marlins Park. “I came in today positive and thought I could do the job. I was comfortable even though it was something different. It’s an experience I’ll take for the future.”

On Wednesday, a number of the team’s top prospects took part. Outfielder Connor Scott — the Marlins first-round pick in June — grounded out in his one pinch-hit at-bat. The 18-year-old, who was selected 13th overall, ended the season in Low-A Greensboro.

While fellow 2018 high draft picks Osiris Johnson and Will Banfield were both nursing injuries and held out of Wednesday’s game, the Marlins were able to see a pair of highly touted prospects in shortstop Jose Devers and pitcher Jorge Guzman. Both players were acquired last offseason from the New York Yankees in the Giancarlo Stanton trade.

A flame-throwing righty, Guzman was sharp against the Nationals, pitching three perfect innings. The 22-year-old struck out four on 34 pitches, 23 of which went for strikes. Guzman said developing his secondary pitches has helped with his improvement over the season.

“In Jupiter, my curve and my change were not consistent, but now I’m learning how to get them over for strikes more consistently as well as my fastball,” Guzman said.

“I think I had a great year and I learned a lot. Going to the Futures Game gave me a lot of confidence, meeting and interacting with greats like Vlad Guerrero.”

Devers, 18, served as the designated hitter for Miami. The Marlins’ No. 13 overall prospect, Devers finished the season in High-A Jupiter.