The Miami Marlins crushed it at the deadline—one of the best jobs by any team in recent memory. You can debate how the previous regime built that roster, but the former Rays front office pulled off near-masterful moves at the deadline. They loaded up on close-to-the-majors talent, pitchers, and hitters, each with a flaw or two. Adam Mazur, who came from San Diego, needs some work on his fastball shape. Then there’s Deyvison De Los Santos, one of the game’s most divisive prospects—massive power but swing-and-miss severe issues. Their draft was just as strong, adding PJ Morlando, who had a bizarre pregame weightlifting mishap, and Carter Johnson, plus a few interesting arms. Overall, this is a robust farm system. With some shifts in their player development staff, we could see many of these prospects take a step forward as early as next year.
About Our Top 20 Lists
Prospects Live, led by its evaluating team & Director of Scouting Rhys White, is proud to begin rolling out its annual offseason system reports. The team combines industry feedback, our live looks, film, and available data to compile each org. We believe this effort has enabled us to present you, the reader, with our best possible view of the prospects in the organization.
We have constructed this list using the Overall Future Potential (OFP) scale. There is no perfect equation for ranking prospects or assigning value to them, but we believe this method is the best possible approach. Every prospect on this list has been graded based on the tried and true 20-80 scouting scale. An 80 is the highest tool and OFP grade on the scale, reserved for MVP-caliber players or tools. Conversely, a 20 is reserved for non-prospects (NPs). A 50 OFP falls in the middle, indicating our evaluators deem this player a future average major league player. Below the 50 OFP tier are the 45s and 40s, comprising a large majority of players on each list. These are specific-role players, such as platoon hitters, utility players, or low-leverage relievers. Above the 50 OFP tier are the 55s and 60s. A 55 represents a future above-average player, and a 60 OFP designation is reserved for future All-Star caliber players.
In addition to the tool grades and OFP, we will also include a 'Risk' associated with each prospect. We use this to better communicate to you, the reader, whether a grade is more aggressive or conservative in nature. The evaluation team has worked hard to apply both the grades and risk components to better illustrate how each individual prospect stacks up in their respective system and in the baseball ecosystem.
Below you'll find the top 5 players in the system with a full report for the #1 prospect in the system. The full rankings and scouting reports on all top 20 prospects per team will be available on our Patreon at the 55-tier ($5) as we publish them. We’ll also have additional content on Patreon for each team: Honorable Mentions, Top 10 players 25 years and under, and Team MLB Dynasty Rankings.
Top 5 Team Rank and Scouting Report for #1 System Prospect Below
1. Thomas White, LHP
DOB: 9/29/2004, HT: 6-5, WT: 210, H/T: L/L, Acquired: 2023, Round CB-A ($4,100,000)
Highest Level: A+, ETA: 2026
OFP: 55
FB: 60, CB: 60, CH: 55, Command: 50
Risk: High
Scouting Report:
The Marlins went pitcher-heavy at the top of the 2023 draft, taking Noble Meyer in the first round and following it up with the big lefty Thomas White in the Comp round. It’s very early, but White looks like the better arm, with two-plus pitches and the ability to touch 97. White has an easy delivery despite the long arm action. He attacks hitters from a low ¾ arm slot. His fastball sits around 95 with good carry and works best up in the zone. It’s a high-spin offering from a low slot. His primary off-speed pitch is a slurvy breaking ball, and he relies on it for a majority of his whiffs. It has been called a curveball and a slider due to the depth and sweeping action of the pitch. White’s changeup is his third pitch for now, but it also has the potential to be a plus pitch down the line. It has good shape, with late fade. He has done a much better job of throwing strikes. His command has jumped a full grade over the course of the 2024 season, and now he has average command and could improve if he manages to shorten his arm action. White looks like a number two starter, and if the changeup takes a step forward, the ceiling might even be higher. - Matt Thompson
Fantasy Spin:
6 ’5” lefties with plus stuff and above-average command don’t grow on trees; the Marlins have themselves a gem in White. White put together an excellent season, posting a 19.9 K-BB% with a 2.81 ERA in 96 innings. His 63.6 strike% indicates that he has confidence in all of his offerings and will throw them in any count. He will reach the upper minors for the first time in 2025 and has the talent to continue his steady rise through the system. White is a borderline top-10 pitching prospect already and someone you should target now before the hype catches up with the ability. - Greg Hoogkamp