2012 Top Prospects #2: Jake Marisnick

Name: Jake Marisnick
Position: Centerfield
Acquired: 3rd round (2009)
Opening Day age: 21
Height/weight: 6’4”/200 lbs
Best/worst tool: Speed/power
Risk factor: Medium
ETA: 2013

Scouting Report

The best/worst tool category is almost a joke with Marisnick, as he has all the tools and they’re all varying degrees of awesome. This wasn’t always the case, however, as only a year ago there were some serious questions about whether Marisnick’s offensive abilities could handle elite professional pitching. Many of those questions were answered in 2011, as he displayed a marked improvement at the plate. His stance is very wide, with his back foot at the back of the box (like most hitters) and his front foot actually in front of home plate. His hands are very high, but he gets them through the zone quickly to generate excellent bat speed. His patience at the plate has improved, though he still has some work to do in that regard. Marisnick is predominantly a fastball hitter, but should improve against breaking balls as he gets exposed to them in the higher levels. He has at least above average potential with the bat, possibly even plus, as he could be a .290-.300 hitter. His power is perhaps his worst tool, but it should still be above average down the road. He has more line drive power than true home run power, as he may never be more than a 20-25 home run guy, though the doubles and triples will make up for that. Despite his size (6’4”, 200 lbs), Marisnick is an exceptional athlete. He’s a good base runner with plus speed, though the stolen base numbers could decline as he ages. His athleticism aids him in the outfield, where he’s an above average defender with both great reads and great range. His arm could be considered a plus tool in center field. Given his size it’s possible he’ll eventually be move to right field, a process that may be accelerated if and when he joins Anthony Gose in Toronto’s outfield.

2011 Statistics and Analysis

462 AB, .320/.392/.496 (.888 OPS), 27 2B, 6 3B, 14 HR, 77 RBI, 37 SB, 43/91 BB/K

Some call it repeating a level, but given that Marisnick played in only 34 Midwest League games in 2010, that’s a difficult argument to justify. He put the tools together and had one of the most consistently dominant minor league seasons I’ve ever had the pleasure of following. In the five month regular season, Marisnick had a .900+ OPS in three months (April, July, August), an .800-.899 OPS in one month (June), and a .700-.799 OPS in one month (May). That’s remarkable consistency, proving that not only were his improvements very real, but he was able to adapt as pitchers made adjustments when facing him. The improved bat skills were the most notable, as Marisnick ranked 2nd in the league in BA, 4th in OBP, 8th in SLG, and 4th in OPS. Marisnick’s combination of power and speed generated plenty of counting stats (47 XBH, 37 SB), and should continue to do so moving forward.

Expected 2012 Assignment: High-A Dunedin

Future Outlook

Without a doubt, Marisnick was more than ready to play in the Florida State League last summer, but was held back for reasons unbeknownst to me. The most likely explanation may be that the Lugnuts were a strong team making a playoff push (they went on to lose in the Midwest League Championship), and the front office wanted their top prospect to learn how to play and succeed under pressure. Regardless, Marisnick’s Dunedin debut has been delayed until this April, where he’ll once again unite with Marcus Knecht and Michael Crouse to form a talented and dynamic outfield. The stay in Dunedin shouldn’t be nearly as long as the Lansing stop, as Marisnick has impressed in Spring Training and appears to be further along than most expected. He should finish this season with Double-A New Hampshire, and after starting there again in 2013, Marisnick could have a tri-level year (Double-A, Triple-A, MLB), making his debut as a September callup. With a player as talented as Marisnick it’s hard to ever consider him blocked, but with Colby Rasmus, Anthony Gose, and Jose Bautista ahead of him on the depth chart, he may need a couple of trades and a Bautista defensive switch to first base to claim a starting outfield job in the spring of 2014.

Perfect World Projection: All Star Centerfielder, Gold Glove contender.