Stock Up, Stock Down for Miami Marlins' Top 10 Prospects for Week of June 3

We're back...

It's been four weeks since our last installment, and plenty of changes have occurred since then.

There is a new but familiar face as the No. 1 prospect in the Miami Marlins' farm system, as well as four new entries in the top 10 after a couple of prospects became eligible for the National League Rookie of the Year.

As for readers who may have read the re-ranking of the organization's top 15 prospects, this version will not include any of the players drafted this past weekend since none have signed a contract to join the organization yet. So that means no Colin Moran, Matt Krook, Trevor Williams and Colby Suggs.

But without further ado, in ascending order, here's the latest stock report for the Marlins' top 10 prospects.

RHP Austin Brice, Single-A Greensboro

Stock even

Last week's stats: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0 R, 2 H, 4 BB, 7 SO, 5 IP in 1 start

2013 stats: 3-6, 6.14 ERA, 46 BB, 41 SO, 48.1 IP in 12 appearances (10 starts)

Analysis: It was one of Austin Brice's best performance of the season, and even then, there's a lot the 20-year-old right-hander can improve on.

Despite throwing five shutout innings in a 6-1 loss Sunday where he received a no-decision, Brice walked four even though he also struck out a season-high seven in his first start since May 23. Brice has issued at least one walk in every outing this season and has allowed at least four walks seven times.

C J.T. Realmuto, Double-A Jacksonville

Stock up

Last week's stats: 6-for-16 (as of Sunday morning)

2013 stats: .223/.286/.320, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 15 R, 9 2B (as of Sunday morning)

Analysis: J.T. Realmuto is working on his best stretch of the season, as he's on a season-high five-game hitting streak (8-for-19).

But if Realmuto wants to keep the streak intact, he might not have much time to do it. Realmuto was hitless in his first two at-bats Sunday before the game against the Birmingham Barons was suspended because of rain. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader Monday beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET.

RHP Jose Urena, Advanced Single-A Jupiter

Stock up

Last week's stats: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 5 SO, 6 IP in 1 start

2013 stats: 6-2, 4.37 ERA, 12 BB, 44 SO, 59.2 IP in 12 appearances (11 starts)

Analysis: Jose Urena had his best outing of the season as he spun a one-hitter with five strikeouts in six shutout innings. However, he received a no-decision in a 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Clearwater Threshers.

The 21-year-old Urena, probably the top right-hander in the Marlins' farm system, continues to shine at home as he's now 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA in five home starts. On the road, though, Urena is 3-2 with a 6.75 ERA.

3B Zack Cox, Double-A Jacksonville

Stock down

Last week's stats: 3-for-12, 3 R (as of Sunday morning)

2013 stats: .318/.423./391, 0 HR, 6 RBI (as of Sunday morning)

Analysis: For the most part, Zack Cox's stock this week has nothing to do with his performance. 

Instead, it has everything to do with the Marlins selecting North Carolina Tar Heels third baseman Colin Moran with the sixth overall pick Thursday in the 2013 MLB First-Year Player draft. Moran is the nephew of B.J. Surhoff, the former No. 1 overall draft pick, and is the ACC Player of the Year. 

What is working in Cox's favor is Moran is a junior, which means Moran does have the option of returning to school. The allotted draft slot for this year’s sixth pick is $3,516,500, according to The Miami Herald. If Moran signs, Marlins vice president of scouting Stan Meek said the Marlins will likely send Moran to Single-A Greensboro (N.C.).

LHP Adam Conley, Double-A Jacksonville

Stock up

Last week's stats: 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 1 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 8 SO, 6 IP in 1 start

2013 stats: 5-2, 4.10 ERA, 14 BB, 56 SO, 59.1 IP in 12 starts

Analysis: Adam Conley, the most advanced prominent left-hander in the farm system, had another great start, as he yielded just an earned run on seven hits with eight strikeouts in a 11-1 road win against the Birmingham Barons. Other than allowing a two-out run-scoring double to Trayce Thompson, Conley was in command as he threw 101 pitches, 70 for strikes.

