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As FSL Playoffs Start, Jupiter the Place to be

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Hey, what’s up everyone? I’m Anthony and this is my first post on Marlins Nation. I look to be covering mostly minor league baseball and prospects and maybe some other stuff. So here we go:

The Jupiter Hammerheads are one of Minor League Baseball’s best teams this year as they are loaded with many of the Miami Marlins top prospects.

The Marlins high-A affiliate boasts top young players such as first round picks Christian Yelich (OF) and Jose Fernandez (SP) to go along with Michael Brady, Marcell Ozuna, JT Realmuto and Adam Conley.

Some background on the players:

Yelich was a first round draft pick in 2010, going 23rd overall to the Marlins. So far he has shown plenty of promise to be on the Marlins roster in the next couple of years. Yelich followed up a great season at low-A Greensboro with an even better one at Jupiter.

He finished the season with a batting average of .330, just 2 points lower than Logan Morrison‘s Hammerhead record. He also added 12 homers and 20 stolen bases to go with an insane .923 OPS despite only playing 106 games due to an elbow injury.

Jose Fernandez was the Marlins 2011 first round pick and he has not disappointed. He is having one of the best seasons of any minor league pitcher this year going 7-1 with a 1.96 ERA following his callup from Greensboro, where he was mowing down the opposition at 7-0 1.59 ERA. Fernandez looks like a pitcher well beyond his years.

Brady has notched 22 saves for Jupiter this year, averaging close to 11 strikeouts per 9 innings. He has 64 strikeouts to just 7 walks this year, picked in the 24th round in 2009.

Ozuna has been the power bat in the lineup, having an amazing season. He set Jupiter records with 24 homers and 98 RBIs, both led the league as well. He was rated as the best power prospect in the Florida State League in 2012.

Realmuto is the starting catcher. A former 3rd round pick, he has underperformed after a very good 2011, but he is still doing solid with 8 homers and 46 RBI, as well as being rated as the FSL’s best defensive catcher.

Conley was the 2nd round pick in 2011. After dominating low-A at 7-3 2.91, Conley went 4-2 with a 4.27 ERA since his callup to Jupiter.

Other prospects include Danny Black (.314 average, but has been injured since July) and Mark Canha (.293 68 RBI) SS Danny Black, RF Marcell Ozuna and CF Christian Yelich were the players recognized as 2012 postseason FSL All-stars, as well as manager Andy Haines.

Currently the Hammerheads are tied 1-1 in a best of 3 series with the St. Lucie Mets, as game 3 gets under way tonight (Thursday) for a spot in the championship series against the Detroit Tigers affiliate, the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

For more baseball, especially Marlins, be sure to follow me on Twitter @ACodella130.