Offensively challenged
The Marlins' shortcomings at the plate even cost them in December
The Marlins lost their #6 prospect, according to Baseball America’s latest ranking, in Wednesday’s Rule 5 draft.
A team currently without an every-day shortstop, Miami said goodbye to a switch-hitting Gold Glove-caliber shortstop in the minds of virtually anyone who has seen him play, a dynamic athlete who averaged 61 steals and 91 walks over the last 2 years, playing the majority of those games in Double-A in his age 21 and 22 seasons.
Nasim Nunez was left unprotected on this winter’s 40-man roster, exposing him to the Rule 5 draft. And the rebuilding division-rival Nationals scooped up the Georgia native, who was the Marlins’ 2nd-round pick in 2019 and signed for an over-slot bonus of $2.2 million, a reflection of the organization’s belief at the time in this remarkable athlete.
The Nats think enough of Nunez today to have made him just their 2nd selection in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 draft in the last 14 years.
“A fast-twitch athlete with smooth actions at shortstop, Nunez has quality range to both sides, quick hands and the well-above-average arm strength and agility to execute any throw from any angle. His defensive instincts enhance his physical gifts, and he'll contend for Gold Gloves as soon as he's promoted to the Majors.”
—MLB Pipeline following the 2023 season
In 2023, Nunez led the Double-A Southern League in stolen bases, tied for the league lead in runs scored, ranked 3rd in walks and 10th in hits. He’s 5th in all of Minor League Baseball in stolen bases since he signed in 2019.
Nunez was the Most Valuable Player at the 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and was named to this year’s Arizona Fall League Rising Star team.
At the end of this past season, Baseball America cited him as having the best strike-zone discipline among Marlins minor leaguers while also being the fastest base runner, the best defensive infielder and the owner of the best infield arm in the organization.
Don’t get me wrong. This is not to say Nunez was on the verge of becoming the Marlins’ primary shortstop for the next decade. His resume is not without blemishes.
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