In his last six starts, Conley is 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He's also struck out 31 in 33.1 innings during this span.

2B Derek Dietrich, Miami Marlins

Stock even

Last week's stats: 6-for-27, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 R

2013 stats: .229/.288/.413, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 15 R with Miami Marlins; .282/.408/.505, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 18 R with Jacksonville Suns (AA)

Analysis: It seems Derek Dietrich has a flair for the dramatic.

On Sunday, Dietrich's solo home run in the eighth inning tied the game en route to the Miami Marlins' 8-4 10-inning victory against the New York Mets. All five of Dietrich’s homers this season have either tied the score or given the Marlins the lead.

In terms of efficiency, Dietrich was hardly it, as he failed to draw a walk even though he hit safely in all five games this week. Then again, it's not as hard to collect a hit when a 20-inning game was involved.

“[Saturday] was a mentally taxing day,” Dietrich told The Miami Herald. “But we like playing the Mets, I guess.”

LHP Andrew Heaney, Advanced Single-A Jupiter

Stock up

Last week's stats: 0-0, 1.80 ERA, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 4 SO, 5 IP in 1 start

2013 stats: 0-0, 1.56 ERA, 4 BB, 22 SO, 17.1 IP in 4 starts

Analysis: At the rate Andrew Heaney is going, it won't be long before he joins Conley in Jacksonville.

Heaney, the ninth overall pick of the 2012 MLB First-Year Player draft, gave up just one run on three hits with four strikeouts in five innings Saturday against the St. Lucie Mets. He received a no-decision.

After starting the season on the disabled list with a strained lat muscle, Heaney has been dominant in three of his four starts. Against St. Lucie, it was reported his fastball peaked at 95 mph on the stadium radar gun.

LHP Justin Nicolino, Advanced Single-A Jupiter

Stock up

Last week's stats: 0-0, 1.35 ERA, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 2 SO, 6.2 IP in 1 start

2013 stats: 2-1, 2.42 ERA, 9 BB, 39 SO, 63.1 in 12 starts

Analysis: Justin Nicolino continues to roll as he tossed a season-high 6.2 innings Wednesday against the Clearwater Threshers. Nicolino received a no-decision, though, as he gave up one earned run on five hits with two strikeouts. 

Nicolino also received good news Friday when he was named the Marlins’ Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May. He posted a 2-0 record with a 1.76 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 31.2 innings, according to the Palm Beach Post.

CF Jake Marisnick, Double-A Jacksonville

Stock even (as of Sunday morning)

Last week's stats: 5-for-20, 3 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R (as of Sunday morning)

2013 stats: .252/.313/.444, 6 HR, 26 RBI, 18 R, 8 SB (as of Sunday morning)

Analysis: After scuffling for a couple of games following his not one, but two grand slam night on May 30, it seems as though Jake Marisnick is back on track.

Marisnick had two hits each Friday and Saturday before rain suspended Sunday's game against the Birmingham Barons. That said, Marisnick had already gotten off to a smashing start as he blasted a solo home run and a two-run single in the first two innings.

Marisnick can continue to wield his hot bat when play resumes as part of a doubleheader Monday beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET.

LF Christian Yelich, Double-A Jacksonville

Stock down

Last week's stats: 0-for-3

2013 stats: .262/.342/.518, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 25 R, 12 2B, 6 3B

Analysis: The Marlins' best prospect played just one game this week before getting hurt. 

He left Monday’s game against the Mobile Bay Bears with discomfort in his lower abdominal area. According to The Miami Herald, Christian Yelich injured himself diving for a ball in center field Sunday but didn’t mention anything about it until Monday:

“He thought it was a little dull pain, but as he was playing the game [Monday] he was feeling it a little bit more,” Jacksonville Suns manager Andy Barkett told the team's radio network. “So as a precautionary measure we took him out to get him checked out.”

After a few days, Yelich was placed on the seven-day disabled list with a strained abdominal muscle.