Let’s go prospecting: Sanchez looking good

As the minor league baseball season comes to a close, the Marlins are intent on having their top prospects finish the final three weeks strong. And in the case of some injured players, Miami is developing plans on how to make up for lost time.

While there are still seven weeks remaining in the MLB regular season, minor league play wraps up at the end of the month. Some prospects will be called up for September roster expansion, but most will begin their off-season programs.

While a number of pitchers — including top prospect Sixto Sanchez — have already notched career-high innings totals, the Marlins have no plans of shutting anyone down for the final three weeks of the season. Acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in the JT Realmuto trade, Sanchez has lived up to his highly touted billing.

In 15 Double-A starts, the 21-year-old right-hander has posted a 2.76 ERA and a sterling 5.05 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In his past three outings, Sanchez has thrown 19 scoreless innings with 17 strikeouts and just three

walks. Last season, the flame-throwing pitcher dealt with an elbow injury, throwing just 462⁄3 innings in for the Phillies’ High-A. affiliate. In 2019, Sanchez has already doubled last season’s innings total, tossing 99 between High-A and Double-A.

Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said the organization took a cautious approach with Sanchez — MLB Pipeline’s 26th-rated prospect — and that it’s paying off down the stretch.

“Everything’s been going great with Sixto,” Hill said. “It’s always been our philosophy that you hold them back at the beginning, so they get that sense of finishing the season and finishing the season strong.

“He’s throwing the ball consistently and taking the ball every fifth day and that was always the goal — to get him through the year healthy and so far so good.”

In addition to Sanchez, Hill said High-A prospects Braxton Garrett and Jordan Holloway, who are both coming off Tommy John surgery, will finish the season as well. Miami’s 2016 first-round pick, Garrett has posted a 2.92 ERA in 18 starts (952⁄3 innings) this season. Holloway, who’s on the 40-man roster, has also made 18 starts (762⁄3 inning), recording a 5.05 ERA.

While Sanchez, Garrett and Holloway are winding down, 22-year-old righthander Nick Neidert is beginning to ramp up his workload. Miami’s 12th-rated prospect, Neidert has missed the bulk of the season with right knee tendinitis. After making just three Triple-A starts, he was placed on the IL on April 29 and has been sidelined the next 21⁄2 months.

Following a four-game rehab stint in rookie league and High-A, the talented prospect made his Triple-A return on Sunday, pitching five scoreless innings. With the minor league season almost over, the Marlins are exploring options on how to continue his workload. Instructional league or winter ball could be options.

Another Triple-A prospect batting through injury is Monte Harrison. The 23-year-old center fielder is currently rehabbing from right wrist surgery he underwent during the All-Star break. Prior to the injury, the Top 100 prospect was a on pace for a September call-up, but that’s likely on hold as he recovers.

In his first taste of Triple-A, Harrison hit .284/.372/.479 (106 wRC+) with nine home runs and six doubles in 50 games. In an encouraging sign, he cut his strikeout rate from 36.9% to 30.3% and increased his walk rate. Harrison was in Miami on Thursday and Hill said he was pleased with his progression.

“We want to get him healthy,” Hill said. “We got to see him yesterday and he looks great. He’s progressing and healing. Hopefully in the next week-to-ten days, we’ll see him ramp up, start swinging a bat.

“We may run out of season, but at least we know he’ll be healed and able to do — if it’s instructional league, if it’s winter ball — whatever we need to do to make up his at-bats that he missed the last four to six weeks.”

Hill also said that two of the Marlins younger shortstop prospects — Jose Devers and Osiris Johnson — are close to returning to the field. The 19-year-old Devers has missed the past 10 weeks with a forearm strain after hitting .325/.385/.366 (127 wRC+) in 32 High-A games. Hill said he’s picking up activity and that they hope to see him on the field before rookie league season is over.

Miami’s second-round pick in 2018, Johnson has missed the entire season after undergoing off-season surgery to repair a right tibial stress fracture. The 18-year-old shortstop finished last season in Low-A and was slated to begin there this season.