Sleepers: Florida Marlins
The Shallow
Chris Volstad - Starting Pitcher
Mound presence, great control and pitch deception are three of the biggest keys to success that Chris Volstad brings to a stellar and underrated Marlins staff. Volstad showed amazing confidence on the mound last season; the type that isn’t always found in young pitchers that have been preceded with expectations during a 15 start debut.
Success wasn’t always the end result in games that he appeared in; however, with a 6-4 record, along with a 2.88 ERA shows that, at least on the surface, the kid can pitch. While the Marlins were careful not to overuse him (only going deeper than 6.1 IP in two of his 15 starts) there were certainly moments of brilliance along the way. As an example, his major league debut can be considered a gem, as he tossed his way to a near complete game in a 3-1 win against a talented Dodgers roster, with a line of 8.2 IP, 5H, 1ER, 6K, and only 1BB.
At only 22-years of age, Volstad has much to learn, but it will be on the job type training, as he is expected to carry a load on a Marlins team that many believe overachieved in 2008. If there is a concern with Volstads’ performance of last season, it would be his low K/BB ratio. Sitting at 1.44/1 this may not be a true indication of the type of control that he has with his stuff (as the more impressive 2.56/1 K/BB ratio in his four seasons of minor league ball indicates). It is surely something that needs to be addressed if he is looking to translate that success at the major league level. Without mind-blowing power, and never considered overwhelming on the mound, expect a 5.5 – 6.5 K/9IP from the tall, lanky righty. Given the fact that his 1.33 WHIP will more than likely drop as he gains more control and confidence on the mound, Volstad should be a fantasy presence for years to come.
The Deep
Logan Morrison – First Base
Drafted out of high school in 2005, Morrison has been creating buzz throughout his four years of minor league development, steadily improving each and every year. While his power numbers have taken a dip, after peaking in A-Ball Greensboro in 2007 (24HR-86RBI), Morrison became a much more complete hitter, and player, in his 2008 campaign, after shifting to Jupiter in High-A Ball. While the 21-year old Kansas City, Missouri native appeared to be on his way to decent power numbers, 2008 was a year where everything seemed to fall into place without having to depend on the power.
While increasing his AB’s by 35, the left-handed hitting Morrison swatted an extra 41H (121 to 162), hit 16 more doubles (22 to 38), swiped seven more bags (from 2 to 9), increased his walks by 9 (48 to 57), and cut down his K’s by 16 (96 to 80). This was at the expense of some power, but in becoming a more complete player, power is the one thing that cannot be taught. You either have a power stroke, or you don’t. Even more impressive is the fact that his peripherals (including SLG%) also took a modest jump, even with the loss of power.
With the Marlins dealing away Mike Jacobs to the Royals in the off-season, it certainly opens up the competition for playing time. Morrison is still probably a year or two away from a legitimate shot, as most believe that it is a two-horse race between Jorge Cantu and Gaby Sanchez for the starting spot at first. With Sanchez being a budding prospect on his own, the quickest way for this blue-chip prospect may be a shift to left field, where the Fish have a lack of depth. One way or the other, Logan Morrison will be given a chance, as the Marlins develop their own talent with more frequency than most teams, so we will certainly see him in the teal, black and white sometime soon.
