AAP: Jhan Marinez

[Ross]

Position: RHP

Born: August 12th, 1988 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Height: 6'1
Weight: 165
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Acquired: Signed by Florida as amateur free agent in 2006; acquired by White Sox as compensation for Ozzie Guillen (2011)

Scouting Reports
FutureSox: Marinez came to the White Sox with some Major League experience already in hand. The Dominican totaled less than three innings in a cup of coffee in 2010 and was unable to match that production in 2011. Used primarily as a reliever in the minors, Marinez burst onto the scene early in 2010 with gaudy numbers in high-A. He struck out 44, walked 14 and allowed just 12 hits in 25.1 IP for a 1.42 ERA. That earned him a promotion to AA where he kept the K/9 above 10 and showed a bit more control. In 2011 he struck out 74 in 58 innings and kept the ERA under 3, but walked 42 batters. His mid 90s fastball is a weapon and is the main reason he is a prolific whiffer. Also armed with a decent slider and a two-seam fastball, Marinez has good enough stuff to pitch in an MLB bullpen, but he needs to harness the stuff. If the Sox can get Marinez to throw strikes he should be a solid reliever.

FanGraphs: Marinez and Oswaldo Martinez (considered in 11-15 range) were both acquired in the Ozzie Guillen “trade.” Marinez is your typical White Sox pitcher in the sense that he’s a hard thrower… but doesn’t always know where the ball is going. He had a breakout season in 2010 but took a step back in ’11 when his control deserted him and he posted a walk rate of 6.52 BB/9. He has the potential to be an eighth-inning stalwart.

ScoutingBook.com: A Dominican who will probably be most-remembered for being one of the prospects traded for new Miami manager Ozzie Guillen, Jhan Marinez is a bit of an under-the-radar sleeper prospect now in the White Sox system who doesn't get as much attention as he probably deserves, despite his appearance in the Futures Game last season. Marinez is a slight player with a power fastball that can touch 98, but he has more success with his two-seamer, a 92mph offering with exceptional movement. His change and slider still need to improve before they're ready for the big stage, but he has so much raw talent that he's bound to make it sooner or later.

Stats


Awards/Accolades
Ranked 10th-best Marlins Prospect in 2010 (Baseball America)
2010 Marlins Best Fastball (Baseball America)
2010 FSL Mid-Season All-Star
Ranked 4th-best Marlins Prospect in 2011 (Baseball America)
2011 Marlins Best Fastball (Baseball America)
2011 Futures Game Selection
Ranked 4th-best White Sox Prospect (Baseball America)
Ranked 13th-best White Sox Prospect (FutureSox)

References
MiLB Page
FanGraphs Page