5 Marlins prospects who could participate in MLB's Spring Breakout

February 15th, 2024

JUPITER, Fla. -- Marlins pitchers and catchers held their first workout of big league camp on Thursday morning, but many prospects already had been training in preparation for MLB's inaugural Spring Breakout.

Created to showcase baseball’s future stars from each Major League organization, the event will pit a team of top prospects from one club against a team of top prospects from another in an exhibition. Miami’s prospects will face St. Louis prospects at 2:05 p.m. ET on March 15 as the opening game of a doubleheader at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Broadcast details are being finalized.

Spring Breakout rosters will be revealed live on a special MLB Network program at 11 a.m. ET on March 7. Participants will join the MLB Tonight program, which will simulcast on MLB’s digital platforms, plus commentary will be provided by MLB Pipeline experts from Spring Training in Arizona and Florida.

Here are five Marlins top prospects likely to participate in Spring Breakout.

Of note: Prospects who are on the 40-man roster can opt out of participating, so the following projection takes that into account.

RHP Noble Meyer (No. 1 prospect)
Level: Single-A Jupiter
After being selected 10th overall last July, a then-18-year-old Meyer started twice for the Rookie-level Marlins before receiving a promotion to Jupiter. He made three regular-season starts for them, then another two (5 2/3 scoreless innings) in the postseason. This would be the perfect showcase for Miami’s lone Top 100 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s list.

LHP Thomas White (No. 2 prospect)
Level: Single-A Jupiter
Like Meyer, White went from prep star to high Draft pick (35th overall) to pro pitcher last summer. Following a Rookie-level relief appearance, the 19-year-old started twice for Jupiter in the regular season. White took the mound for Game 1 of the Florida State League Championship Series, allowing just one run in 2 2/3 innings in an eventual 8-7 victory.

3B/1B Jacob Berry (No. 4 prospect)
Level: Double-A Pensacola
Chosen sixth overall in the 2022 MLB Draft, Berry has just a .682 OPS in parts of two pro seasons. He showed improvement (.770 OPS) in the Arizona Fall League, so now’s the time to build off that. The 22-year-old isn’t on the 40-man roster, but was invited to big league camp for the second straight year. With Miami’s entire starting infield returning, plus Jonah Bride, Trey Mancini, Xavier Edwards, Nick Gordon and Vidal Bruján vying for Opening Day roster spots, there likely won’t be many infield reps to go around for Berry this spring.

2B/SS Yiddi Cappe (No. 7 prospect)
Level: High-A Beloit
A consensus top 10 international prospect in the 2021 class, Cappe has seen mixed results in parts of three pro seasons. After batting .290/.328/.438 across two lower levels in '22, the 21-year-old Cuban struggled in 123 games with the Sky Carp (.220/.250/.308). In a system desperate for impact bats, Cappe was signed in the hopes of becoming one.

RHP Karson Milbrandt (No. 11 prospect)
Level: High-A Beloit
Signed well above his third-round slot value to lure him away from Vanderbilt in 2022, Milbrandt has gone through growing pains ever since. Milbrandt, who turns 20 on April 21, has a 5.09 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP in 24 pro starts. According to MLB Pipeline’s scouting report, he is a former multi-sport athlete who has struggled to throw strikes. He needs time to refine his secondary pitches and command before his development can accelerate.