Marlins select nine players on second day of 2014 First-Year Player Draft

The Miami Marlins selected University of Arkansas second baseman Brian Anderson with the first of nine picks on the second day of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. The announcements were made by Vice President of Scouting Stan Meek.

Anderson, a junior, was taken with the second pick of the third round (No. 76 overall). A versatile defender who has logged time on the infield and in the outfield as a collegiate player, Anderson led the Razorbacks with a .328 (79x241) average this season, starting all 65 games his team played. He had 14 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 51 RBI on the year, and was 9-for-11 in stolen base attempts.

The Razorbacks finished 40-25 after being eliminated from the NCAA Charlottesville Regional on Sunday. Anderson batted .615 (8x13) during Regional play, reaching base in eight of nine plate appearances (six hits, two hit-by-pitch) in a doubleheader against Bucknell and Virginia on Sunday.

Miami had a Supplemental pick following the third round (No. 105 overall) and selected junior college left-handed pitcher Michael Mader out of Chipola College (Marianna, FL). Mader, a native of Marianna who went 7-3 with one save and a 3.18 ERA this season as a sophomore, is the only native of Florida drafted by the Marlins thus far. He struck out 74 batters in 73.2 innings this year.

The Marlins have drafted 12 players through the first two days of the Draft, including seven from the high school ranks and five collegiate players. They have selected five pitchers (four left-handers), a catcher, four infielders and two outfielders.

Miami drafted three high school players on the first day of the Draft, including Texas right-hander Tyler Kolek (Shepherd HS). Kolek, the Gatorade Texas Player of the Year for 2013-14, posted a 5-2 record and a 0.35 ERA in his senior season, with 126 strikeouts and eight walks in 60.1 innings pitched. He allowed just 23 hits, and no home runs.

Kolek, 18, was the eighth high school pitcher selected by the Marlins with their first pick in the draft, and the first since Jose Fernandez, who was selected 14^th overall out of Alonso High School (Tampa, FL) in 2011. It was the highest the Marlins have selected in the draft since taking Adrian Gonzalez No. 1 overall in 2000 out of Eastlake High School (San Diego, CA), and tied for the highest they have ever selected a pitcher, having also taken Josh Beckett No. 2 overall in 1999 out of Spring High School (Spring, TX).

The Draft will conclude tomorrow with Rounds 11-40, beginning at 1:05 p.m.